Ferrisia virgata (Cockerell)

Moghaddam, Masumeh, 2013, A review of the mealybugs (Hemiptera: Coccoidea: Pseudococcidae, Putoidae and Rhizoecidae) of Iran, with descriptions of four new species and three new records for the Iranian fauna, Zootaxa 3632 (1), pp. 1-107 : 26-28

Ferrisia virgata (Cockerell)

( Fig. 13 )

Dactylopius virgatus Cockerell, 1893b: 178 . Dactylopius ceriferus Newstead, 1894: 24 . Dactylopius talini Green, 1896: 7 . Pseudococcus marchali Vayssiere, 1912: 366 . Dactylopius magnolicida King, 1902: 616 .

DIAGNOSIS. Body of adult female elongate oval, abdomen usually tapering. Anal lobes well developed, each ventral surface with a small bar-like structure. Antennae 8 segmented. Legs well developed, slender. Translucent pores present on hind coxa, femur and tibia in moderate numbers. Cerarii present on anal lobes only, each containing 2 or 3 conical setae, auxiliary setae and trilocular pores, all situated on a sclerotized area. Circulus present, divided by an intersegmental line. Ostioles well developed. Dorsal surface with slender setae, each blunt or slightly knobbed at apex. Oral collar ducts long and slender, each with orifice surrounded by a circular sclerotized area containing 2–4 blunt setae and 1 or 2 oval discoidal pores near margin but within border; present in groups of 2 or 3 around margins, except on abdominal segment VII, usually with 8 in each group; submedial ducts also present on most segments and others submarginally on thorax and anterior abdominal segments. Ventral setae blunt at apex, usually longer than those on dorsum. Multilocular disc pores present posterior to vulva, and in single to double rows medially on posterior edges of abdominal segments VI and VII. Trilocular pores evenly distributed. Ventral oral collar ducts of 2 sizes: a large type present across abdominal segment V and posterior segments and also on margins and submargins of each anterior segment from anal lobe as far forward as head, and clusters of small type distributed on margins of abdominal segments VII and VIII.

DISTRIBUTION. Afrotropical, Australasian, Nearctic, Neotropical, Oriental, Palaearctic: Egypt, France, Iran, Japan and Saudi Arabia. In Iran, F virgata occurs in Sistan & Balouchestan. It is known from 82 plant families worldwide (Ben-Dov et al., 2012).

MATERIAL EXAMINED. Sistan & Balouchestan: Chabahar, 4 adult Ƥ, on Psidium guajava (Myrtaceae) , 5 adult Ƥ, Myrtus communis (Myrtaceae) , 2 adult Ƥ, Albizzia julibrissin (Fabaceae) , 24.iv.2001; 2 adult Ƥ, Chabahar, Tiss, Cordia myxa (Boraginaceae) , 22.v.2001.

COMMENTS. F. v i rg a t a has a wide distribution on various host plants. Williams (2004) listed many countries in southern Asia from which this mealybug had been reported. This species is known as a serious pest of cotton in India. Kaydan & Gulan (2012) have revised the genus Ferrisia Fullaway , based on morphological and molecular data, they distinguished the widespread pest species F. virgata (Cockerell) from morphologically similar species and provide a revised description and illustration for the adult female of F. v i rg a t a. Ghani (1977) recorded a long list of host plants, parasitoids and predators of F. v i rg a t a in Pakistan and reported that this mealybug caused heavy infestations in Hyderabad and Karachi; the predator Scymnus (Pullus) coccivora Ayyar ( Coleoptera : Coccinellidae ) was the most abundant natural enemy and preyed on eggs, nymphs and adult females. F. virgata must have been introduced to Iran on plant material and is now established. At present it is distributed throughout south-eastern Iran, but so far has only been found on urban plants (Moghaddam, 2006).

Figures

FIGURE 13. Adult female Ferrisia virgata (Cockerell).