Dermal pores and wax secretion in mealybugMaconellicoccus hirsutus(Hemiptera, Pseudococcidae). A pest of mulberry

Abstract

A scanning electron microscopy study was carried out on the dermal pores, ducts and wax secretion in the mealybug Maconellicoccus hirsutus Green. The observations reveal that the hollow sticky filamentous wax plays an important role in forming the ovisac in adult females and cocoon in males. The sticky nature of the wax helps in attaching the ovisac to the substrate. Trilocular pores produce long curly filamentous wax covering the entire body of the mealybug. The multilocular disc pores produce short curly filaments in females and long ones in males. Different types of dermal pores and ducts produce specific types of wax which protect the insect from its predators and enemies. The wax filaments protect the eggs from desiccation and provide physical protection, and also avoid the eggs sticking together inside the ovisac. Moreover, adult males have several pleural pores on the posterolateral sides, differing structurally from other stages and producing filamentous wax.

Scanning electron microscopy of six selected mealybug (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) species of Sri Lanka

“…Each pore contains a circle of more than five openings (loculi); in M. hirsutus, the outer ring contained 8-10 loculi. The wax curls produced by the multilocular pores surrounding the vulva become attached to each egg as it leaves the genital opening (Kumar et al, 1997).…”

“…The structure of the waxproducing pores is complicated and can be elucidated better using the SEM. However, only a few studies have reported on the ultrastructure and wax-secretion processes in the family Pseudococcidae (Cox and Pearce, 1983;Kumar et al, 1997;Jansen, 2001;Vahedi and Mahfar, 2010). Cook et al (2000) used the SEM to study crawler sexual dimorphism in species in the scale insect family Eriococcidae.…”

Behavioral, Ultrastructural and Chemical Studies on the Honeydew and Waxy Secretions by Nymphs and Adults of the Asian Citrus Psyllid Diaphorina citri (Hemiptera: Psyllidae)

“…In addition to reducing contamination with honeydew, it has been suggested that waxy secretions in aphids may also provide ‘a microclimate coat’ or afford some protection against fungus, parasite or predator attacks [39]. But this may be true mainly with insects that produce wax filaments on larger areas of their cuticle, not just their circumanal ring or circumabdominal setae, like mealybugs, scale insects, some aphids and planthoppers [33], [34], [39], [41], [42].…”

“…The phloem feeding scale insects and mealybugs are known to posses several mechanisms to limit contamination from their own sticky honeydew excretions [34], [41], [42]: 1. filaments of wax often coat the insect body so that honeydew droplets do not adhere to it; 2. the anal opening is surrounded by an anal ring that usually bears setae and pores, wax from these pores coats the anal ring setae and prevents honeydew droplets from sticking to them; and 3. the anal ring has certain ways by which it can propel the honeydew away from the inset body. Our study shows that ACP nymphs may have mechanisms similar to the first two mentioned above, but the wax produced is on the surface of honeydew excretions and circumabdominal setae rather than on the insect body itself.…”

Impact of botanical extracts on histopathology of silkworm (Bombyx mori L.)

“…India and In donesian species of the mealy bug have been identified as Maconellicoccus hirstus ( green). T he tukra infected mulberry leaves with minute mealy bugs in mulberry garden sho ws symptoms with curling of apical leaves which the beetles feeds on plant sap and decreases the leaf protein and moisture status durin g summer seasons (Kumar et al,1997).…”