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Issue: Vol. 5647 No. 2: 13 Jun. 2025
Type: Article
Published: 2025-06-13
DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5647.2.3
Page range: 131-144
Abstract views: 63
PDF downloaded: 2

Two new ant-attended species of the soft scale insect genus Coccus L. (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Coccidae) from India, with a key to Indian Coccus species

Department of Agricultural Entomology; Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya; Mohanpur; Nadia-741252; West Bengal; India.
Department of Agricultural Entomology; Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya; Mohanpur; Nadia-741252; West Bengal; India.
Department of Agricultural Entomology; Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya; Mohanpur; Nadia-741252; West Bengal; India.; AICR Project on Medicinal & Aromatic Plants and Betelvine; Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya; Kalyani; Nadia-741235; West Bengal; India.
Hemiptera New species Mangifera indica Citrus Oecophylla Sternorrhyncha West Bengal

Abstract

Two new species of the soft scale genus Coccus Linnaeus (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Coccidae) from West Bengal, India, are described and illustrated based on mature adult females: Coccus mondouriensis Das, Pramanik & Das, sp. nov. on Mangifera indica L. (Anacardiaceae) and C. oecophyllae Das, Pramanik & Das, sp. nov. on Citrus aurantifolia (Christm.) (Rutaceae). Coccus mondouriensis is morphologically very similar to C. ophiorrhizae (Green), while the species most similar to C. oecophyllae are C. ficola Choi & Lee and C. discrepans (Green). The weaver ant, Oecophylla smaragdina Fabricius (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) was found tending an exposed colony of C. mondouriensis, whereas C. oecophyllae was only found inside the leaf nest of the ant on Citrus aurantifolia. An updated identification key to the Indian species of Coccus is provided.

 

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How to Cite

Das, A., Pramanik, A. & Das, B.K. (2025) Two new ant-attended species of the soft scale insect genus Coccus L. (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Coccidae) from India, with a key to Indian Coccus species. Zootaxa, 5647 (2), 131–144. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5647.2.3