Valid Names Results

Coccus centurionum (Das, Ravindranath, Pramanik & Das, 2028) (Coccidae: Coccus)

Nomenclatural History

• Coccusd centurionum Das, Ravindranath, Pramanik & Das 2028: 136. Type data: INDIA: Thrissur, Kerala, / on Mangifera indica L., 01/26/2026, by A. Das. Holotype, female, by original designation Type depository: Calcutta: National Zoological Collection, Zoological Survey of India, India; accepted valid name Notes: Paratypes: Same collection data as holotype, 14 adult ♀♀ mounted singly on slides (5 Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata, India, 9 Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Nadia, West Bengal, India) (Zoological Survey of India, Registration No. 95/H15/T). Illustr.

Common Names

Ecological Associates

Hosts:

Families: 1 | Genera: 1

Associates:

Families: 1 | Genera: 1

Geographic Distribution

Keys

• DasRaPr2026: pp.141-142 ( Adult (F) ) [Indian species of Coccus]

Remarks

• Systematics: Coccus centurionum is closely related to Coccus almoraensis Avasthi & Shafee, 1983, sharing several important morphological features, including: (i) presence of dorsal submarginal tubercles and ventral tubular ducts; (ii) well developed legs lacking a tibio-tarsal articulatory scleroses; (iii) absence of preopercular pores; (iv) marginal setae with frayed, bifurcate or pointed apices; (v) absence of dorsal tubular ducts; (vi) anogenital fold bearing two pairs of anterior margin setae and with two setae on each lateral margin; and (vii) two pairs of interantennal setae. C. centurionum can be clearly distinguished by having (character states of C. almoraensis in parenthesis): (i) three pairs of pregenital setae, (only two pairs); and (ii) ventral tubular ducts absent from near coxae (ducts present in groups near fore and hind coxae). Coccus centurionum is also closely related to C. oecophyllae Das, Pramanik & Das, sharing several important character states including: (i) presence of dorsal submarginal tubercles and ventral tubular ducts; (ii) absence of preopercular pores; (iii) marginal setae with frayed, bifurcate or pointed apices; (iv) antennae usually each with 7 segments; (v) three pairs of pregenital setae; (vi) anogenital fold bearing two pairs of anterior margin setae and two setae on each lateral margin; and (vii) two pairs of interantennal setae. However, C. centurionum can be readily distinguished from C. oecophyllae by the following combination of characters (character states of C. oecophyllae in parentheses): (i) dorsal setae uniform, with slightly blunt apices (dorsal setae dimorphic, consisting of spinose setae with pointed or slightly blunt apices and cylindrical setae with slightly enlarged, rounded apices); (ii) marginal setae mostly with simple pointed apices (70–75%), the remaining 20–25% having bifid or weakly fimbriate apices (marginal setae usually strongly bifid or weakly to moderately fimbriate, with only a few having simple pointed apices); (iii) legs lacking tibiotarsal articulatory scleroses (tibiotarsal articulatory scleroses present); (iv) dorsal tubular ducts absent (dorsal tubular ducts present); and (v) pregenital disc-pores each with 6–10 loculi (10–12 loculi). Coccus centurionum is also similar to C. hesperidum Linnaeus in sharing several important character states including: (i) presence of dorsal submarginal tubercles and ventral tubular ducts; (ii) marginal setae with frayed or pointed apices; (iii) antennae usually each with 7 segments; and (iv) three pairs of pregenital setae. However, C. centurionum can be readily distinguished from C. hesperidum by the following combination of characters (character states of C. hesperidum are given in parentheses): (i) preopercular pores absent (preopercular pores present); (ii) legs lacking tibiotarsal articulatory scleroses (tibiotarsal articulatory scleroses present); (iii) dorsal tubular ducts absent (dorsal tubular ducts present); and (iv) pregenital disc-pores each with 6–10 loculi (10 loculi). (Das, et al., 2026)
• Structure: Body of live adult female broadly oval with median region slightly convex, light yellowish except entire dorsum with a roughly symmetrical network of dark brown reticulations on either side, forming distinct celllike patterns. In immature individuals, these markings are faint or sometimes absent, whereas in mature females the reticulate pattern becomes well developed and obvious. Slide-mounted adult female body broadly oval, 2.2–2.4 mm long and 1.4–1.8 mm wide; anal cleft 350–420 μm long, one-sixth to one-seventh of length of body.(Das, et al., 2026)
• Biology: A large number of ants were observed tending the exposed scale insect colony, while several scale insects were also found within the nest of the weaver ant. (Das, et al., 2026)
• General Remarks: Detailed description, photographs and illustration in Das, et al., 2026.

Illustrations

Citations