Formicococcus robustus Ezzat & McConnell

Formicococcus robustus (Ezzat & McConnell)

(Fig. 14)

Planococcoides robustus Ezzat & McConnell, 1956: 59. Indococcus pipalae Ali, 1967: 35. Planococcoides bengalensis Ghosh & Ghose, 1988: 604. Ferrisicoccus psidii Mukhopadhyay & Ghose, 1994: 71.

DIAGNOSIS. Body of adult female broadly oval, membranous. Antennae 8 segmented. Anal lobe bar present forwards from bar seta but sometimes complete. Legs well developed. Translucent pores present on anterior and posterior surfaces of hind coxa and on posterior surface of hind tibia. Cerarii numbering 18 pairs. Anal lobe cerarii each bearing 2–5 conical setae of different sizes, accompanied by a group of trilocular pores and usually 1 or 2 auxiliary setae. Penultimate cerarii (C17) each with as many as 8 conical setae of different sizes. Cerarii on abdominal segments III–VI each with 8 or fewer conical setae but usually with more than 2. Cerarii anterior to abdominal segment III variable, often with full complement present, each cerarious bearing at least 2 conical setae or sometimes more. Circulus present, divided by an intersegmental line. Ostioles well developed. Dorsal setae short and stiff, some on posterior abdominal segments longer than more anterior setae. Ventral setae flagellate. Ventral multilocular disc pores present posterior to vulva, and in single to double rows in medial areas along posterior edges of abdominal segments V −VII. Trilocular pores evenly distributed. Discoidal pores minute, scattered. Oral collar ducts present on venter only, of 2 sizes: large type in small groups usually on margins of abdominal segments V–VII, and small type, each narrower than a trilocular pore, medially across abdominal segments V–VII and anterior to large type on abdominal segments V–VII on margins and on anal lobes.

DISTRIBUTION. Oriental, Palaearctic: Iran. In Iran, F. robustus occurs in Hormozgan. It is known from 15 plant families worldwide (Ben-Dov et al., 2012).

MATERIAL EXAMINED. Hormozgan: Gheshm Island, Band-e Hajali, 3 adult Ƥ, on Prosopis spicigera (Fabaceae), 07.iii.2001.

COMMENTS. At present, F. robutus is known to occur throughout Bangladesh, India and Pakistan, but this species will probably be found over a much wider area (Williams, 2004). This mealybug was probably imported into Iran on agricultural products.