Protortonia navesi Fonseca, 1979

Williams, D. J. & Gullan, P. J., 2008, A revision of the Neotropical scale insect genus Protortonia Townsend (Hemiptera: Coccoidea: Monophlebidae: Llaveiini), Journal of Natural History 42 (1 - 2), pp. 77-128 : 111-122

Protortonia navesi Fonseca

( Figures 10–13 )

Protortonia navesi Fonseca, 1979:7 ; Foldi, 2001:215; Ben-Dov, 2005:263. Syntypes, Brazil, D.F., Planaltina, Brasília, on Manihot utilissima (A. Naves) (IBSP) .

Adult female ( Figure 10 )

Body on microscope slide membranous, 5.4–6.6 mm long, 3.2–4.7 mm wide, broadly oval, posterior end rounded. Eyes each 140–180 Mm long. Antennae each 980– 1300 Mm long, with 11 segments, sometimes appearing 10-segmented due to partial fusion of two segments; apical segments each 130–160 Mm long, 70–100 Mm wide; all antennal segments with flagellate setae, each 100–135 Mm long; some short setae, each 15–25 Mm long, situated near apices of some segments; fleshy setae present on apical antennal segments, each seta 45–60 Mm long. Legs well developed; hind coxa 180–240 Mm long, hind trochanter + femur 640–820 Mm long, hind tibia 600–700 Mm long, hind tarsus 270–360 Mm long; ratio of lengths of hind tibia + tarsus to hind trochanter +femur 1.29–1.36; ratio of lengths of hind tibia to hind tarsus 1.86–2.22; claws stout at base, curving to narrow tip, each 100–130 Mm long, with a series of minute denticles and with digitules each about 35 Mm long, with delicate apex damaged in specimens examined; distal trochanteral setae each about 270 Mm long; inner tibial setae almost lanceolate, each 35–50 Mm long; outer tibial setae stiff, each 75–90 Mm long. Clypeolabral shield and labium represented by remnants only. Mesothoracic spiracles each 200–230 Mm long, 130–140 Mm wide. Metathoracic spiracles each 200–230 Mm long, 150–170 Mm wide. Abdominal spiracles each with atrium 40–50 Mm wide, about 55 Mm long. Anal opening distorted in specimens examined, surrounded by 20–30 flagellate setae, each 75–100 Mm long. Medial cicatrix notched in middle; outer cicatrices smaller, reniform, folded in specimens examined and therefore not measured.

Dorsal surface with multilocular disc pores fairly evenly distributed, each 12.5– 17.0 Mm in diameter, about four pores deep near submedial areas of each abdominal segment; most pores each with 10–16 outer loculi, except pores around anal opening with up to 18 outer loculi. Minute duct-like pores present, varying in length, scattered. Setae mostly stout, almost dagger-shaped, each 20–40 Mm long and about 5 Mm wide at base, most with collars each 15–20 Mm wide at base and 10 Mm long; some setae sometimes scarcely longer than their collar widths; thicker setae in medial areas of thorax and abdomen each 70–80 Mm long; a few slender flagellate setae, each about 50 Mm long, interspersed among thick setae. Posterior marginal setae on abdominal segment VIII each about 350 Mm long; other marginal setae each 200– 350 Mm long, and marginal setae on head each about 230–270 Mm long.

Ventral surface with multilocular disc pores similar to those on dorsum, more numerous on abdominal segments, each pore with 10–16 outer loculi, except pores around vulva each with up to 18 outer loculi. Minute duct-like pores present around marginal areas. Ventral surface with stiff setae, most present in medial areas, more slender than those on dorsum, usually longer; some thick setae about 170 Mm long also present; most marginal and submarginal setae similar to general dorsal setae; thick and longer setae present on posterior margins similar to dorsal marginal abdominal setae.

Third-instar female ( Figure 11 )

Body on microscope slide membranous, broadly oval, 2.5–6.2 mm long, 1.4–3.1 mm wide. Eyes each 115–135 Mm long. Antennae each 630–800 Mm long, with 8–10 segments; apical segments each 90–140 Mm long, 60–70 Mm wide; all segments with flagellate setae, each mostly 50–100 Mm long, some on apical segment each 125– 140 Mm long; fleshy setae present on apical antennal segment and some other segments, each 45–60 Mm long. Legs well developed; hind coxa 140–170 Mm long, hind trochanter + femur 460–560 Mm long, hind tibia 430–560 Mm long, hind tarsus 220–260 Mm long; ratio of lengths of hind tibia + tarsus to hind trochanter + femur 1.38–1.64; ratio of lengths of hind tibia to tarsus 1.69–2.16; claws each 65–80 Mm long, with about three minute denticles and with digitules not exceeding length of claw; distal trochanteral setae each about 200 Mm long; inner tibial setae spine-like, each about 25 Mm long; outer flagellate tibial setae each about 60 Mm long. Clypeolabral shield 270–300 Mm long, 200–220 Mm wide. Labium 280–350 Mm long, 170–250 Mm wide. Mesothoracic spiracles each 150–180 Mm long, 100–120 Mm wide. Metathoracic spiracles each 160–220 Mm long, 110–130 Mm wide. Abdominal spiracles each with atrium 25–40 Mm wide and about 30 Mm long. Anal opening surrounded by about 20 slender flagellate setae, each mostly 75 Mm long; inner ring of anal tube 100–125 Mm in diameter. Medial cicatrix hour-glass shaped, 225–335 Mm long, 130–200 Mm wide. Outer cicatrices each 150–165 Mm long, 80–150 Mm wide.

Dorsal surface with multilocular disc pores each mostly 10 Mm in diameter, with trilocular or quadrilocular centre (rarely with five loculi) surrounded by 3–10 narrow-walled outer loculi, present in moderate numbers; other pores around anal opening each about 12.5 Mm in diameter, with oval centre surrounded by 4–14 outer loculi. Minute duct-like pores scattered. Setae robust, almost dagger-shaped, each mostly 20–50 Mm long, 5.0–10.0 Mm wide at base, with collars about same width as multilocular disc pores, fairly numerous across segments; longer dorsal setae also present, thicker at base, each seta 60–180 Mm long; some slender flagellate setae also present, each about 40 Mm long. Posterior marginal setae each 300–440 Mm long; other marginal setae each 170–220 Mm long; collars of thickest setae each about 40 Mm wide at base, 25 Mm long.

Ventral multilocular disc pores similar to most dorsal pores, mainly with trilocular and quadrilocular centres, a few with bilocular centres, and 5–12 outer loculi. Setae in medial areas much more slender than on those on medial dorsum, but similar to dorsal setae around margins.

Second-instar nymph ( Figure 12 )

Body 2.00– 2.20 mm long, 1.40–1.45 mm wide. Eyes each 80–90 Mm long. Antennae each 6-segmented, 450–480 Mm long; apical segment 130–140 Mm long and about 60 Mm wide; all segments with flagellate setae each 30–75 Mm long; fleshy setae on apical segment each about 45 Mm long. Legs well developed; hind coxa 80–90 Mm long, hind trochanter + femur 300–310 Mm long, hind tibia 310–330 Mm long, hind tarsus about 180 Mm long; ratio of lengths of hind tibia +tarsus to hind trochanter + femur 1.58–1.70; ratio of lengths of hind tibia to tarsus 1.72–1.83; claws each about 45 Mm long, with about 3 minute denticles and paired digitules slightly longer than claw; distal trochanteral setae each 150 Mm long; inner tibial setae each 25–35 Mm long; outer tibial setae each 40–50 Mm long. Clypeolabral shield 215–220 Mm long, 170–180 Mm wide. Labium 210–220 Mm long, 180 wide at base. Mesothoracic spiracles each 110–115 Mm long, 50–60 Mm wide. Metathoracic spiracles each 110– 125 Mm long, 70–80 Mm wide. Abdominal spiracles each with atrium about 20 Mm wide, 20 Mm long. Anal opening surrounded by about 14 slender flagellate setae, each 50–75 Mm long. Medial cicatrix constricted at middle, about 130 Mm long, 90–100 Mm wide; outer cicatrices each about 70–80 Mm long, 50–55 Mm wide.

Dorsal surface with sparsely-distributed multilocular disc pores, each about 7.5 Mm in diameter, with 3 or 4 central and about 10 outer loculi; pores around anal opening each 12.5–15.0 Mm in diameter, with oval centre surrounded by about 12 outer loculi. Duct-like pores present, scarce. Setae robust, shortest each about 20– 30 Mm long, some others across middle of segments each 50–130 Mm long; a few slender flagellate setae, each with slightly expanded apex, present on most segments. Posterior marginal setae each about 350–400 Mm long, and other marginal setae on thorax and abdomen each 100–350 Mm long; marginal setae on head each 120– 250 Mm long.

Ventral surface with scattered multilocular disc pores, each mainly with a trilocular centre; a few, each with a bilocular centre, present mainly around margins. Minute duct-like pores sparse. Short slender setae present in medial areas giving way to short setae around margins; a few long stout setae present in medial areas and on margins.

First-instar nymph ( Figure 13 )

Body about 0.86–0.98 mm long, 0.48–55 mm wide. Eyes each 55–75 Mm long. Antennae each 350–420 Mm long, with 6 segments; apical segments each 130–145 Mm long, 45–50 Mm wide; each segment bearing a few flagellate setae each 40–125 Mm long; fleshy setae on apical segment each 40–50 Mm long. Legs well developed; hind coxa 60–65 Mm long, hind trochanter + femur 210–270 Mm long, hind tibia 230–250 Mm long, hind tarsus 170–175 Mm long; ratio of lengths of hind tibia +tarsus to hind trochanter + femur 1.86–1.95; ratio of lengths of hind tibia to tarsus 1.35– 1.41; claws each 35–38 Mm long, with a single denticle and paired digitules about same length as claw; distal trochanteral setae each 120–135 Mm long; inner tibial setae each 30–40 Mm long, except those at distal end each 45–55 Mm long; outer tibial setae each 45–55 Mm long. Clypeolabral shield 110–145 Mm long, 90–110 Mm wide. Labium 140–160 Mm long, 90–100 Mm wide. Mesothoracic spiracles each 45–50 Mm long, 30–35 Mm wide. Metathoracic spiracles each 50–58 Mm long, 33–35 Mm wide. Abdominal spiracles each with atrium 7.5–10.0 Mm wide, 8.0–10.0 Mm long. Anal opening 38–43 Mm in maximum dimension (mostly distorted); inner ring of anal tube 35–38 Mm wide. Cicatrix subcircular, 40–45 Mm in diameter.

Dorsal surface sparsely covered with multilocular disc pores each 6.0–8.5 Mm in diameter, with a bilocular centre and about 10 outer loculi. Modified setae, each constricted near middle and 15–25 Mm long, present around margins and medial areas of abdomen and submarginally on thorax; robust setae, each 20–100 Mm long, present across thoracic segments and submedially and medially on abdomen. Apical setae on abdomen each 400–430 Mm long; other marginal setae shorter, each 80–160 Mm long, except a pair situated more or less opposite fore legs, each 230–260 Mm long.

Ventral surface with a few multilocular disc pores, each 7.5–9.0 Mm in diameter with trilocular centre; 1 or 2 pores, each with a bilocular centre, present on thoracic margins. Slender flagellate setae each 20–55 Mm long; a few longer setae, each up to 165 Mm long, present on head. Apical setae on abdominal segment VIII slightly thicker than other ventral setae, each up to 180 Mm long.

Material examined

BRAZIL, Bahia, Caetite`, on roots of Manihot esculenta (Euphorbiaceae) , 24.viii.2000 (Bibiano), 2 adult females on 2 slides, 5 third-instar females (2 enclosing pharate adult females) on 3 slides, 2 second-instar nymphs on 1 slide ( BMNH); BRAZIL, D.F., Planaltina, Embrapa Cerrados, 15 ° 359300S, 47 ° 429300W, 1007 m., on Manihot esculenta , 15.viii.2003 (C.M. de Oliveira), 2 adult females (1 ex cuticle of third-instar female), 11 third-instar females, each on separate slide, 11 first-instars nymphs on 3 slides ( BME, CPAC); same data as previous collection except 1– 21.vi.2004, 17 adult females, 5 third-instar females, 1 second-instar nymph, each on separate slide ( BME, CPAC, MZSP).

Comments

Adult females of this species differ from all others in the genus in possessing dorsal setae that are mostly short and stout, almost dagger-shaped, each about 5.0 Mm wide at the base, whereas in other species most dorsal setae are more slender, each at most only 3.5 Mm wide at the base and usually narrower. Furthermore, setal collars of the majority of dorsal setae on adult females of P. navesi are each about 20.0 Mm wide at the base, whereas in other species they are at most about 15 Mm wide and usually narrower.

We did not examine type specimens of P. navesi but prepared descriptions and illustrations based on a number of specimens from Brazil, including from two collections from cassava obtained near the type locality. The description given by Fonseca (1979) of the so-called adult female is actually that of a third-instar female. His measurements of the lengths of the antennal segments total 68 Mm and this must have been 680 Mm, within the range of lengths of third-instar females studied herein. Also his illustration shows pores each with three central loculi, a distinctive character of second-instar and third-instar females. There seems to be no doubt that the specimens examined herein refer to the same species as described by Fonseca .

Although we had a large amount of material available for study, there were no males present. Apparently, males have not been found in either field or laboratory studies in Brazil (Charles Martins de Oliveira, pers. comm.).

Fonseca (1979) examined specimens collected from the extremities of the host plant, Manihot utilissima , one of the cassava species, and he did not mention any effects of the insects on the plant. Recent studies of P. navesi on M. esculenta indicate that the feeding of nymphs and adults causes damage to cassava plants via sap removal ( Oliveira and Fialho 2005, 2006; Oliveira et al. 2006).

Protortonia primitiva (Townsend)

( Figure 14 )

Ortonia primitiva Townsend , in Townsend and Cockerell, 1898: 169. Syntypes, Mexico, Morelos, Cuantla, on ‘‘nettle-tree’’, 31.v.1897 (Koebele) (USNM). Ortonia (Protortonia) primitiva Townsend , in Townsend and Cockerell, 1898: 169. Protortonia primitiva (Townsend) , Cockerell, 1899a: 390; Morrison, 1928:189–192; Vayssière, 1929:82; Lindinger, 1955:346; Foldi, 1995:176, 2001:215.

Llaveia primitiva (Townsend) , Cockerell 1899b:260,1902d:319; Fernald, 1903:18. Monophlebus primitivus (Townsend) , Cockerell 1899c:2, 1902b:79; 1902c:232. Crypticerya primitiva (Townsend) , Vayssière, 1926:313.

Adult female

Body membranous, broadly oval, 6.95–7.25 mm long, 3.8–4.2 mm wide. Eyes each 220 Mm long, 140–150 Mm wide. Antennae each with 11 segments, 1800–1900 Mm long; apical segment 180–190 Mm long, 150–220 Mm wide; all segments with flagellate setae each 50–75 Mm long; segment II with a seta about 140 Mm long and segment X with a seta about 185 Mm long; fleshy setae present on antennal segments X and XI, each seta about 60 Mm long. Legs well developed; hind trochanter + femur 1012 Mm long, hind tibia 980 Mm long, hind tarsus 400 Mm long; ratio of lengths of hind tibia + tarsus to hind trochanter + femur 1.36; ratio of lengths of hind tibia to tarsus 2.45; claws stout, bluntly tipped, each 105–120 Mm long, with three or four denticles resembling minute serrations; digitules each at least 45 Mm long, all damaged; distal trochanteral setae each about 350 Mm long; inner edge of tibia and tarsus with lanceolate setae each about 50–55 Mm long; outer tibial setae each about 120 Mm long. Clypeolabral shield absent but remains of tentorium clearly present. Mesothoracic spiracles each 240–350 Mm long, 150–170 Mm wide. Abdominal spiracles each 30–35 Mm in diameter, about 70 Mm long. Anal opening about 125 Mm long, surrounded by about 50 slender flagellate setae, each 50 Mm long; inner ring of anal tube 125–150 Mm wide. Medial cicatrix slightly notched at each side, about 450 Mm long, 270 Mm wide. Outer cicatrices reniform, each about 275 Mm long, 200 Mm wide.

Dorsal surface with multilocular disc pores each 10.0–12.5 Mm in diameter, with 12–16 outer loculi and oval to triangular centre; largest pores mostly situated near anal opening, others fairly numerous, those on abdomen in rows mainly near anterior and posterior edges of segments; pores on head and thorax more scattered. Minute duct–like pores resembling minute depressions with sclerotized centre, sparsely scattered. Setae dense, stiff and pointed, each mostly 45–60 Mm long, covering mainly medial to submedial areas, giving way towards margins to many longer setae each 85–90 Mm long, about 3.5 Mm wide at base and with conical collar about 10 Mm wide at base and 5 Mm long (collar narrower than pore diameter); a few thicker setae present on mid-thorax and abdominal segments VII and VIII, each about 375 Mm long with collars about 25 Mm wide at base and 12.5 Mm long; other setae interspersed with general setae on dorsum each about 115 Mm long, 7.5 Mm wide at base with each collar 15 Mm wide at base and 7.5 Mm long; slender flagellate setae, each about 50 Mm long with dome-shaped collar, sparse and scattered among main setae. Marginal setae on abdominal segment VIII mostly broken but each at least 380 Mm long, 30 Mm wide at base, with collar 40 Mm wide at base and 20–25 Mm long; anterior marginal setae each mostly about 300 Mm long, except for a seta opposite each first coxa about 500 Mm long.

Ventral surface with multilocular disc pores similar to those on dorsum but mostly each about 12.5 Mm in diameter, abundant, concentrated mainly at anterior and posterior edges of abdominal segments and evenly distributed on head and thorax. Minute duct-like pores as on dorsum, scarce, a few present around marginal areas. Ventral setae similar to main setae on dorsum present around marginal and submarginal areas, crowded, all with collars narrower than pores; a few long, thick setae each 150–200 Mm long also present in medial areas of head, thorax and abdomen, those between antennae each about 400 Mm long; a single seta usually present behind each fore and mid coxa, about 350 Mm long, and behind each hind coxa, about 300 Mm long; a few slender flagellate setae present in marginal areas. Marginal setae on posterior abdomen each about 300 Mm long.

Material examined

Lectoype (here designated): adult female, MEXICO, three slide labels: ‘‘ Ortonia primitiva / Nettle tree / Morales [sic], Mex. / May 31, 97 / (Koebele)’’, ‘‘7878’’ and ‘‘175/12’’ ( USNM). These data match Townsend’s original description except that the locality Morelos is misspelt on the slide label. Lectotype 7.3 mm long, 4.5 mm wide, right antenna missing.

Paralectotypes: two slides, mounted from dry material by PJG 2006, same data as lectotype but Koebele misspelt as ‘‘Kebele’’, one exuviae of third-instar female, one second-instar female (enclosing pharate third-instar female) (USNM); one slide, same collection data as lectotype but labelled ‘‘ Llaveia primitiva (Towns) / Type’’, one second-instar nymph (USNM); three slides labelled ‘‘Type / material’’ and ‘‘ Ortonia primitiva Town / On nettle / Cuautla, Morelos / Mexico / May 31, 1897 / Koebele Collection / Coccidae, No. 1625 ’’ (in G.F. Ferris’ handwriting), one adult female (USNM), one third-instar female (enclosing pharate adult female) (BME), 1 adult female of Steatococcus mexicanus (Cockerell and Parrott) (BME) ; one slide labelled ‘‘ Ortonia primitiva Towns. , Type, Mexico’’ (in T.D.A. Cockerell’s handwriting), one damaged adult female, three third-instar females (BME). The three slides labelled by Ferris appear to give the locality as ‘‘Cuautla’’, not ‘‘Cuantla’’ as in the original description; the correct spelling of the locality is almost certainly Cuautla. Presumably the adult female of S. mexicanus was included inadvertently as part of Townsend’s type series.

Comments

The adult female of this species can be distinguished easily from all other species studied in possessing some of the longest dorsal setae, each mostly 45–90 Mm long and about 3.5 Mm wide at the base (and with an even wider collar). On other species with long dorsal setae, these setae are each only about 2.0–2.5 Mm wide at the base. The multilocular disc pores are only about four deep in the submedial areas of each abdominal segment. Also, the dorsal multilocular disc pores are all about the same size, showing little difference between those around the anal opening and those elsewhere on the dorsum.

Specimens of third-instar females of P. primitiva are too poor to illustrate and one is an exuviae mounted from dry material. However, we were able to incorporate this species into the key to third-instar females. The third-instar female of P. primitiva is most similar to that of P. ecuadorensis in the size and appearance of its dorsal setae, but has many fewer multilocular disc pores than the third-instar female of P. ecuadorensis .

The species discussed by Schrader (1930, 1931) from Guatemala as P. primitiva appears to be different from P. primitiva as the adult female has shorter, more slender setae and narrower central cups in each multilocular disc pore. We have had only a single adult female from Schrader’s collection, on a slide labelled ‘‘ Protortonia / primitiva (Towns) / On Nettle tree / Guatemala City, / Guatemala. / F. Schrader, Coll. / March 7, 1928 / #10’’ (USNM). In this paper, we refer to Schrader’s material as P. near primitiva and further specimens from Guatemala would need to be collected to determine its species status.

Nettle tree is the host of both P. primitiva from Cuautla (refer to ‘‘Material examined’’ for a discussion of this locality) in southern Mexico and P. near primitiva from Guatemala. Townsend attributes this common name (listed on the label of the type specimens) to a species of Manihot (or Jatropha ), which he said was commonly called ‘‘mala mujer’’ in Mexico ( Townsend and Cockerell 1898). However, Townsend’s host genus determination is questionable as no species of Manihot or Jatropha appear to have this common name today, and several unrelated plants have the common name of mala mujer. Schrader (1930) identified the nettle tree host of P. near primitiv a as Urera baccifera (Urticacae) , which is also known sometimes as mala mujer and occurs in Central and South America, including Mexico ( Francis 2003). It is most likely that U. baccifera is also the host plant of P. primitiva in Mexico.

Figures

Figure 10. Protortonia navesi Fonseca, adult female.

Figure 11. Protortonia navesi Fonseca, third-instar female.

Figure 12. Protortonia navesi Fonseca, second-instar nymph.

Figure 13. Protortonia navesi Fonseca, first-instar nymph.

Figure 14. Protortonia primitiva (Townsend), adult female.