Cercococcus eremobius Scott, 2016

Chris J. Hodgson & Douglas J. Williams, 2016, (Hemiptera: Sternorrhyncha, Coccomorpha) with particular reference to species from the Afrotropical, western Palaearctic and western Oriental Regions, with the revival of Antecerococcus Green and description of a new genus and fifteen new species, and with ten new synonomies, Zootaxa 4091 (1), pp. 1-175 : 47-49

Antecercococcus eremobius (Scott) , comb. nov.

( Fig. 14 )

Cercococcus eremobius Scott 1907: 455 .

Cerococcus eremobius (Scott) : Green, 1908: 41 (Change in combination).

Type details. Cercococcus eremobius Scott : ALGERIA, Djebel-el-Melah, on Helianthemum kahiricum , 25.xii.1906, J.J. Lister. Depository: BMNH: lectotype (here designated - see note below) + 3/6 paralectotype adff + many slides with bits, probably all part of type series. Although Lambdin and Kosztarab (1977) state that they deposited 1/1adf paratype in the USNM, none are present there and none are present in MNHN.

Note: Miller et al. (2005a) point out that, although Lambdin and Kosztarab (1977) refer to having seen paratypes from the USNM, Miller et al. found no evidence of a holotype and thus they considered that all types should be considered syntypes. We here designate a lectotype.

Material studied. Lectotype f: ALGERIA, Djebel-el-Melah, nr. Biskra, on Helianthemum kahiricum (Cistaceae) , 25.xii.1906, J.J. Lister (BMNH): 1/1adf (f–g). Paralectotype ff: “part of type material”, ALGERIA, on Helianthemum sp., no date or coll. (BMNH): 1/4adff (f); no site data, dorsal view, (KOH, Crawshaws magenta + picric), H. Scott (BMNH): 1/1adf (f—although labelled dorsal view, in fact with some venter). Also ALGERIA, on Helianthemum lippii , 18.iii.1928, A. Balachowsky #81 (BMNH): 1/2adff (1 specimen f, other bits); Oued Temmes, Ared de l’Staman, Hoggar, on H. lippii , 4.iii.1928, R. Maire (MNHN): 1/1adf (f–g); Oued Tammes Lezzent, Pied de l’Staman, Hoggar, H. lippii , 15.iii.1928, R. Maire (MNHN): 3/3adff (g–p); Dider, 1950m, Nr Algiers, Sahara Central, Helianthemum sp., April 1949, Balachowsky (MNHN): 1/2adff (p). TUNISIA, Boidj bou Medina, H. kahiricum , April 1929, Dumont (MNHN): 1/1adf (f).

Mounted material. Body pear-shaped, 2.0–3.0 mm long, 1.25–2.25 mm wide.

Dorsum. Eight-shaped pores of 3 sizes: (i) an unusually large pore, each 33– 40 x 23–25 µm, and (ii) an intermediate type, each 28– 30 x 15–18 µm, both abundant and fairly evenly distributed throughout dorsum anterior to cribriform plates but in a swirled pattern in places; and (iii) smaller pores, each 16– 17 x 10–12 µm, present in 2 transverse bands, 1 just anterior to and other just posterior to cribriform plates, plus a further broad band just anterior to anal plates and in a band of 12–14 along margins of posterior abdominal segments. Simple pores very sparse throughout, each 2.0–2.5 µm wide. Cribriform plates large, each 28–50 µm wide, largest probably 2 or more fused; each with a fairly narrow sclerotized margin and medium-sized micropores; in a submedial group of 2–5 (4– 9 on H. lippii ) on each side of abdominal segment IV, each group divided into an anterior and a posterior part. Dorsal setae extremely few, each setose, and mostly 5 µm long. Tubular ducts rather long, each outer duct about 35 µm long and about 4 µm wide, broader than those on venter, abundant throughout. Anal lobes membranous apart from distinctly sclerotized and mildly reticulated inner margins; each lobe 75–90 µm long, with a long apical seta at least 210 µm long; fleshy setae on dorsal surface near apex long, each about 30 µm long; more anterior fleshy setae similar, each 45–50 µm long; ventral setose setae near apex each 50–65 µm long; medioventral or outer margin setae also long, each 60–80 µm long; each lobe with 1 or 2 small 8-shaped pores. Median anal plate roundly triangular, 50–60 µm long, 35–45 µm wide at base; with a slightly serrate apex. Anal ring with 4 pairs of setae, each 90–105 µm long.

Venter. Eight-shaped pores near margin similar to those over most of dorsum but also with small pores, each 13–15 x 8–10 µm, in a sparse narrow band more medially, and very sparsely in transverse bands across all abdominal segments and along lateral margins of posterior abdominal segments. Simple pore similar to those on dorsum but very sparse. Small bilocular pores, each 5–6 µm wide, frequent medially on head and thorax. Spiracular disc-pores small, each 5–7 µm wide, mainly with 5 loculi, restricted to a fairly dense group of 20–42 just anterior to each peritreme; also with 2–6 loculate pores near each antenna, each with up to at least 8 loculi. Small convex closed pores absent. Multilocular disc-pores, each 8–9 µm wide, mainly with 10 loculi, distributed across abdominal segments as follows: VIII 5 or 6 on each side, VII 12–17 on each side of vulva; and then in bands 3–5 pores wide across segments: VI 60 –65 in total; V 100–105 in total; IV 9–15 submarginally + 95–100 medially; III 9–11 submarginally + 65–85 medially, II 4–11 submarginally + 20–25 medially, and with 1–3 on each side of metathorax but none medially; also sometimes with a few associated with spiracular disc-pores. Tubular ducts rather narrower than those on dorsum, each 2.5–3.0 µm wide and perhaps a bit shorter; present throughout. Ventral setae showing nothing distinctive; preanal setae rather variable in length, each 60–120 µm long, companion setae about 20 µm long. Leg stubs absent. Antennae unsegmented, each 35–40 µm wide, with apex drawn out into a cone-like point but without a setal cavity; with about 7 or 8 setae. Clypeolabral shield 155–185 µm long. Spiracular peritremes quite large, each 45–60 µm wide.

Comment. The above description is similar to that of Lambdin and Kosztarab (1977).

The adult female of A. eremobius can be immediately separated from all other known Antecerococcus species in having all stigmatic pore bands incomplete, the disc-pores being restricted to a small group near each spiracle. Other significant features are: (i) dorsum with particularly large 8-shaped pores; (ii) largest and intermediate-sized 8-shaped pores rather evenly and densely distributed throughout dorsum, (iii) no large 8-shaped pores present along margins of posterior abdominal segments; (iv) cribriform plates moderately large, in two submedial groups of 2–9; (v) leg stubs absent; (vi) multilocular disc-pores abundant in bands 3-5 pores wide across most abdominal segments and mediolaterally on metathorax; and (vii) apex of each antenna with a cone-like apex but no setal cavity.

The adult female of A. eremobius falls within Group A in the key to species of Antecerococcus , but has dense large 8-shaped pores on the dorsum.

Figures

FIGURE 14. Antecerococcus eremobius (Scott). Adult female.