Coccobius varicornis (Howard)

(Insecta: Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae)

Coccobius varicornis is an endoparasitoid of scales within the families Coccidae and Diaspididae, including the bald cypress scale, Diaspidiotus taxodii.

A detailed identification key of various Coccobius species was published by George Japoshvili and Ismail Karaca in 2010. The article is “The transcaucasian species of Coccobius Ratzeburg 1852 (Chalcidoidea: Aphelinidae), with the description of three new species from Georgia,” in the Journal of Hymenopteran Research 19(1), pp. 121-127.

The life cycle is completed within the host scale. After adult wasps emerge from the host mummies, females will search for new hosts, into which they deposit eggs.

Coccobius varicornis is widely distributed in the United States. This parasitoid wasp species was used as a biological control agent against armored scales in California.

Images 

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Coccobius varicornis (Howard) larva developing inside bald cypress scale
(Photographer: Lyle Buss, University of Florida)

Coccobius varicornis (Howard) developing inside bald cypress scale
(Photographer: Lyle Buss, University of Florida)

Coccobius varicornis (Howard) adult emerged from bald cypress scale
(Photographer: Lyle Buss, University of Florida)