Rhizococcus coccineus (Cockerell, 1894)
cactus eriococcin, cactus mealybug
on Cactaceae
leg M Shutta © United States National Collection of Scale Insects Photographs: larvae and ovisic
leg K Brown © United States National Collection of Scale Insects Photograph: the ovisac often is formed on a spine
parasite
Adult females, oval, 3 mm, purplish.
host plants
Cactaceae, oligophagous
Opuntia ficus-indica.
In greenhouses and botanical gardens on a wide range of other genera, including Astrophytum, Cereus, Cleistocactus, Echinocactus, Echinocereus, Echinopsis, Hylocereus, Mammillaria, Neobuxbaumia, Pelecyphora, Rebutia, Rhipsalis, Selenicereus, Thelocactus, Wilcoxia.
distribution within Europe
synonyms
Acanthococus, Eriococcus coccineus.
references
Kozár, Kaydan, Konczné Benedicty & Szita (2013a).