Insecta matsumurana. New series : journal of the Faculty of Agriculture Hokkaido University, series entomology.;New Series 65

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A new form of the tribe Odonaspidini from Palawan Island, representing a unique adaptive type (Sternorrhyncha: Coccoidea: Diaspididae)

Takagi, Sadao;Takagi, Sadao

Permalink : http://hdl.handle.net/2115/39312

Abstract

Batarasa lumampao, gen. et sp. nov., is described from the Batarasa District, Palawan Island, the Philippines. It occurs on the bamboo Schizostachyum lumampao, and exclusively on the node, where branches grow out. It is referable to the tribe Odonaspidini, but quite extraordinary for a member of the tribe: adult females live in a crowded colony, standing on the head; no test of distinct shape is formed; the pygidium is exposed and peculiar in structure, and is supposed to serve as a protective shield. Batarasa represents a unique adaptive type in association with the habitat, and thus it has established its own adaptive zone. Batarasa lumampao is provided with invaginated glanduliferous tubes on the pygidium in the adult female and also in the second-instar female and male. The presence of this feature may be supposed to indicate that Batarasa is related to Circulaspis and Dicirculaspis, but there is no further evidence for this supposed relationship.

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