Aphis leontodontis ( Börner, 1950 )

Stekolshchikov, Andrey V., 2024, A contribution to the aphid fauna (Homoptera, Aphidinea) of the Republic of Dagestan (the Russian Federation), with descriptions of three new species, redescription of Macrosiphum pulcherimum Nevsky, 1928, and descriptions of previously unknown morphs of three species, Zootaxa 5545 (1), pp. 1-68 : 34-36

Aphis leontodontis ( Börner, 1950)

( Figs 59–77 , Table 6)

Material. KGE: 27.ix.2023, Leontodon hispidus L., on base of petioles of basal leaves, apt., males and ovip.

Comments. Börner (1950) indicated the number of pheromone plates on the hind legs of oviparous females, and later in 1952 noted that this species is monoecious and holocyclic (Börner 1952), but oviparous females and males of this species have never been described in detail. The presence of individuals of the amphigonic generation in the colony of this species found in Dagestan makes it possible to fill these gaps. The oviparous female is described in detail below and for the male only differences from that are exposed.

Description. Oviparous female. Body broadly elliptical, 1.4–1.9 (1.6) times as long as wide. Living specimens dark dirty brownish-green, with very weak waxy pulverulence; apices of antennae and tibiae, tarsi and siphunculi dark, cauda gray. Cleared specimens with head, 1st antennal segment and siphunculi dark brown; with 2–6th antennal segments, two last segments of rostrum, sclerites in base of coxae, coxae, apices of tibiae and tarsi of all legs, peritremes on abdominal segments, anal and subgenital plate and cauda brown; femora, tibia (except apices) and marginal sclerites on pro- and mesonotum light-brown. Dorsal side of thorax and abdomen not sclerotized except pale marginal sclerites on pro- and mesonotum. Surface of head, dorsal side of thorax, abdominal tergites I–VI reticulate, but the reticulation on abdominal tergites I–V is very faintly noticeable; contour of cells on thorax and abdominal tergites I–VI formed by wide irregular line; surface of abdominal tergites VII–VIII with long rows of small pointed spinules which partially fusing and forming scales especially on tergite VIII. Surface of ventral side of thorax with chaotically located small pointed spinules; the same of abdomen with long rows of small pointed spinules sometimes forming strongly stretched reticulate cells. Setae on dorsal and ventral sides of thorax and abdomen blunt; numbers of marginal setae 0–1, 1–2, 1–2, 1–2, 2–3, 2–3, 0–1 on each side of abdominal segments I–VII, respectively. Marginal tubercles always present on prothorax and abdominal segments I and VII, and almost always on I–VI abdominal segments, number of marginal tubercles on abdominal segments II–VI—9–10 (9.5); marginal tubercles hemispherical or conical, on prothorax very large, on abdomen large or middle-sized, diameter of tubercles on segments II–VI 1.3–3.4 times as long as high, 0.9–3.3 times as wide as width of siphunculi in the middle. Head with or without traces of epicranial suture. Frontal tubercles low; median tubercle wide, occupies large part of frons and surpassing the level of antennal tubercles. Setae on head blunt. Antennae 6-segmented; 1st, 2nd and base of 3rd antennal segment slightly wrinkled, almost smooth, 3rd (except base) and 4th–6th segments with large scales. Antennae without secondary rhinaria. Setae on antennae pointed or more often finely pointed. Rostrum reaching abdominal segments I–III. Ultimate rostral segment elongate wedge-shaped, with straight or slightly concave sides, 2.11–2.61 (2.41) times as long as its basal width. Legs normally developed; setae on tarsi pointed, on tibiae blunt and pointed, on coxae, trochanters and femora blunt. Chaetotaxy of first tarsal segments 3, 3, 2. Arms of mesosternal furca separated. Spiracles reniform. Siphunculi almost cylindrical, gradually tapering towards apex, slightly curved outward, with relatively small, but distinct flange. Surface of siphunculi imbricated, covered by rough scales which sometimes formed by partially fused large pointed spinulae. Subgenital plate oval, with a longitudinal not sclerotized band along the center line of the plate, with finely pointed setae. Setae on anal plate finely pointed. Cauda escutcheon-shaped, with pointed apex and long finely pointed setae. Hind tibiae with 8–22 (13.5) round pheromone plates located along the entire tibia, but mainly in the middle third.

Male. Apterous. Body elliptical, 1.7–1.9 times as long as wide.Abdominal tergite VIII with very short sclerotized band. Antennae 6- or 5-segmented; 3rd antennal segment with 14–31, 4th segment with 13–14 and 5th segment with 7–8 secondary rhinaria. Cauda triangular.

Figures

FIGURE 59. Male of Aphis leontodontis (Börner, 1950), habitus.

FIGURES 60–67. Aphis leontodontis (Börner, 1950), male. 60, antennae; 61, 3rd antennal segment; 62, last antennal segment; 63, head; 64, III and ultimate rostral segments; 65, hind tarsus; 66, siphunculus; 67, cauda.

FIGURE 68. Oviparous female of Aphis leontodontis (Börner, 1950), habitus.

FIGURES 69–77. Aphis leontodontis (Börner, 1950), oviparous female. 69, antennae; 70, 3rd antennal segment; 71, last antennal segment; 72, head; 73, III and ultimate rostral segments; 74, hind tibia; 75, hind tarsus; 76, siphunculus; 77, cauda.