Conchaspis capensis
Encyclopedia
Conchaspis capensis is a species
of scale insect
from South Africa
found on Metalasia muricata and Phylica
species. It was originally described by Carl Linnaeus in his 1763 work Centuria Insectorum
.
s. The animals normally have three segments to the antennae
, although there may be as many as five. The multilocular pores (the pores through which scale insects secrete the waxy scale) are found on segments 3 to 5 of the abdomen
and sometimes on the sixth segment as well, but not the thorax
; they are often arranged in clusters of 2–3 pores. The head and thorax are expanded on either side. There is also considerable reduction in the legs
, with various segments being fused together.
, several species of Phylica
have acted as hosts, including Phylica axillaris, Phylica capitata, Phylica nervosa and Phylica stipularis, while in the Compositae
(=Asteraceae), only Metalasia muricata has been recorded as a host for C. capensis, and this may refer to Metalasia densa, which was not differentiated from Metalasia muricata in Linnaeus' time.
by the province's governor, Ryk Tulbagh
. It is unclear whether Tulbagh deliberately sent the scale insects, or whether they were merely attached to a plant which Tulbagh sent to Linnaeus.
Linnaeus' description appeared in Centuria Insectorum
, a thesis defended by Linnaeus' student Boas Johansson. Conchaspis phylicae, described by Mamet in 1954, is a subjective synonym. C. capensis was moved to the genus Conchaspis by Yair Ben-Dov in 1981. The species has no common name.
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
of scale insect
Scale insect
The scale insects are small insects of the order Hemiptera, generally classified as the superfamily Coccoidea. There are about 8,000 species of scale insects.-Ecology:...
from South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
found on Metalasia muricata and Phylica
Phylica
Phylica is a genus of plants in the family Rhamnaceae. It contains about 150 species, the majority of which are restricted to South Africa, where they form part of the ...
species. It was originally described by Carl Linnaeus in his 1763 work Centuria Insectorum
Centuria Insectorum
is a 1763 taxonomic work by Carl Linnaeus, and defended as a thesis by Boas Johansson; which of the two men should be credited with its authorship has been the subject of some controversy. It includes descriptions of 102 new insect and crustacean species that had been sent to Linnaeus from...
.
Description
A number of characteristics differentiate Conchaspis capensis from other scale insectScale insect
The scale insects are small insects of the order Hemiptera, generally classified as the superfamily Coccoidea. There are about 8,000 species of scale insects.-Ecology:...
s. The animals normally have three segments to the antennae
Antenna (biology)
Antennae in biology have historically been paired appendages used for sensing in arthropods. More recently, the term has also been applied to cilium structures present in most cell types of eukaryotes....
, although there may be as many as five. The multilocular pores (the pores through which scale insects secrete the waxy scale) are found on segments 3 to 5 of the abdomen
Abdomen
In vertebrates such as mammals the abdomen constitutes the part of the body between the thorax and pelvis. The region enclosed by the abdomen is termed the abdominal cavity...
and sometimes on the sixth segment as well, but not the thorax
Thorax (insect anatomy)
The thorax is the mid section of the insect body. It holds the head, legs, wings and abdomen. It is also called mesosoma in other arthropods....
; they are often arranged in clusters of 2–3 pores. The head and thorax are expanded on either side. There is also considerable reduction in the legs
Arthropod leg
The arthropod leg is a form of jointed appendage of arthropods, usually used for walking. Many of the terms used for arthropod leg segments are of Latin origin, and may be confused with terms for bones: coxa , trochanter , femur, tibia, tarsus, ischium, metatarsus, carpus, dactylus ,...
, with various segments being fused together.
Host plants
C. capensis has been found on a range of host plants, belonging to two families. In the RhamnaceaeRhamnaceae
Rhamnaceae, the Buckthorn family, is a large family of flowering plants, mostly trees, shrubs and some vines.The family contains 50-60 genera and approximately 870-900 species. The Rhamnaceae have a worldwide distribution, but are more common in the subtropical and tropical regions...
, several species of Phylica
Phylica
Phylica is a genus of plants in the family Rhamnaceae. It contains about 150 species, the majority of which are restricted to South Africa, where they form part of the ...
have acted as hosts, including Phylica axillaris, Phylica capitata, Phylica nervosa and Phylica stipularis, while in the Compositae
Asteraceae
The Asteraceae or Compositae , is an exceedingly large and widespread family of vascular plants. The group has more than 22,750 currently accepted species, spread across 1620 genera and 12 subfamilies...
(=Asteraceae), only Metalasia muricata has been recorded as a host for C. capensis, and this may refer to Metalasia densa, which was not differentiated from Metalasia muricata in Linnaeus' time.
Taxonomy
Conchaspis capensis was first described by Carl Linnaeus as Coccus capensis, based on material he had been sent from the Cape of Good HopeCape of Good Hope
The Cape of Good Hope is a rocky headland on the Atlantic coast of the Cape Peninsula, South Africa.There is a misconception that the Cape of Good Hope is the southern tip of Africa, because it was once believed to be the dividing point between the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. In fact, the...
by the province's governor, Ryk Tulbagh
Ryk Tulbagh
Ryk or "Rijk Tulbagh was Governor of the Cape Colony from 27 February 1751 to 11 August 1771....
. It is unclear whether Tulbagh deliberately sent the scale insects, or whether they were merely attached to a plant which Tulbagh sent to Linnaeus.
Linnaeus' description appeared in Centuria Insectorum
Centuria Insectorum
is a 1763 taxonomic work by Carl Linnaeus, and defended as a thesis by Boas Johansson; which of the two men should be credited with its authorship has been the subject of some controversy. It includes descriptions of 102 new insect and crustacean species that had been sent to Linnaeus from...
, a thesis defended by Linnaeus' student Boas Johansson. Conchaspis phylicae, described by Mamet in 1954, is a subjective synonym. C. capensis was moved to the genus Conchaspis by Yair Ben-Dov in 1981. The species has no common name.