Paraputo kukumi Williams, 1960

Williams, D. J., 2005, An account of the mealybug genus Paraputo Laing (Hemiptera: Coccoidea: Pseudococcidae) in the Pacific region, Journal of Natural History 39 (37), pp. 3343-3358 : 3351-3357

Paraputo kukumi Williams

( Figures 4 , 5 )

Paraputo kukumi Williams 1960, p 419 ; Williams and Watson 1988, p 151; Tang 1992, p 308; Ben-Dov 1994, p 284. Lectotype adult ♀, Solomon Islands, Guadalcanal, Kukum, on Cocos nucifera , designated by Williams and Watson 1988, p 151.

Cataenococcus kukumi (Williams) , Matile-Ferrero 1978, p 52.

Description

Body of adult female ( Figure 4 ) on microscope slide, broadly oval, 1.85–2.40 mm long, 1.45–2.50 mm wide. Anal lobes poorly developed, ventral surface of each lobe with a small sclerotized area, occasionally barely perceptible, and an apical seta 70–125 Mm long, sometimes difficult to distinguish from surrounding setae. Antennae each 300–360 Mm long, usually with six segments. Legs well developed; hind trochanter+femur 260–300 Mm long, hind tibia+tarsus 210–250 Mm long; claw stout, 50–55 Mm long. Ratio of lengths of hind tibia+tarsus to hind trochanter+femur 0.70–0.92. Ratio of lengths of hind tibia to tarsus 1.08–2.33. Translucent pores present on anterior and posterior surfaces of hind coxa and on posterior surface of hind tibia. Tarsal digitules pointed. Labium 250–280 Mm long, 160–180 Mm wide, about same length as clypeolabral shield. Circulus 90–95 Mm wide, with faint intersegmental line. Ostioles present, well developed, with inner edges of lips sclerotized, each lip with concentrations of setae and trilocular pores. Anal ring 100 Mm long, 80–90 Mm wide, usually with six setae, each 80–100 Mm long, and sometimes accompanied by as many as two shorter setae. Cerarii numbering 17 basic pairs. Anal lobe cerarii each with numerous conical setae of different sizes occupying most of lobe margin, usually two setae longer than others, longest setae each 20 Mm long, 5 Mm wide at base, accompanied by numerous trilocular pores on a membranous area. Anterior cerarii similar to anal lobe pair, sometimes with long flagellate setae in addition and with anterior and posterior groups of conical setae; trilocular pores present in a band around entire margin so that cerarii appear as a continuous row.

Dorsal surface with long flagellate setae present, mostly about 70 Mm long except for setae flanking anal ring where longest 90 Mm long. Multilocular disc pores absent. Trilocular pores fairly numerous, evenly distributed. Discoidal pores minute, about same size as a single loculus of a trilocular pore.

Ventral surface with similar setae present to those on dorsum. Multilocular disc pores, each about 7.5 Mm in diameter, situated posterior to vulva, in single medial rows at posterior edges of abdominal segments V and VI and in double row at posterior edge of abdominal segment VII. Trilocular pores evenly distributed. Discoidal pores, same as those on dorsum, scattered. Oral collar tubular ducts, each conspicuously wider than a trilocular pore, about 7.5 Mm long, 5 Mm wide, present across medial areas of abdominal segments III–VI and sparse on abdominal segment VII; present also in marginal groups on abdominal segments II–VII and sparsely distributed around anterior margins of body to area between antennae; one or two ducts sometimes present also between anal lobes.

Third-instar female ( Figure 5 )

Body on microscope slide, 1.12–1.30 mm long, 0.85–1.05 mm wide. Anal lobes poorly developed, each ventral surface with an apical seta 95 Mm long. Antennae each 270–300 Mm long, with six segments. Legs well developed; hind trochanter+femur 200–300 Mm long, hind tibia+tarsus 200–210 Mm long; claw about 40 Mm long. Ratio of lengths of hind tibia+tarsus to hind trochanter+femur 0.86–1.00. Ratio of lengths of hind tibia to tarsus 0.90–1.00. Translucent pores absent. Labium about 180 Mm long. Circulus 60–95 Mm wide. Ostioles well developed, each lip with a few setae and trilocular pores; posterior lip of each posterior pair usually without setae. Anal ring about 75 Mm long, 62 Mm wide, with six setae, each about 65 Mm long. Cerarii numbering 17 distinct pairs. Anal lobe cerarii each with two or three conical setae, each about 20 Mm long, 5 Mm wide at base, and a few trilocular pores. Anterior cerarii each with multiple conical setae, some cerarii on head and thorax with additional flagellate setae.

Dorsal surface with slender flagellate setae present, 40–65 Mm long; setae flanking anal ring 90–105 Mm long. Trilocular pores evenly distributed. Discoidal pores minute, sparse.

Ventral surface with slender flagellate setae. Multilocular disc pores and oral collar tubular ducts absent. Trilocular pores evenly distributed.

Material examined

Fiji, Taveuni, on coconut, Cocos nucifera (Arecaceae) , 18 July 1957 (coll. J. S. Pillai) (BMNH).

Solomon Islands, Guadalcanal, Kukum, on aerial shoot of C. nucifera , 14 August 1948 (coll. B.A. O’Connor); Santa Cruz Group, Reef Island, on roots of C. nucifera , March 1984 (BMNH).

Comments

This species was described originally from the Solomon Islands on the roots and aerial shoots of coconut. The present record from Fiji, also on coconut, suggests that P. kukumi is extending its range. No damage has been reported so far. The large oral collar tubular ducts on the venter of the adult female, all noticeably wider than the trilocular pores, distinguish this species from all others in the Pacific region. Although the numbers of cerarii in the adult female are sometimes difficult to determine because there are additional anterior and posterior groups of conical setae and trilocular pores to each cerarius, the exact number of 17 pairs can be determined more easily in the immature instars as shown in the third-instar female ( Figure 5 ).

Paraputo leveri (Green)

( Figure 6)

Pseudococcus leveri Green 1934, p 473 . Lectotype adult ♀, Solomon Islands (BMNH), designated by Williams and Watson 1988, p 153.

Paraputo leveri (Green) , Williams 1960, p 421; Beardsley 1966, p 430; Williams and Watson 1988, p 153; Tang 1992, p 309; Ben-Dov 1994, p 284; Williams 2004, p 530. Cataenococcus leveri (Green) , Matile-Ferrero 1978, p 52; Williams and Butcher 1987, p 91; Williams 1987, p 2.

Description

Body of adult female broadly oval. Antennae six-segmented, rarely seven-segmented. Legs well developed, with translucent pores on anterior and posterior surfaces of each hind coxa and others present on posterior surfaces of each hind femur and tibia. Cerarii numbering 18 distinct pairs, each cerarius with multiple slender conical setae, cerarii on thorax and anterior abdominal segments usually with fewer conical setae; sometimes, in any cerarius, one or two conical setae replaced by slender setae. Anal ring situated 1.0–1.5 times its length from apex of abdomen, bearing six setae. Obanal and cisanal setae stout, situated posterior to anal ring. Dorsal setae short and stiff, often curved, 17.5–25 Mm long, except for longer setae 75–85 Mm flanking anal ring. Multilocular disc pores present on venter only posterior to vulva and medially across posterior edges of abdominal segments V – VII in single to double rows. Oral collar tubular ducts present on venter, of two main sizes. A small type of duct, distributed medially on abdominal segments IV – VII. A slightly larger type of duct, present in marginal groups on abdominal segments IV – VII and posterior to vulva. A small sclerotized patch present on venter of each anal lobe. Circulus divided by intersegmental line .

Material examined

American Samoa, intercepted at Hawaii, Honolulu, on stem of Bischofia javanica (‘O’a tree) ( Euphorbiaceae ), 31 March 1977 (coll. Tenney) (USNM).

Fiji, Viti Levu, Naivicula, on Bischofia javanica (Euphorbiaceae) , 23 November 1957 (coll. B. A. O’Connor) (BMNH); Nausori, on B. javanica , 4 December 1957 (coll. B. A. O’Connor) (BMNH).

Papua New Guinea, Morobe Province, Mumeng, on Coffea arabica (Rubiaceae) , 12 July 1960 (coll. A. Catley); Watut River, on roots of C. arabica , 2 July 1963, attended by ant Pheidole megacephala (coll. J. J. H. Szent-Ivany, B. J. Kebbey); Milne Bay Province, Inanianene Village, on roots of C. canephora , September 1959 (coll. K. S. Cole) (all BMNH).

Solomon Islands, no locality, on Cocos nucifera (Arecaceae) , January 1932 (coll. R. A. Lever); Russell Is, Fai Ami, on roots of C. nucifera , 9 November 1955; Ngella, Votilau, on roots of C. nucifera , 10 November 1956; Guadalcanal, Kukum, on C. nucifera , 14 August 1948 (coll. B. A. O’Connor), 4 October 1956 (coll. E. S. Brown); Tenaru, on roots of C. nucifera , 31 July 1954; Rua Vatu, on roots of C. nucifera , 19 November 1954; Malaita, Baunani, on roots of C. nucifera , 10 November 1954; Rendova, on Ficus sp. (Moraceae) , 8 October 1954; San Cristobal, Ugi, Three Sisters, Boroni, April 1955, on C. nucifera, Waimamura , on C. nucifera , Inocarpus edulis (Fabaceae) , April 1955, Kira Kira, on Ficus sp. , 20 August 1956 (all BMNH).

Tonga, Tongatapu group , Tongatapu, Nukunuka , 23 May 1975, on bark of Bischofia javanica (coll. W. C. Pierce) ( BMNH) .

Vanuatu, Malekula, near Mae, on Ficus sp. , 25 November 1983 (coll. P. A. Maddison) (BMNH); Tanna, Lenakel, on Ficus sp. , 12 March 1980 (coll. N. L. H. Krauss) (BMNH); no locality, on Balanophora sp. (Balanophoraceae) , 7 June 1971 (coll. K. E. Lee) (BMNH).

Western Samoa, intercepted at Hawaii, Honolulu, on Colocasia esculenta (Araceae) , 16 July 1984 (coll. Onizuka, Kagawa) (USNM). Upolu, Apia, under bark of tree, February 1955 (coll. N. L. H. Krauss) (USNM).

Comments

Paraputo leveri is now a widespread species in the Pacific region and it has been recorded also from Java, Sabah, and Thailand by Williams (2004). In Papua New Guinea, as discussed by Williams (1987), it causes damage to coffee roots (reported earlier by Szent- Ivany and Stevens 1966). Beardsley (1966) recorded P. leveri from Tobi in the Caroline Islands (now Republic of Palau) when it was collected on an injured coconut trunk.

Williams and Watson (1988) discussed this species from the tropical South Pacific region and new records herein indicate that it is present also in American Samoa and Western Samoa. This mealybug is often found on roots and may be carried accidentally on plant material. It is a possible invasive species.

Key to adult females of Paraputo of the Pacific region

1. Multilocular disc pores absent. Cerarii numbering nine pairs only, including frontal pair............... guadalcanalae sp. nov.

– Multilocular disc pores present. Cerarii numbering 17 or 18 pairs..... 2

2. Oral collar tubular ducts on venter noticeably wider than trilocular pores. Cerarii numbering 17 pairs............. kukumi Williams

– Oral collar tubular ducts on venter no wider than trilocular pores, usually much narrower. Cerarii numbering 18 pairs............ 3

3. Cerarii distinct and easily distinguishable, each mostly lacking additional anterior and posterior groups of conical setae and trilocular pores....... 4

– Cerarii appearing as a continuous row, each cerarius with anterior and posterior groups of conical setae and trilocular pores...... chimbuensis sp. nov.

4. Dorsal setae mostly short and stiff, 17.5–25.0 Mm long. Translucent pores present on each hind femur and tibia............ leveri (Green)

– Dorsal setae mostly noticeably longer and flagellate, 40–75 Mm long. Translucent pores absent from each hind femur and tibia..... aracearum sp. nov.

Figures

Figure 4. Paraputo kukumi Williams, adult female.

Figure 5. Paraputo kukumi Williams, third-instar female.