Ground pearls: a generic revision of the Margarodidaesensu stricto(Hemiptera: Sternorrhyncha: Coccoidea)

Abstract

Abstract. The ground pearls comprise the scale insect family Margarodidae s. str., and are subterranean plant sucking parasites on roots of a wide variety of plants. Some ground pearls are serious destructive pests of grape vines, sugar cane, oil palms, cotton or lawn grass around the world. Both female and male development is characterised by an apodous, feeding 2 nd -instar nymph, called a cyst. The cyst is primarily circular and often colourful, shiny, metallic or pearl-like, from which the common name "ground pearls" is derived. Other unique features are the strongly developed prothoracic legs for digging, the construction of a protective test from their own liquid excreta in which the cyst is enclosed and a behavioral adaptation by modification of their life-cycle to survive in adverse environmental conditions.The 10 genera, currently include 105 species, form a monophyletic group with a worldwide distribution. First-instar nymphs and cysts are feeding instars; however, adults male and females lack mouthparts and do not feed. Species of ground pearls reproduce either bisexually or parthenogenetically, parthenogenesis is facultative in Eurhizococcus brasiliensis. Females undergo three, four or five developmental stages, while male have five. During the cyst stage, one,two or three molts may occur. Most species have a single generation each year, although development in Margarodes vitis requires three years including three instars of cysts. This revision redescribes and illustrates the type species of each genus, including Margarodes vitis (Philippi) and provides a key to the genera based on the morphology of adult females. Lectotypes of Dimargarodes mediterraneus (Silvestri), Heteromargarodes americanus Jakubski, Promargarodes sinensis Silvestri and Termitococcus carrotai Silvestri are designated. A nomenclatural change is proposed, the genus Sphaeraspis Giard, 1894 is considered to be a synonym of Margarodes Guilding, 1829. This work also provides information on the history of the group of Archaeococcoids; on the biology, economic importance and distribution of the margarodids.Résumé. Les Perles de terre : une révision générique des Margarodidae sensu stricto (Hemiptera : Sternorrhyncha : Coccoidea). Les Perles de terre, Cochenilles Margarodidae s. str., souterraines sur les racines d'une grandes variété de plantes, sont d'importants ravageurs des plantes cultivées : Vigne, Canne à sucre, Palmier à huile, Coton ou gazon. Le développement des femelles et des mâles est caractérisé par un 2 e stade larvaire apode, appelé kyste, inclus dans un test. Ce kyste, plutôt globulaire, souvent d'une couleur brillante et métallique, ressemble à une perle, d'où leur nom de « Perles de terre ». D'autres caractères originaux sont la présence de puissant pattes prothoraciques fouisseuses, la construction d'un test de protection à partir de leurs propres excreta liquide et l'adaptation comportementale par une capacité de modifier leur cycle de vie en réponse aux facteurs environnementaux. Seul les immatures s'alimentent, les...

Germ cell cluster formation and ovariole structure in Puto albicans and Crypticerya morrilli (Hemiptera: Coccinea). Phylogenetic implications

“…Additionally, Koteja (1974) included the small family Phenacoleachiidae in the archaeococcoid group. It should be emphasized that recent morphological (Gullan & Sjaarda, 2001;Foldi, 2005;Szklarzewicz et al, 2005;Hodgson & Foldi, 2006) and molecular data (Cook et al, 2002) confirm Koteja's classification. For several years some entomologists placed the family Putoidae, containing the single genus Puto McKenzie, with the archaeococcoids (e.g.…”

“…For several years some entomologists placed the family Putoidae, containing the single genus Puto McKenzie, with the archaeococcoids (e.g. Foldi, 2005;Hodgson & Foldi, 2006;Gullan & Cook, 2007;Kondo et al, 2008). It should be noted that the taxonomic position of the genus Puto is still under discussion.…”

Caracterização morfo-fisiológica de plantas de videira atacadas por pérola-da-terra

“…Trata-se de uma cochonilha nativa da região Neotropical e que apresenta hábito subterrâneo, alimentando-se da seiva das raízes de seus hospedeiros que ultrapassam 70 espécies (FOLDI, 2005). A exploração dos tecidos da planta por este inseto é facilitada, pois apresenta aparelho bucal do tipo sugador labial e que tem por funções perfurar os tecidos das raízes e succionar a seiva dos vasos condutores (DE CÉSARO, 2008).…”

The Matsucoccidae in the Mediterranean basin with a world list of species (Hemiptera: Sternorrhyncha: Coccoidea)

“…Other males of Margarodidae s.l. were studied by Theron (1958), Morales (1991) and Foldi (1990Foldi ( , 1999, although Hodgson & Foldi (in prep. ) are describing males representing most higher taxa within the Margarodidae sensu Morrison. All matsucoccids inhabit the northern hemisphere in Neartic and Palaeartic zones, feed exclusively on Pinus spp., and some are very serious pests of natural pine forests and plantations, particularly in the USA, China and the Mediterranean basin.…”