Center for Systematic Entomology, Gainesville, Florida
Date of this Version
October 1986
Abstract
Descriptions of species in the genus Sclerosococcus are primarily based on the female morphology (McKenzie 1958, Lambdin 1980). The lack of descriptions for males is attributed to their brief seasonal appearances (lasting only a few hours) and their small size that makes collection of adult specimens difficult. As a result, adequate descriptions for only a few males of Asterolecaniidae are available for comparisons. Of those species where males are known, most descriptions are of the tests or general morphological aspects (Russell, 1941). The most comprehensive descriptions for adult males in the family were provided for Asterolecanium proteae (Giliomee 1968) and for two species of Grammococcus (Miller and Lamdin 1978).
The genus Sclerosococcus contains 4 species known from the Neotropical Region where they feed on bromelid hosts. Until now, no reference was made as to the existence of males of the species. My objective was to provide a description of the adult male of this rare species to better define the taxa.
Measurements and illustration were made by microscopic examination of the allotype male. Terminology used to describe the external morphology, with few exceptions, was adapted from Theron (1958). All measurements are presented in micrometers.
Comments
Published in Insecta Mundi Vol. 1, no. 3, October 1986. Copyright © 1986 Lambdin.
Insecta Mundi, published by the Center for Systematic Entomology, is available online at http://centerforsystematicentomology.org/.