Antecerococcus pocilliferus (Neves) Neves, 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 : 104-106

Antecerococcus pocilliferus (Neves) , comb. nov.

( Fig. 39 )

Cerococcus pocilliferus Neves 1954: 236 .

Cerococcus pacilliferus Neves ; Borchsenius 1960d: 105. Misspelling of species name.

Type details. PORTUGAL, Serra da Arabidda, Lapa de santa Margaridia, on Cistus ladaniferus , 12.ix.1943, M. Neves. Depository: INIAV, Portugal: lectotype (here designated) adf and 1/1 paralectotype adf.

Material studied. Lectotype and paralectotype ff: PORTUGAL, Serra da Arabidda, on Cistus ladaniferus (Cistaceae) , 12.ix.1943, M. Neves (INIAV): 1/1adf (g, lectotype, restained and remounted) +1/1 paralectotype adf (fair—two half bodies).

Mounted material. Body elongate to more roundly pear-shaped, small, 1.8 mm long, 1.1mm wide.

Dorsum. Eight-shaped pores of 2 or 3 sizes: (i) largest pore, each 14–15 x 7.5–8.0 µm, present in a line of 3 or 4 on each side of posterior-most abdominal segments; (ii) slightly smaller pores, each 13 x 6.5–7.0, present within apex of each stigmatic band; and (iii) smallest pores, each slightly narrower and less rounded than similar-sized ventral pores, each mostly 10.0–11.5 x 6.0–6.5 µm, present sparsely thoughout rest of dorsum but becoming smaller on posterior abdominal segments where each 8.5–9.0 x 4.0–4.5 µm; very small to minute 8-shaped pores absent. Simple pores small, each 2 µm wide, sparse. Cribriform plates in a group of 3 or 4 on each side of abdominal segment IV, each approximately round, each group with 2 anterior pores and 1 or 2 more posterior pores; each 10–19 µm wide with a narrow margin and smallish micropores. Dorsal setae few, each setose showing nothing distinctive. Tubular ducts with outer ductule about 23 µm long, outer ducts slightly broader than those on venter; abundant throughout. Anal lobes with broad areas of sclerotization on each inner margin; setae as follows: apical seta each about 150+ µm long; fleshy setae on dorsal surface both appearing spinose, more basal setae each 15–19 µm long, more apical fleshy setae each 18–20 µm long; ventral seta near apex each 30–35 µm long; medioventral setae each 26–28 µm long; outer margin setae each 18 µm long; each lobe without 8-shaped pores. Median anal plate triangular, either with a rounded or a slightly serrate apex, 25–30 µm long and 26–36 µm wide at base. Anal ring with 4 pairs of setae, each about 50 µm long.

Venter. Eight-shaped pores similar in structure to type (ii) pores on dorsum but slightly smaller, each 9–10 x 4.0–4,5 µm; in a sparse narrow marginal band on head and thorax and also more or less restricted to near margins on abdominal segments, with only 0–4 anterior to each band of multilocular disc-pores. Simple pores as on dorsum, sparse. Small bilocular pores roundish, each about 5 x 4 µm, frequent medially on head and thorax. Spiracular disc-pores, each 5.0–6.5 µm wide, with mainly 5 loculi near spiracle but several with at least 8 loculi in apex of each band; each spiracle with a group of 15–20 pores just anterior to each peritreme; each band mainly narrow medially, becoming much wider at apex; anterior band with a total of about 70 pores; posterior bands bifurcated, each branch with 35–45 pores; apex of each band with 2–7 type (ii) dorsal 8-shaped pores; also with 3– 5 loculate pores near each antenna. Small convex closed pores absent. Multilocular disc-pores, each 6.5–7.0 µm wide and mainly with 10 loculi, in transverse bands across abdominal segments as follows: abdominal segments IX & VIII 0; VII with 0 or 1 on each side of vulva; VI 1–5 submarginally + 8–11 medially; V 3–6 submarginally + 16– 28 medially, in a band 1–2 pores wide; IV 4–7 submarginally + about 28 medially; III 2–5 submarginally + 17–21 medially, and II 2–5 submarginally + 12–16 medially; metathorax with 0 or 1 pore submarginally but none medially. Tubular ducts similar to those on dorsum but narrower, present throughout. Ventral setae showing nothing distinctive; preanal setae each about 45 µm long; smaller companion setae short. Leg stubs absent. Antennae unsegmented, each 30–40 µm long, 33 µm wide, with about 8 fleshy setae; antennae without a strong conical apex but with a broad setal cavity. Clypeolabral shield 145–155 long. Spiracular peritremes each 25–28 µm wide.

Comment. Lambdin and Kosztarab (1977) were unable to locate material of C. pocilliferus and so this is the first time it has been redescribed and illustrated.

The adult female of A. pocilliferus is characterised mainly by the following combination of character-states: (i) dorsum with two or three sizes of 8-shaped pore; (ii) largest 8-shaped pores on dorsum restricted to margins of posterior abdominal segments; (iii) slightly smaller pores present within apices of each stigmatic band; (iv) smallest 8-shaped pores present throughout rest of dorsum; (v) cribriform plates in a group of three or four on each side of abdominal segment IV; (vi) leg stubs absent; (vii) posterior stigmatic bands bifurcate; (viii) all stigmatic pore bands short, barely reaching dorsum; (ix) multilocular disc-pores in five or six transverse bands across abdominal segments, and also sometimes submarginally on metathorax; (x) ventral 8-shaped pores extremely sparse across abdominal segments; (xi) each anal lobe with a strong medioventral seta, and (xii) antennae without a cone-like apex but perhaps with a shallow setal cavity.

The adult female of A. pocilliferus falls within group B in the key to species of Antecerococcus , which tend to be restricted to Africa but with a few species in southern Europe, such as A. oranensis , to which it is extremely similar and could be a geographical variant.

Figures

FIGURE 39. Antecerococcus pocilliferus (Neves). Adult female.