Paracoccus mexicanus Ezzat & McConnell

Family

Pseudococcidae

Field characters

No information available.

Validation characters

Oral-rim tubular ducts present ventrally on head and anterior thorax; multilocular pores absent from lateral areas of abdominal segments; multilocular pores on segments IV-VIII, sometimes present on thorax and head; without cluster of oral-collar tubular ducts laterad of anterior spiracle; oral collars absent laterad of mid pair of legs; circulus normally present; cerarii with 2 conical setae on abdomen some on thorax and head with 3 or more setae; 17 pairs of cerarii; oral-rim tubular ducts covering dorsum, absent from segment VIII; anal bar present.

Comparison

Paracoccus mexicanus is similar to P. ferrisi by sometimes having as many as 17 pairs of cerarii, ventral oral-rim tubular ducts on head, thorax, and abdomen, and circulus normally present. Paracoccus mexicanus can be distinguished (characters of P. ferrisi are in parentheses) by lacking oral collars laterad of anterior spiracles (present) and having 3 or more setae in some cerarii on head and thorax (2 setae).

U.S. quarantine notes

This species was intercepted at U. S. ports-of-entry 24 times between 1995 and 2012, with specimens originating from Mexico, and Puerto Rico. We also have examined specimens taken in quarantine from Mexico (Sedum). ScaleNet lists hosts in Crassulaceae and Fabaceae, but it is most commonly intercepted on rosemary and sage (Lamiaceae– Mint family). ScaleNet distribution records for P. mexicanus include only Mexico. Several species of Paracoccus other than P. brunerae (Brain), P. ferrisi Ezzat & McConnell, P. herreni Williams & Granara de Willink, P. interceptus Lit, P. lycopersici Ezzat & McConnell, P. marginatus Williams & Granara de Willink, P. mexicanus and P. solani Ezzat & McConnell have been intercepted at U. S. ports-of-entry including: P. hamoni Williams and Granara de Willink (Mexico, on Cephalocereus); P. circuliprivis Ezzat and McConnell (Mexico, on Thomsoniella); P. invectus Williams (Thailand and India, on orchids, including Dendrobium); and P. reductus Ferris (Mexico, on Yucca).

Important references

EzzatMc1956; WilliaGr1992.

Scalenet catalog and citation list

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