New data on the scale insects (Hemiptera, Coccoidea) of Tenerife, Canary Islands

This short communication presents new data on 16 species of scale insects, belonging to 5 families of the Coccoidea (Hemiptera) which were collected by the author on April 1995 in the course of a short visit to Tenerife Island. Three species, indicated below with an asterisk *, are recorded here for the first time from the Canary Islands. Slide-mounted specimens of all the species recorded here are deposited in the Coccoidea Collection, Department of Entomology, Agricultural Research Organization, Bet Dagan, Israel. The collection number of each record is indicated in the Material Examined section

ISSIS-XII (Crete, Greece, April-2010) recognises Zvi Mendel for his excellence and outstanding contributions to scale insect studies

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New data on armoured scale insects (Hemiptera, Coccoidea, Diaspididae) from the Azores Islands

This short communication presents new records of four species of armoured scale insects (Diaspididae) which were recently collected from the Azores Islands. Two of these species, indicated below by an asterisk, are here reported for the first time from these islands. Voucher specimens of these records are deposited in the Coccoidea Collection of the first author

The Role of Friction in Compaction and Segregation of Granular Materials

We investigate the role of friction in compaction and segregation of granular materials by combining Edwards' thermodynamic hypothesis with a simple mechanical model and mean-field based geometrical calculations. Systems of single species with large friction coefficients are found to compact less. Binary mixtures of grains differing in frictional properties are found to segregate at high compactivities, in contrary to granular mixtures differing in size, which segregate at low compactivities. A phase diagram for segregation vs. friction coefficients of the two species is generated. Finally, the characteristics of segregation are related directly to the volume fraction without the explicit use of the yet unclear notion of compactivity.Comment: 9 pages, 6 figures, submitted to Phys. Rev.

Melanaspis madagascariensis Mamet

Melanaspis madagascariensis Mamet Melanaspis madagascariensis Mamet, 1951: 250 This species was originally described from Madagascar off Cephalanthus spatheliferus (Naucleaceae) from populations with normal diaspidoid scale covering (Mamet, 1951). Later it was recorded from Angola by Almeida (1973). The records below represent the first report on ‘scale-less’ populations of this armoured scale species in Madagascar that are associated with Melissotarsus insularis. Material studied. MADAGASCAR: Toliara Province Parc National de Tsimanampetsotsa, Mitoho Cave, 6.4 km 77 ° ENE Efoetse, 17.4 km 170 ° S Beheloka Elevation 40m 24 ° 2 ' 50 "S 43 ° 45 ' 11 ", Pachypodium geayi (Apocynaceae), 18-22. iii. 2002, BLF 6220, C- 3599; Toliara Province, Forêt de Beroboka, 5.9 km 131 ° SE Ankidranoka, Elevation 80m, 22 ° 13 ' 59 "S 43 ° 21 ' 59 "E, 12-16.iii. 2002, on Euphorbiaceae, BLF 6137, C- 3601; Toliara Province, Forêt de Mite, 20.7 km 29 ° WNW Tongobory, Elevation 75m 23 ° 31 ' 27 "S 44 ° 7 ' 17 "E, Leptadenia madagascariensis (Apocynaceae), 27.ii- 3.iii. 2002, BLF 5935, C- 3607; Toliara Province, 12.7 km 287 ° W Marovato, elevation 130m, 25 ° 32 ' 10 "S 45 ° 9 ' 1 "E, Euphorbia sp. (Euphorbiaceae), 17.ii. 2002, BLF 5699, C- 3617; Toliara Province, Forêt de Tsinjoriaky, 6.2 km 84 ° E Tsifota, elevation 70m, 22 ° 48 ' 8 "S 43 ° 25 ' 14 "E, Hilsenbergia croatii (Boraginaceae), 6.iii. 2002, BLF 6057, C- 3627; Toliara Province, Forêt de Beroboka, 5.9 km 131 ° SE Ankidranoka, elevation 80m, 22 ° 13 ' 59 "S 43 ° 21 ' 59 "E, Euphorbia antso (Euphorbiaceae), 16.iii. 2006, BLF 6106, C- 3630; Toliara Province, Mahafaly Plateau, 6.2 km 74 ° ENE Itampolo, elevation 80m, 24 ° 39 ' 13 "S 43 ° 59 ' 48 "E, Euphorbia stenoclada (Euphorbiaceae), 21.i. 2002, BLF 5830, C- 3632.Published as part of Ben-Dov, Yair, 2010, On new taxa and some described armoured scale insects (Hemiptera: Diaspididae) living in the galleries of the ant Melissotarsus insularis Santschi (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Madagascar, pp. 49-58 in Zootaxa 2368 on page 50, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.19368

Description of a new species of Odonaspis Leonardi (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Diaspididae) from Australia

Ben-Dov, Yair (2015): Description of a new species of Odonaspis Leonardi (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Diaspididae) from Australia. Zootaxa 3980 (3): 447-449, DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3980.3.

Morganella formicaria Ben-Dov

Morganella formicaria Ben-Dov n. sp (Fig. 3) Shape and colour of scale covering of the adult female unknown, since all specimens of the type-series were scale-less. Male not observed. Adult female circular-oval; 0.6–0.7 mm long, 0.4–0.5 mm wide. Pygidium with a pair of median lobes; with a pair of second lobes, about a third as long as median lobes; median lobes, without notches, separated from each other along inner margin, and without plates between lobes; each second lobe notched apically. Segmental setae on pygidial margin each 20-27 μm long. With two pairs of pygidial marginal scleroses. Without perivulvar pores. Anal opening oval, about 12 μm long, 7 μm wide; separated from pygidial apex at a distance about twice its longer axis. Vulva placed at a level about 4 times that of anal opening. Anterior and posterior spiracles without perispiracular pores. Antennal tubercle situated submarginally, with one hair. Microducts, of one-barred type, about 15 μm long, 2 μm in diameter; on venter disposed submarginally from pygidium up to level with anterior spiracle. Dorsal intersegmental line between segments IV and III present as a continuous, dark, sclerotised line; with an oval sclerotised area placed laterally on each side of this intersegmental line. With a longitudinal, sclerotised area placed laterally on each side of the vulva. Etymology. The species epithet refers to the close association of this armoured scale species with the ant, Melissotarsus insularis. Type Material. All specimens were collected in MADAGASCAR by B.L. Fisher, from galleries of Melissotarsus insularis Santschi, on various host plants. Holotype female (C- 3624: 2), Toliara Province, 6.0 km 131 ° SE, Lavanono, Soamanitra, elevation 150m, 25 ° 26 ' 44 "S 44 ° 59 ' 45 "E, Salvadora angustifolia (Salvadoraceae), 17.ii. 2002, BLF 5739. Paratype: 7 females, locality and host plant not recorded, 9.xii. 2001, BLF 4784, C- 3572. Also 3 females, Toliara Province, Forêt de Mite, 20.7 km 29 ° WNW Tongobory, elevation 75m, 23 ° 31 ' 27 "S 44 ° 7 ' 17 "E, Rinorea greveana (Violaceae), 27.ii. 2002, BLF 5926, C- 3602. Also 2 females, Toliara Province, Réserve Privé Berenty, Forêt de Bealoka, Mandraré River, 14.6 km 329 ° NNW Amboasary, elevation 35m, 24 ° 57 ' 25 "S 46 ° 16 ' 17 "E, Rinorea greveana, 3.viii. 2002, BLF 5386, C- 3604. Also 2 females, Toliara Province, Tuliara Airport, elevation 40 m, 23 ° 23 'S, 43 ° 43 'E, Azima tetracantha (Salvadoraceae), D. Burge, 7.i. 2002, DOB 128, C- 3611. Also 2 females, Toliara Province, Réserve Privé Berenty, Forêt de Malaza, Mandraré River, 8.6 km 314 ° NW Amboasary, elevation 40m, 25 °0' 28 "S 46 ° 18 ' 22 "E, Azima tetracantha, 6.ii. 2002, BLF 5435, C- 3612. Also Toliara Province, Forêt de Mite, 20.7 km 29 ° WNW Tongobory, elevation 75m, 23 ° 31 ' 27 "S 44 ° 7 ' 17 "E, Rinorea greveana, 27.ii. 2002, BLF 5895, C- 3623. 4 females, Toliara Province, 6.0 km 131 ° SE, Lavanono, Soamanitra, elevation 150m, 25 ° 26 ' 44 "S 44 ° 59 ' 45 "E, Salvadora angustifolia (Salvadoraceae), 17.ii. 2002, BLF 5739, C- 3624. Also 2 females, Toliara Province, Mahafaly Plateau, 6.2 km 74 ° ENE Itampolo, elevation 80m, 24 ° 39 ' 13 "S 43 ° 59 ' 48 "E, host plant not determined, 21.ii. 2002, BLF 5841, C- 3626. Also 2 females, Toliara Province Forêt de Beroboka, 5.9 km 131 ° SE Ankidranoka elevation 80m 22 ° 13 ' 59 "S 43 ° 21 ' 59 "E, host plant not determined, 16.iii. 2002, BLF 6107, C- 3629. Also 1 female, Toliara Province, Forêt de Beroboka, 5.9 km 131 ° SE Ankidranoka, elevation 80m, 22 ° 13 ' 59 "S 43 ° 21 ' 59 "E, Grewia cyclea (Malvaceae), 16.iii. 2002, BLF 6089, C- 3633. The holotype is deposited, in ICVI; paratypes will be deposited in the collections of BMNH, MNHN and USNM. Notes. Although this new species differs from the type species of Morganella, M. longispina (Morgan) in having two pairs of pygidial lobes, and in the absence of pygidial plates, it is here being placed in the genus Morganella because in other features of the adult female M. formicaria possess the facies of Morganella - such as prominent median lobes, absence of perivulvar pores, presence of minute microducts, and anal opening placed close to pygidial apex.Published as part of Ben-Dov, Yair, 2010, On new taxa and some described armoured scale insects (Hemiptera: Diaspididae) living in the galleries of the ant Melissotarsus insularis Santschi (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Madagascar, pp. 49-58 in Zootaxa 2368 on pages 54-56, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.19368

A note on Ferrisicoccus Ezzat & McConnell (Hem., Coccoidea, Pseudolidae)

Ben-Dov Yair. A note on Ferrisicoccus Ezzat & McConnell (Hem., Coccoidea, Pseudolidae). In: Bulletin de la Société entomologique de France, volume 104 (4), octobre 1999. p. 380

A note on Ferrisicoccus Ezzat & McConnell (Hem., Coccoidea, Pseudolidae)

Ben-Dov Yair. A note on Ferrisicoccus Ezzat & McConnell (Hem., Coccoidea, Pseudolidae). In: Bulletin de la Société entomologique de France, volume 104 (4), octobre 1999. p. 380

The rice mealybug, Brevennia rehi (Lindinger, 1943) : new synonyms, and new distribution records (Hemiptera, Coccoidea, Pseudococcidae)

Brevennia rehi (Lindinger) is newly recorded from Israel, Iraq, Azerbaijan, Tajikistan and from Brazil. Rhizoecus cynodontis Bodenheimer, 1943, and Brevennia femoralis Borchsenius, 1949, are synonymized with Brevennia rehi (Lindinger, 1943). The rice mealybug is recorded from Israel as a pest to lawn grasses, Dactyloctenium australe (Poaceae).La Cochenille farineuse du riz, Brevennia rehi (Lindinger, 1943) : nouvelles synonymies et nouvelles données biogéographiques (Hemiptera, Coccoidea, Pseudococcidae). Brevennia rehi (Lindinger, 1943) est signalé pour la première fois d'Israël, d'Iraq, d'Azerbaïdjan, du Tajikistan et du Brésil. Rhizoecus cynodontis Bodenheimer, 1943, et Brevennia femoralis Borchsenius, 1949, sont mis en synonymie avec B. rehi. La Cochenille farineuse du riz est signalée d'Israël comme un parasite nuisible à la Graminée des pelouses, Dactyloctenium australe (Poaceae).Ben-Dov Yair. The rice mealybug, Brevennia rehi (Lindinger, 1943) : new synonyms, and new distribution records (Hemiptera, Coccoidea, Pseudococcidae). In: Bulletin de la Société entomologique de France, volume 113 (1), mars 2008. pp. 85-88