Neoceruraphis Shaposhnikov, 1956

Stekolshchikov, Andrey V., 2022, Revision of the genus Neoceruraphis Shaposhnikov, 1956 (Hemiptera: Aphididae), Zootaxa 5159 (1), pp. 23-63 : 25-26

Neoceruraphis Shaposhnikov, 1956

Shaposhnikov (1956): 285.

Type species. Aphis viburnicola Gillette, 1909 , by original designation.

Etymology. Named from the closely related genus Ceruraphis and “neo-” from “neos” (Greek, “new”). Gender: feminine.

Description. Body egg-shaped, elongate egg-shaped, broadly egg-shaped, elongate elliptical or broadly elliptical. Apterous morphs from the primary host are almost unsclerotized, whereas alatae and apterae from the secondary host are intensely sclerotized, often with a single sclerotized shield on the dorsal surface of the body, and alatae also have paired sclerotized maculae located on the ventral side along the margins of the abdominal sternites. Setae on body and appendages pointed, finely pointed, or occasionally blunt. Marginal and sometimes spinal tubercles are present in most morphs. Head of most morphs with epicranial suture absent or very rare with weak traces present or with clear traces only in the fundatrices. Frontal tubercles weakly developed, sometimes frons nearly straight. Antennae 5- or 6-segmented, with secondary rhinaria present in all morphs except fundatrices and oviparous females; they are oval or sometimes, round, more or less protuberant, with a chitinous ridge. Primary rhinaria are surrounded by long cilia. Ultimate rostral segment wedge-shaped or elongated wedge-shaped. Arms of mesosternal furca of apterous morphs separated. Spiracles reniform or rounded reniform. Siphunculi are cylindrical or elongate-conical, distinctly tapering towards the apex, with a well-developed wide flange, sometimes with finely pointed setae. Surface of the siphunculi is evenly covered with long rows of large pointed or blunt spinules and only in oviparous females the surface of the siphunculi is covered with scales formed by partially fused spinules. At the apex of the siphunculus, under the flange, there is a row of weakly expressed cells. Subgenital plate oval. Cauda escutcheonshaped, rounded escutcheon-shaped or elongated escutcheon-shaped. Individuals of all parthenogenetic morphs on distal part of hind tibiae have round, weakly convex pheromone plates (scent glands), only absent in most gynoparae.

Diagnosis. The genus Neoceruraphis is very close to Ceruraphis , which currently includes two species— Ceruraphis eriophori ( Walker, 1848) and C. eastopi Hille Ris Lambers, 1966 ( Blackman & Eastop 2021; Favret 2021). Neoceruraphis clearly differs from Ceruraphis by the following characters:

1) Surface of the siphunculi of all morphs of Neoceruraphis except oviparous females is evenly covered with long rows of large pointed or blunt spinules. Surface of the siphunculi of oviparous females is covered with scales formed by partially fused spinules. Siphunculi of C. eriophori very rough and coarsely imbricated, of C. eastopi weakly and sparsely imbricated or with a few wavy lines of blunt spicules.

2) Individuals of all parthenogenetic morphs on distal part of hind tibiae have round, weakly convex pheromone plates (scent glands), which are absent only in most gynoparae. Pheromone plates are absent on hind tibiae of all parthenogenetic morphs of Ceruraphis .

3) Body of apterous viviparous females from the secondary host broadly egg-shaped, 1.6–1.7 times as long as wide. Apterae of C. eriophori on the secondary hosts are elongate oval, 2.0–2.4 times as long as wide (apterae of C. eastopi from the secondary hosts unknown).

4) The body and appendages are covered with numerous setae, while in the species of the genus Ceruraphis , the setae are relatively sparse and not so numerous on the appendages.