Philephedra lutea (Cockerell)

Family

Coccidae

Field characters

Body oval or elongate oval. Dead females are reddish brown. Coloration of living stages has not been reported, possibly pale brown or whitish as Cockerell (1893o) described for immatures. A long, bright yellow ovisac is formed under and behind the adult female; the ovisac has longitudinal ridges described as "trifid" by Cockerell. Eggs are laid in the ovisac. Females apparently occur on the undersides of leaves. Males have not been reported.

Validation characters

Dorsal setae absent; marginal setae spinose; with large submarginal tubercles (two-ringed ducts) located submarginally, restricted to head and posterior abdomen, less than 10 on each side of body; 4 apical setae on each anal plate, without discal setae; tubular ducts abundant on both surfaces. Other characters: Multilocular pores predominantly with 10 loculi, present on abdomen; usually with 3 stigmatic setae in each furrow, usually larger than marginal setae, with rounded apices, often interspersed with marginal setae; claw without a denticle; claw digitules large, equal; 3 pairs of prevulvar setae (posterior pair often obscured by anal plates); each anal plate with 3 subapical setae, 4 apical setae, anal fold with 2 fringe setae; with conspicuous tibio-tarsal sclerosis; antennae 8-segmented; preopercular pores scattered over dorsal surface.

Comparison

Philephedra lutea is similar to other species of Philephedra by lacking dorsal setae, by having conspicuous two-ring ducts, spinose marginal setae, robust legs, and 8-segmented antennae. Philephedra lutea differs from other species by having the large two-ringed ducts restricted to the submarginal areas of the head and posterior abdomen.

U.S. quarantine notes

This species was intercepted 6 times at U. S. ports-of-entry between 1995 and 2012, with specimens originating from Guatemala, Mexico, and Puerto Rico. We also have examined specimens from Belize (Carica), Guatemala (Codiaeum), Mexico (Ananas, Codiaeum, Ficus, Magnolia), and Puerto Rico (Acuba). ScaleNet includes hosts in Euphorbiaceae, Lauraceae, Magnoliaceae and Moraceae. It is most commonly intercepted on Annona. ScaleNet distribution records for P. lutea include Mexico (Colima) and The United States of America (Texas) in the Nearctic zoogeographic region, and Guatemala in the Neotropics. Three other species of Philephedra other than P. broadwayi (Cockerell), P. lutea and P. tuberculosa Nakahara & Gill have been taken at U. S. ports-of-entry: P. floridana Nakahara & Gill (Honduras, on unknown leaves); P. cresentiae (Cockerell) (Mexico, on Leucaena); and P. parvula Cockerell (Mexico, on Leucaena).

Important references

Cocker1893o; NakahaGi1985.

Scalenet catalog and citation list

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