Aclerda, Signoret, 1874

Hodgson, Chris, 2020, A review of neococcid scale insects (Hemiptera: Sternorrhyncha: Coccomorpha) based on the morphology of the adult males, Zootaxa 4765 (1), pp. 1-264 : 215-216

II. Aclerda sp. C.

USA: Texas, Weslaco, on Johnson Grass ( Poaceae ), 11.v.1949, P.T. Riherd, Vial 7, 49-1028 (USNM): 1/1ad ♂.

Both A. holci and Aclerda sp. C were very similar to the species described above, sharing the following characters: (i) the presence of the sclerite on the membranous area bounded by the mesopostnotum laterally and the scutellum anteriorly; (ii) the absence of a “proper” postnotal apophysis; (iii) the presence of a well-developed prealare ridge; (iv) the same basic head structure; (v) presence of a well-developed preoral tentorial bridge; (vi) presence of convex pores on the dorsum; (vii) presence of spiracular disc-pores; (viii) particularly large lateropleurite; (ix) arms of furca rather parallel; (x) posterior position of metathoracic spiracles posterior to mesocoxae; (xi) a narrow, parallel-sided prealare; (xii) wings long and narrow; (xiii) scutum reticulated laterad to scutellum; (xiv) pronotal ridge fused; and (xv) the same basic genital structure. Both species differed from three of the species described in detail above in having a long ventral median crest, which extended posteriorly to almost level with the base of each scape. A. holci also had the trochanter rather swollen as in some of the species above, each with a short trochanter seta, while the trochanter of Aclerda sp. C were not noticeably swollen. Both species lack glandular pouches but have a long pleural seta on abdominal segment VIII, with those of A. holci longer than the penial sheath. The ocelli on Aclerda sp. C were very obvious, those on A. holci much less so.

General comment. Aclerdid males seem to share very few characters with male coccids, perhaps the main ones being the presence of the membranous area on the scutum and the absence of the tarsal campaniform pore.

In addition to the genus Aclerda , the Aclerdinae include Lecanoclerda and Nipponaclerda . The adult male of Lecanoclerda macropoda is the only Aclerdinae species where the adult female has well-developed legs; the adult male is shown in Fig. 84 . Nipponaclerda includes 4 species, all from Asia. The adult male of only the type species has been briefly described and illustrated (McConnel, 1954). Whilst the adult female clearly belongs to the Aclerdinae (but has marginal setae around the entire margin), the adult male ( Fig. 85 ) is apterous, without any dermal sclerotised thoracic plates, the legs are very much reduced, with the anterior legs 1 segmented and the meso- and metathoracic legs 3 or 4 segmented, the antennae are one-segmented, each with a bunch of setae, and the penial sheath is very short and blunt. Morphologically, there are thus very few clues as to its relationships based on the adult male.

Figures

FIGURE 84. Lecanaclerda macropoda Hodgson & Millar. Macropterous male. (Aclerdidae. Aclerdinae). Where A=cranial apophysis, D=simple pore, K=apex of antennal capitate seta and R=dermal reticulations on ocular sclerite.

FIGURE 85. Nipponaclerda biwakoensis (Kuwana). Apterous male. (Aclerdidae, Aclerdina) (after McConnell, 1954). Where H=antenna, I=anterior leg, J=posterior spiracle, K=metathoracic leg, and L=ventral view of penial sheath.