Antecerococcus hilli Hodgson & Williams

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 : 56-58

Antecerococcus hilli Hodgson & Williams , sp. nov.

( Fig. 18 )

Material studied. Holotype: SEYCHELLES, Aldabra, Anse Malabar, on Sideroxylon mermis * ( Sapotaceae ), 22.xii.1976, M.G. Hill (BMNH): 1/2 adff (holotype specimen nearest species label, clearly arrowed, good; other specimen on holotype slide is a paratype (fg)). Other paratypes as for holotype (BMNH): 1/2 adff (fp).

(*According to the International Plant Name Index (accessed May 2015) this species name does not exist. Probably the host is S. inerme , which does occur in the Seychelles).

Mounted material. Body roundly pear-shaped, 1.2–1.68 mm long, 0.98–1.38 mm wide.

Dorsum. Eight-shaped pores of 3 sizes: (i) largest 16–20 x 9–10 µm, distributed as follows: in a narrow band along margin of head, broadening slightly along margin of most of thorax; in a broad transverse band between anterior stigmatic pore bands and narrow transverse bands between posterior stigmatic pore bands; transverse bands fusing medially on thorax; also in a group of 10–15 pores near margin in approximately abdominal segment III and a submarginal line of 6 or 7 pores along each margin of posterior abdominal segments; (ii) medium-sized 8- shaped pores, each 9–11 x 5.0–5.5 µm, present associated with larger pore but perhaps most abundant near margin, and (iii) smaller 8-shaped pores, each 5– 8 x 3.0–3.5 µm, found wherever larger and medium-sized pores are absent—in a large area over head, in a large area between anterior and posterior stigmatic pore bands, in a narrow area between posterior stigmatic pore bands, and medially over posterior thorax and abdomen; also present in apex of each disc-pore band, each pore often larger than smallest pore medially, with 1–4 per band. Simple pores very sparse throughout, each about 2 µm wide. Cribriform plates small, each 5–8 µm wide, with a narrow sclerotized margin and very large micropores; in a line of 10 or 11 on abdominal segment IV. Dorsal setae extremely few, each setose, and mainly 7–10 µm long; occasionally 1 at apex of disc-pore bands. Tubular ducts each 28–33 µm long; outer ductule rather broader than those on venter. Anal lobes membranous apart from inner margin which is distinctly sclerotized; each lobe about 65 µm long with a long apical seta, each 140+ µm long (all with broken tips), more apical fleshy setae on dorsal surface short and generally bent, each 16–18 µm long; more basal fleshy setae longer and more spinose, each 20–25 µm long; each ventral setose seta near apex about 16 µm long; medioventral (or outer margin) setae short, each about 8 µm long; each lobe with a few small 8-shaped pores. Median anal plate with a rounded posterior margin, 30–35 µm long, 35–38 µm wide across base. Anal ring with 4 pairs of setae, each about 65 µm long.

Venter. Eight-shaped pores: medium-sized pores similar to those on dorsum in a narrow band around margin of head and thorax and in transverse bands across abdominal segments; smaller pores also in a narrow band just mesad to medium-sized pores, latter band widest in head and anterior thorax; also present very sparsely around mouthparts. Simple pores slightly larger than on dorsum but very sparse. Small bilocular pores, each about 4.5 x 4.0 µm, present medially on head and thorax. Spiracular disc-pores small, each 3.0–4.0 µm wide (largest near apex of band) with mainly 5 loculi, in narrow bands of 90+ pores extending onto dorsum, each band of rather uniform width throughout (i.e., not expanding much at apex on dorsum); posterior band bifurcated; each apex with 1–4 small 8-shaped pores + 0–2 setae; also with 0–4 loculate pores near each antenna. Small convex closed pores absent although a few small simple pores present near spiracles. Multilocular disc-pores, each about 7 µm wide with about 10 loculi, distributed on abdomen as follows: VIII 0 or 1 on each side, VII 5 on each side of vulva; and then in transverse lines mainly 1 pore wide: VI 1 or 2 submarginally + 17–26 medially; V 2 or 3 submarginally + 20–22 medially; IV 3–5 submarginally + 15–17 medially; III 0–2 submarginally + 12–14 medially, II 0 submarginally but 6–11 medially; and metathorax with 3–5 on each side but none medially; also with a line of 2–4 extending medially from around each spiracle. Tubular ducts similar to those on dorsum but narrower, present throughout. Ventral setae slightly more abundant than on dorsum but all setose and short; preanal setae each 40–50 µm long, companion setae short. Leg stubs absent. Antennae unsegmented, each about 30 µm long, 30 µm wide, with 6 setae; without either a stout cone-shaped point or a setal cavity. Clypeolabral shield 135–145 µm long. Spiracular peritremes each 17–23 µm wide.

Comment. This species was first listed as Cerococcus sp. in Williams and Matile-Ferrero (2010). The main character-states diagnosing A. hilli are: (i) dorsal 8-shaped pores of three sizes, largest and intermediate-sized pores mainly in three transverse bands; (ii) each margin of posterior abdominal segments with six or seven large 8-shaped pores; (iii) smallest 8-shaped pores present wherever larger pores absent, and also in apices of stigmatic bands; (iv) cribriform plates in a line of about ten plates across abdominal segment IV; (v) leg stubs absent; (vi) posterior stigmatic pore bands bifurcated; (vii) stigmatic pore bands rather parallel sided, not expanding much at apex on dorsum; (viii) multilocular disc-pores present in narrow bands across most abdominal segments, submarginally on metathorax and also mesad to spiracles, and (ix) antennae without an apical cone or a setal cavity.

The adult female of A. hilli falls within Group D in the key to species of Antecerococcus , keying out close to A. longipilosus , A. delottoi , A. perowskiae and A. intermedius .

Name derivation: named after M.G. [Gary] Hill, who collected these specimens and who has written much on the insect fauna of Aldabra.

Figures

FIGURE 18. Antecerococcus hilli Hodgson & Williams, sp. nov. Adult female.