Antecerococcus ankaratrae (Mamet) Mamet, 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 : 31-33

Antecerococcus ankaratrae (Mamet) , comb. nov.

( Fig. 7 )

Cerococcus ankaratrae Mamet 1954: 43 .

Type details. MADAGASCAR, Ankaratra, Manjakatompo, 2000m alt., on Croton sp., 24.v.1950, R. Mamet & R. Paulian. Depository: MNHN: holotype adf (MNHN 14876-1); paratypes, same data as holotype, 7/8adff (MNHN 14876-2 (1 adf), MNHN 14876-3 (1 adf), MNHN 14876-4 (1 adf), MNHN 14876-5 (1 adf), MNHN 14876-6 (1 adf), MNHN 14876-7 (1 adf), MNHN 14876-8 (2 adff)).

Material studied. Paratypes: MADAGASCAR, Manjakatompo, on Croton sp. ( Euphorbiaceae ), 24.v.1950, R. Mamet & R. Paulian (MNHN): 3/3adff (f–g).

Note: description taken from all specimens.

Mounted material. Body roundly pear-shaped, 1.1–1.4 mm long, and 0.8–1.0 mm wide.

Dorsum. Eight-shaped pores of 3 sizes: (i) a large pore, each 15– 17 x 11–12 µm, in a sparse lace-like pattern over all of dorsum but absent from posterior to cribriform plates apart from 4 pores on each side of posterior abdominal segments; (ii) an intermediate-sized pore sparse throughout rest of dorsum, somewhat variable in size (6.5–10.0 x 4.0–6.5µm), tending to be smaller in spaces between lace-like pattern and also on more posterior abdominal segments; and (iii) a small pore, each 5 x 3 µm, singly in apex of each stigmatic pore band. Simple pores, each 2.0–2.5 µm wide; sparse. Cribriform plates small, mainly roundish, each 10–15 µm wide, with a broad margin and moderate-sized micropores; present in submedial group of 2 plates on each side of abdominal segment IV. Dorsal setae few, each setose, and mainly 5 µm long. Tubular ducts with outer ducts about 25 µm long and about 3 µm wide, subequal in size to those on venter; abundant throughout. Anal lobes mainly membranous, but with sclerotized inner margins, each sclerotization with striations or reticulations; each lobe about 80 µm long with a long apical seta 180–195 µm long; more apical fleshy setae on each dorsal surface short, 14–16 µm long; more basal fleshy setae each 23–29 µm long; ventral setose seta near apex each 11–17 µm long; medioventral or outer margin setae each about 11–14 µm long; each lobe with 1 small 8-shaped pore. Median anal plate quite elongate and bluntly triangular, 38–40 µm long, 40–45 µm wide at base. Anal ring with 4 pairs of setae, each 65–75 µm long.

Venter. Eight-shaped pores similar to intermediate-sized pores on dorsum, in a sparse, fairly narrow, submarginal band and also in sparse transverse bands about 1 pore wide across abdominal segments; some on inner margin of submarginal band asymetrical. Simple pores similar to those on dorsum but very sparse. Small bilocular pores, each about 5 µm at widest, frequent medially on head and thorax. Spiracular disc-pores small, each 3–5 µm wide, mainly with 5 loculi, in single, unbifurcated bands mainly 2–5 pores wide but widening slightly at apex on dorsum; with 55–75 in each band; each band with 0–2 small 8-shaped pores in apical group; no quinquelocular disc-pores found associated with each antenna (see under Comment below). Small convex closed pores absent. Multilocular disc-pores present in sparse transverse rows 1–2 pores wide, as follows: abdominal segment VIII with 2–6 on each side; VII with 4–6 on each side of vulva; VI with 1–3 submarginally + 14–17 medially; V 2–4 submarginally + 15–22 medially; IV 3–6 submarginally + 17–21 medially; III 4-8 submarginally + 24–31 medially; II 5–11 submarginally + 15–23 medially; metathorax with a group of 9–15 laterad to each metathoracic leg stub but 0 medially, and occasionally with 1 laterad to a mesothoracic leg. Tubular ducts similar to those on dorsum, but those posteriorly in abdomen tending to be narrower. Ventral setae all setose and short; preanal setae each about 65–70 µm long; companion setae short. Leg stubs small. Antennae unsegmented, each 25–35 µm long, with 7 or 8 mainly fleshy setae, without either a cone-like pointed apex or a distinct setal cavity. Clypeolabral shield 105–110 µm long. Spiracular peritremes each 25–28 µm wide.

Comment. The above description is similar to that of Lambdin and Kostarab (1977) except that they: (i) recorded one or two quinquelocular disc-pores near each antenna (not found here and not noted by Mamet, 1954), and (ii) they show no setose setae on the ventral apex of each anal lobe. Mamet (1954) illustrated the ventral 8- shaped pores as being throughout the venter but he clearly mistook the small bilocular pores for normal 8-shaped pores.

Adult females of A. ankaratrae are characterised by the following combination of character-states: (i) dorsum with three sizes of 8-shaped pore; (ii) larger 8-shaped pores on dorsum in a lace-like pattern; (iii) single small 8- shaped pores present in apex of each stigmatic band; (iv) four large 8-shaped pores present on each side of posterior abdominal segments; (v) only two cribriform plates present on each side of abdominal segment IV; (vi) median anal plate rather elongate; (vii) posterior stigmatic pore bands not bifurcate; (viii) leg stubs small; (ix) multilocular disc-pores in sparse bands across all abdominal segments and submarginally on metathorax, and (x) antennae without a cone-like apex or setal cavity.

The adult female of A. ankaratrae falls within Group A in the key to species of Antecerococcus and keys out close to other species from Madagascar and to A. paradoxus from Australia.

Figures

FIGURE 7. Antecerococcus ankaratrae (Mamet). Adult female.