Protortonia cacti (Linnaeus)

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 : 94-100

Protortonia cacti (Linnaeus)

( Figures 3–5 )

Coccus cacti Linnaeus, 1758:457 . Syntypes America, on Cactus Opuntia (lost).

Monophlebus cacti (Linnaeus) , Cockerell, 1902a:717, 1902c:232.

Llaveia cacti (Linnaeus) , Cockerell, 1902d:319; Fernald, 1903:17; Vayssière, 1926:300.

Protortonia cacti (Linnaeus) , Morrison, 1928:191; Lindinger, 1955:346; Foldi, 2001:215; Ben-Dov, 2005:263.

Adult female ( Figure 3 )

Body on microscope slide membranous, broadly oval, about 6.2 mm long, 3.8 mm wide, widest at about mesothorax. Eyes each 140–175 Mm long, 110–125 Mm wide. Antennae each with 11 segments, 1200–1700 Mm long, apical segment 150– 200 Mm long, 70–90 Mm wide; all segments with flagellate setae, each 50–110 Mm long; segment VIII also with a seta 110–140 Mm long, apical segment with a seta about 125 Mm long; fleshy setae, each about 55 Mm long, present on apical antennal segments. Legs well developed; hind coxa 230–320 Mm long, hind trochanter +femur 810–1050 Mm long, hind tibia 310–419 Mm long, hind tarsus 90–110 Mm long; ratio of lengths of hind tibia +tarsus to hind trochanter +femur 1.21–1.27; ratio of lengths of hind tibia to hind tarsus 1.89–2.32; claws each stout at base, 90–110 Mm long, with three or four minute denticles; distal trochanteral setae each 275–340 Mm long; inner tibial setae robust, each about 30–40 Mm long; outer tibial flagellate setae each mostly 100 Mm long. Clypeolabral shield and labium represented by remains only. Mesothoracic spiracles each 200–270 Mm long, 150–200 Mm wide. Metathoracic spiracles each 230–280 Mm long, 160–210 Mm wide. Abdominal spiracles each with atrium about 25–30 Mm wide, about 20 Mm long. Anal opening about 105 Mm long, surrounded by about 30 flagellate setae, each 60–75 Mm long, in a more or less double row. Medial cicatrix about 215–325 Mm long, 175–240 Mm wide, with small lateral notches; outer cicatrices reniform, each about 125–235 Mm long, 100–150 Mm wide; cicatrices mostly distorted in mounted specimens.

Dorsal surface with multilocular disc pores each 12.5–15.0 Mm in diameter, usually with 16–18 outer loculi; pores present mainly at anterior and posterior edges of abdominal segments, three or four pores deep near submedial areas of each segment, becoming more scattered on head and thorax and in moderate numbers, not crowded. Minute duct-like pores, some about 2 Mm wide, 4 Mm long but varying in length, sparsely present. Setae densely distributed, mostly flagellate and slender, each 20–50 Mm long, smallest about 2 Mm wide at base, collars about 9 Mm wide at base, 7.5 Mm long; longer setae, each 40–75 Mm long, usually present nearer margins; a few thicker setae, each about 110 Mm long, present on mid-abdomen and lateral and posterior to anal opening. Posterior marginal setae on abdominal segment VIII thick, usually present in a small group of two or three; outer setae each 464–525 Mm long, about 7.5 Mm wide at base, with collar about 25 Mm wide at base and 25 Mm long; inner setae each about 260 Mm long; other marginal setae present in small groups of 2 or 3, mostly each about 170 Mm long; those opposite fore coxa each about 270 Mm long, and setae on head margin each 250–285 Mm long.

Ventral surface with multilocular disc pores on head and thorax similar to those on dorsum, except pores on ventral abdomen with distinctly smaller central loculus; ventral pores more numerous than dorsal pores and fairly evenly distributed, each usually with 16–18 outer loculi, except pores around vulva each with up to about 22 outer loculi (pores near vulva on female from San Juan with more loculi than on 2 females from Guanica). Minute duct-like pores, as on dorsum, sparsely present around margins. Most setae each 40–75 Mm long, similar to setae on dorsum but less crowded on abdomen; marginal setae on abdomen each about 180 Mm long; others between antennal bases each 300–315 Mm long, and 1 or 2 present opposite each outer cicatrix, each about 300 Mm long .

Third-instar female ( Figure 4 )

Body on microscope slide membranous, broadly oval, about 2.00 mm long, 1.10 mm wide, widest at about abdominal segment I, posterior end rounded. Eyes each 95– 135 Mm long, 85–90 Mm wide. Antennae each 800–900 Mm long, with nine segments; apical segment 120–150 Mm long, 70–80 Mm wide; with flagellate setae each mostly 80–95 Mm long except apically, where longest setae each about 125 Mm long; fleshy setae present on apical antennal segments, each about 25–50 Mm long. Legs well developed; hind coxa 140–190 Mm long, hind trochanter + femur 490–660 Mm long, hind tibia 450–600 Mm long, hind tarsus 230–300 Mm long; ratio of lengths of hind tibia + tarsus to hind trochanter + femur 1.32–1.38; ratio of lengths of hind tibia to hind tarsus 1.96–2.00; claws stout, each 60–70 Mm long, with about 3 minute denticles and a pair of short digitules; distal trochanteral setae each about 215 Mm long; inner tibial setae each mostly 30–40 Mm long; outer tibial setae each 50–75 Mm long. Clypeolabral shield 250–275 Mm long, 185–240 Mm wide. Labium 250–290 Mm long, 180–285 Mm wide. Abdominal spiracles each with atrium about 17 Mm wide, 17 Mm long. Anal opening distorted in all available specimens examined, with numerous flagellate setae, each 37–70 Mm long, distributed around edge in 2–3 rows; inner sclerotized ring 90–95 Mm wide. Medial cicatrix about 165 Mm long, 105 Mm wide, constricted medially; outer cicatrices reniform, each 100–115 Mm long, 55–75 Mm wide.

Dorsal surface with multilocular disc pores, each mostly about 12–15 Mm in diameter with 12–16 outer loculi and with five or six central sunken loculi, scattered on head and thorax, occupying mainly anterior and posterior edges of abdominal segments; some of largest pores, each up to 15 Mm in diameter with as many as 18 outer loculi, present on abdominal margins. Minute duct-like pores present, scattered. Setae fairly abundant, mostly flagellate, each 12.0–15.0 Mm long, 1.0 Mm wide at base, with collars each about 5 Mm wide at base and 5 Mm long; a few similar but longer setae, each about 30–40 Mm long with collars 7.5 Mm wide at base and 7.5 Mm long, sparsely distributed among short setae; mid-thoracic setae each about 150 Mm long, and thick setae situated posterior to anal opening each 105–135 Mm long. Posterior marginal setae numbering three on each side of each of abdominal segments VII and VIII, each seta thick at base, flagellate, 475–515 Mm long, with large collar about 20 Mm wide at base and 15 Mm long; marginal single setae on prothorax each about 200 Mm long, on mesothorax each about 340 Mm long and on metathorax each about 385 Mm long; other marginal setae each about 160 Mm long.

Ventral surface with multilocular disc pores similar to those on dorsum, each mostly 12–15 Mm in diameter with 9–16 outer loculi, present in moderate numbers around margins; pores less frequent and smaller (10–12 Mm in diameter) in medial areas. One or two slightly larger multilocular disc pores, each with up to 18 outer loculi, present next to spiracles. A few minute duct-like pores scattered in marginal areas. Slender setae present, similar to those on dorsum, some on mid-thorax each about 135 Mm long; apical setae on abdominal segment VIII each about 240 Mm long; some setae, each about 125 Mm long, situated posterior to cicatrices, and some abdominal marginal setae each about 90 Mm long; inter-antennal setae each about 250 Mm long.

First-instar nymph ( Figure 5 )

Body on microscope slide broadly oval, 0.65–1.25 mm long, 0.40–0.90 mm wide, widest at about mesothorax; largest specimens enclosing pharate second-instar nymphs. Eyes each 60 Mm long, 40 Mm wide. Antennae each 420–500 Mm long, with six segments, apical segment 140–150 Mm long, about 40 Mm wide; all segments with a few flagellate setae, mostly each 30–40 Mm long, except some on apical two segments each about 60 Mm long; fleshy setae present on apical antennal segments, each about 30 Mm long. Legs well developed, slender; hind coxa 50–60 Mm long, hind trochanter +femur 210–250 Mm long, hind tibia 190–240 Mm long, hind tarsus 140–160 Mm long; ratio of lengths of hind tibia +tarsus to hind trochanter + femur 1.57–1.66; ratio of lengths of hind tibia to tarsus 1.33–1.50; claws slender, each about 32 Mm long, with a single denticle near tip and with a pair of digitules about same length as claw; distal trochanteral setae each about 100 Mm long; inner tibial setae each about 25 Mm long, except those at distal end each about 35 Mm long; outer tibial setae each about 45 Mm long. Clypeolabral shield often distorted on slide preparations, about 110 Mm long, 80 Mm wide. Labium 105–110 Mm long, 85–90 Mm wide, with three segments, basal segment very narrow with two pairs of short setae. Mesothoracic spiracles each 45– 50 Mm long, maximum width about 30 Mm. Metathoracic spiracles each about 50 Mm long, 35 Mm wide. Abdominal spiracles each with atrium about 5 Mm wide, 5 Mm long. Anal opening distorted on most specimens; inner ring of anal tube 30–35 Mm wide. Single cicatrix about 30 Mm in diameter.

Dorsal surface with quadrilocular and trilocular disc pores, each about 6.25 Mm in diameter, present mainly around margins and near mid-line; multilocular disc pores, each about 7.5 Mm in diameter with usually eight outer loculi and an oval centre, present near margin on head and anterior thorax, and a pair situated lateral to anal opening. Enlarged setae spine-like, each mostly about 17 Mm long, with wide collar and basal part swollen with minutely reticulated surface, and with distal part about same length and bluntly pointed, present mainly in groups around margins and in two longitudinal rows near mid-line, most numerous on prothorax; slender, stiff setae, each 10–20 Mm long, associated with enlarged setae. Apical marginal seta on each side of abdominal segment VIII thick at base, each 380–390 Mm long, flagellate, with wide and long collar; paired marginal setae present on abdominal segment VII, each 475–570 Mm long; a thick single flagellate seta, about 290 Mm long, present on each margin opposite clypeolabral shield.

Ventral surface with quadrilocular (most common) and trilocular pores, rarely with single oval centre, sparsely distributed, with a single pore present on each abdominal margin and submedially on abdominal segments II–IV, and scattered on head and thorax. Slender flagellate setae present, usually slightly longer than slender setae on dorsum; long setae between antennal bases and anterior to clypeolabral shield each about 125 Mm long; anal lobe setae thick, each about 140 Mm long, accompanied by paired shorter setae, each about 90 Mm long.

Material examined

PUERTO RICO, Guanica, on cactus, 29.vi.1914 (G.B. Merrill and T.H. Jones), two adult females on two slides ( BME, USNM), one third-instar female ( USNM), two second-instar nymphs + one first-instar nymph on one slide ( USNM); San Juan, intercepted at San Diego, on cactus, 20.vi.1931, one adult female ( USNM); San Juan, on Opuntia dillenii (Cactaceae) , Let. 16.ii.1914 (H. Tryon), one third-instar female, six second-instar nymphs, nine first-instar nymphs (three with pharate second-instar nymphs), on six slides ( USNM); same collection as previous on O. dillenii , but mounted from dry collection by PJG in 2006, one third-instar female, one third-instar (prepupal) male, seven second-instar nymphs (one with pharate third-instar female), 13 first-instar nymphs (six with pharate second-instar nymphs), ca. 10 first- and second-instar exuviae, on 15 slides ( USNM).

Comments

The adult female of this species resembles P. azteca in possessing similar dorsal setae but the multilocular disc pores in P. azteca mostly contain 12–14 outer loculi, except around the vulva where most contain 16 outer loculi. In P. cacti , the multilocular disc pores mainly have 16–18 outer loculi, except around the anal opening and vulva where they contain up to about 22 outer loculi. The description of the third-instar female is based on one specimen in reasonable condition and two distorted specimens. All three specimens have mouthparts, 9-segmented antennae and disc pores with sunken centres. The second-instar nymph is included in the key to species based on second-instar nymphs, but is not illustrated because all the specimens are in poor condition.

Although Linnaeus described this species from ‘‘America’’ on cactus, collected by the Swedish naturalist Daniel Rolander, we know from De Geer (1776) who described and illustrated the insect from life, that the exact locality was Sint Eustatius in the Netherlands Antilles. As discussed by Williams and Gertsson (2005) in an English translation of Linnaeus (1759), Linnaeus received a jar with the cactus full of the insects, all of which were inadvertently destroyed except for a single adult female. The description of Coccus cacti by Linnaeus (1758) apparently was made from this specimen.

We have not seen material from the type locality, Sint Eustatius, but we have relied on identifications made by H. Morrison of material collected in Puerto Rico on cactus and on which Morrison (1928) based his description of the species. Recent field searches on Opuntia cacti in Puerto Rico failed to locate any specimens of this species (A. Segarra, pers. comm.)

Figures

Figure 3. Protortonia cacti (L.), adult female.

Figure 4. Protortonia cacti (L.), third-instar female.

Figure 5. Protortonia cacti (L.), first-instar nymph.