Delottococcus confusus (De Lotto)

Family

Pseudococcidae

Field characters

Body elongate oval; grayish or grayish green; body covered by layer of gray mealy wax allowing body segmentation to show through; ovisac covers all but head, , about 3 times as long as body of adult female; with 3 or 4 pairs of lateral filaments, becoming progressively longer posteriorly, caudal pair about one third length of body; eggs bright yellow, turning orange with age. Occurring primarily on undersides of leaves.

Validation characters

Translucent pores absent from hind femur and numerous on hind tibia, hind tibia usually conspicuously swollen; oral-collar tubular ducts absent laterad of anterior spiracle (beware of oral rims in this area); oral-rim tubular ducts present on dorsum; inconspicuous anal bar on anal lobe; 13-18 pairs of cerarii.

Comparison

Delottococcus confusus is similar to D. trichiliae (Brain) by having an anal bar, dorsal oral-rim tubular ducts, 19 or more setae on hind tibia, lacking translucent pores on the hind tibia, and lacking oral-collar tubular ducts laterad of anterior spiracles. Delottococcus confusus can be distinguished (characters of D. trichiliae given in parentheses) by having more than 70 translucent pores on the hind femur (fewer) and by having some cerarian setae on the head and thorax similar in thickness to the dorsal setae (thinner).

U.S. quarantine notes

This species was intercepted at U. S. ports-of-entry 8 times between 1995 and 2012, with specimens originating from Israel, The Netherlands, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. We also have examined specimens taken in quarantine from Mexico (Leucodendron); The Netherlands (Protea); South Africa (Brunia, Protea). ScaleNet lists hosts in 10 plant families. It is most commonly intercepted on Brunia (Bruniaceae). According to ScaleNet distribution records, D. confusus was previously known only in South Africa. In 2003 it was discovered at a nursery in southern California (The United States of America) on Protea and has since been recorded on Leucadendron and Protea at several nurseries in central and southern California; on one occasion, Leucadendron plants were being defoliated by the infestation. The species is not regarded as established in California, as it has been eradicated on the only occasion when it was found outside of a nursery. Additionally, it has been recorded from the Hawaiian Islands. No other species of Delottococcus other than D. aberiae (De Lotto) and D. confusus have been taken in quarantine at U. S. ports-of-entry.

Important references

DeLott1977; MillerGi2011.

Scalenet catalog and citation list

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