Cylindrococcus facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cylindrococcus |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Gall of adult female of C. spiniferus | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
| Phylum: | |
| Class: | |
| Order: | |
| Suborder: |
Sternorrhyncha
|
| Superfamily: | |
| Family: |
Eriococcidae
|
| Genus: |
Cylindrococcus
Maskell
|
Cylindrococcus is a group of tiny scale insects. These insects are special because they create unique growths called galls on plants. They mostly live on a type of tree called Allocasuarina.
There are two known species of Cylindrococcus. Both of these species are found only in Australia. The galls made by adult female insects can be 10 to 30 millimeters long. They often look a lot like the small, cone-shaped "fruits" of the Allocasuarina tree. Because of this, people sometimes mistake them for part of the plant.
Contents
What are Cylindrococcus?
How Scientists Classify Them
Scientists group living things into categories. This helps us understand how different species are related. Cylindrococcus is currently placed in the Eriococcidae family. This family includes many types of scale insects.
In the past, Cylindrococcus was sometimes put into its own special family. But new studies, which look at the DNA of these insects, show that Cylindrococcus is closely related to other insects in the Eriococcidae family. So, its current placement is likely correct.
The Two Species of Cylindrococcus
There are two main species of Cylindrococcus that scientists recognize. They are C. casuarinae and C. spiniferus. It's quite easy to tell these two species apart by looking at the galls their adult females create.
- The galls of C. casuarinae are long and narrow. They also have a relatively smooth surface.
- The galls of C. spiniferus are wider. They also have noticeable bracts, which are like small, leaf-like growths.
In the past, two other species were named, but they are no longer considered separate. C. amplior is now grouped with C. casuarinae. Also, C. gracilis is now considered the same as C. spiniferus.
How Cylindrococcus Look
.jpg)
Like many scale insects, Cylindrococcus males and females look very different. This is called sexual dimorphism.
Female Cylindrococcus
Adult females do not have wings. They also have very small legs, making them almost legless. Their bodies are shaped like a cylinder. They are about 2 to 9 millimeters long.
There are some differences between the females of the two species:
- Adult females of C. casuarinae have large, soft, round bumps. These bumps are found where their middle and back legs would normally be.
- Adult females of C. spiniferus have hard patches in these same areas. They also have special plates with strong spines near their rear end. These spiny plates are not found in C. casuarinae.
Female Cylindrococcus are usually a reddish color. They can be reddish-brown or a deep burgundy.
Male Cylindrococcus
Adult males are much smaller than females. They are about 3 to 5 millimeters long. Unlike females, males have wings. They also have very long, thin parts for mating. Scientists think these long parts help them reach females that are deep inside the galls.
Males also create their own galls. These male galls are 7 to 17 millimeters long. They are long and thin, looking a bit like small leaves. You can usually find them on the tips of small branches.
Male Cylindrococcus are a reddish-pink color.
