Antecerococcus gabonensis (Lambdin) Lambdin, 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 : 51-54

Antecerococcus gabonensis (Lambdin) , comb. nov.

( Fig. 16 )

Cerococcus gabonensis Lambdin 1983: 75 –77.

Type details. GABON, Ikoy-Banja, on Musanga sp., -. vii.1962, C. Brunck. Depository: MNHN: holotype adf (MNHN No. 2832-2); paratype adff, same data as holotype, 2/2adff (MNHN 2832-1; MNHN 2832-3). Although Lambdin (1983) states that a paratype was deposited in the USNM, it is not there (Miller, pers. comm.)

Material studied. Paratype: GABON, Ikoy-Bandje, on Musanga sp. ( Urticaceae ), -. vii.1962, Brunck (USNM): 1/1adf (f—distorted). Also: MALAWI, no other site information, on Uapaca kirkiana ( Phyllanthaceae ,?2000, VKH8 (BMNH): 2/5 adff (f–g; previously identified as C.? theydoni ).

Note: main description taken from type specimen; data in [...] brackets for the specimens from Malawi.

Mounted material. Body roundly to oval pear-shaped, 2.15 [2.0–2.8] mm long, 1.67 [1.5–2.75] mm wide.

Dorsum. Eight-shaped pores of 3 or 4 sizes: (i) largest 17–20 x 8–12 [16– 21 x 12–13] µm, present in a submarginal line on posterior abdominal segments, each margin with a line of 6 pores posteriorly and a slightly more anterior group of 11–14 pores; (ii) slightly smaller large pores (each 16 x 12 [15– 20 x 12–14] µm), in swirls [more obvious in Malawi material] throughout most of dorsum apart from medially on posterior abdominal segments, but sparse or absent in a few clear areas; (iii) medium-sized 8-shaped pores, each 10–12 x 5.0–5.5 [8–10 x 5.0–5.5] µm, present associated with larger pore and also present in most clear areas and in bands across dorsum of posterior abdominal segments, where slightly smaller, each 8 x 4 [8 x 3.0–3.5] µm; and (iv) a very small 8- shaped pore, each 4.0–4.5 x 2.5 [5 x 3] µm, usually present at apex of each disc-pore band, with 2 [1 or 2] per band. Simple pores very sparse throughout, each 3–5 µm wide. Cribriform plates of moderate size, slightly irregular in shape [occasionally fused?], each 16–20 [16–40] µm widest, with a fairly narrow sclerotized margin; in a submedial group of 4 [3–6] on each side of abdominal segment IV. Dorsal setae few near apex of each disc-pore band, each setose and about 10 µm long; usually with 2 associated with each anterior band and 1 with each posterior band. Tubular ducts each 25–27 µm long; outer ductule clearly wider than those on venter, abundant. Anal lobes membranous apart from inner margin which is distinctly sclerotized and slightly reticulated; each lobe about 100 [90] µm long with a long apical seta, each broken [225+] µm long; dorsal fleshy setae short and stout and generally bent, each seta near apex 20–22 [25] µm long, more anterior fleshy setae longer and stouter, each 23 [25–32] µm long; ventral setae near apex stoutly setose, each 22 µm long (30 µm long); medioventral setae not detected [occasionally present and each 14–18 µm long]; each lobe with 1 intermediate and 1 small 8-shaped pore. Medial anal plate 50 [45–50] µm long, 50 [60] wide; generally with a slightly serrate apex. Anal ring with 4 pairs of setae, each about 80 [105–110] µm long.

Venter. Medium-sized pores, each 10 x 5.0–5.5 [8 x 5–6] µm, in a fairly narrow marginal band and also present sparsely across posterior abdominal segments and very sparsely around mouthparts. Simple pores similar to those on dorsum but sparse. Small bilocular pores, each about 5 x 4 [5 x 4.5] µm, present medially on head and thorax. Spiracular disc-pores small, each 3.0–5.0 µm wide (largest near apex of band) with mainly 5 loculi but sometimes 6 at apex of band, sparse in narrow bands extending onto dorsum, each band narrowing to about 1 pore wide near margin and hardly, if at all, expanding at apex; each band with a total of about 50 pores; posterior band appears to bifurcate as usual but more anterior branch quickly becomes obsolete laterally, but posterior branch as above; each apex usually with 2 [1 or 2] minute 8-shaped pores + 1 or 2 larger setae; also with 3–8 [4–7] disc-pores near each antenna. Small convex closed pores, each 3–4 µm wide and 3 µm tall, present in groups on either side of each spiracle and in a very sparse band between each antenna and metathoracic leg stub, as follows: 1 or 2 between antenna and anterior spiracle; a group of 9–11 [6–18] just anterior to anterior spiracle; a group 3–5 [5–11] posterior to each anterior spiracle; 4–6 [2–11] anterior to each posterior spiracle; 5–7 [1–7] posterior to each posterior spiracle, and 4 [1–6] associated with each metathorac leg stub. Multilocular disc-pores, each about 7 µm wide with mainly 10 loculi, distributed as follows: VIII 3 or 4 [1–4] on each side; VII 9–10 [8–13] on each side; and then in lines across segments: VI 4 or 5 [5–10] submarginally + 36 [45–60] medially; V 9 or 10 [6–12] submarginally + 49 [48–58] medially; IV 5 or 6 [9–15] submarginally + 19 [37–46] medially; III 2 [3–6] submarginally + 18 [7–17] medially, II a total of 10 [3–8] on each side; metathorax with a line of 1–3 laterad to leg stub + 0–4 medially [2–6, mainly laterad to leg stub], 2 or 3 [2–4] near each mesothoracic leg, and 1 near each anterior spiracle [0–2]. Tubular ducts similar to those on dorsum but shorter and narrower, present throughout. Ventral setae sparse, setose and mainly about 5 µm long; preanal setae each 50 [70–75] µm long; companion seta short. Leg stubs well developed, width of base of each metaleg 36 [50–60] µm wide. Antennae apparently 2 segmented [unsegmented], each 46–58 [30–40] µm long, without an apical cone-like point but with a shallow setal cavity. Clypeolabral shield 132 [105– 125] µm long. Spiracular peritremes each 35–40 [38–42] µm wide.

Comment. Although Malawi is a long way from Gabon, no major differences could be found between these two lots of material. The adult females of A. gabonenesis differ from those of all other Antecerococcus species in having the following combination of character-states: (i) dorsum with four sizes of 8-shaped pore; (ii) large and intermediate-sized pores forming a swirl-like pattern; (iii) two (usually) small 8-shaped pores present within apices of each stigmatic band; (iv) each margin of posterior abdominal segments with about 20 large 8-shaped pores; (v) cribriform plates in submedial groups of 3–6 on each side of abdominal segment IV; (vi) leg stubs present; (vii) posterior stigmatic bands non-bifurcated; (viii) small convex closed pores in a sparse band between each antenna and metathoracic leg, plus concentrations near each spiracle; (ix) multilocular disc-pores present across all abdominal segments but most abundant on segments IV-VI; also present across metathorax; (x) antennae without a distinct cone-like apex or setal cavity. Antecerococcus gabonensis is somewhat similar to A. oumeensis , described as new below, but differs in having the small convex closed pores on the venter near each spiracle.

The adult female of A. gabonensis falls within Group A in the key to species of Antecerococcus , keying out close to A. keralae , A. ornatus and A. kurraensis .

Figures

FIGURE 16. Antecerococcus gabonensis (Lambdin). Adult female.