Paralecanium Cockerell

Tan, Zhixiang, Meng, Shitao & Xing, Jichun, 2024, Description of a new species of the genus Paralecanium Cockerell & Bueker (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Coccidae) from China, Zootaxa 5415 (3), pp. 477-485 : 478

Genus Paralecanium Cockerell

Lecanium (Paralecanium) Cockerell in Cockerell & Parrott, 1899: 227.

Podoparalecanium Tao & Wong, 1983 , in Tao et al. 1983: 100.

Type species P. machili Takahashi. Synonymised by Tang, 1991: 126.

Generic diagnosis, based on adult female morphology. Wax test glassy, probably composed of a series of polygonal plates, probably in 7 or 8 longitudinal lines. Body flat, widest at abdomen and more pointed at anterior end; mostly asymmetrical.

Dorsum. Dorsum sclerotized at maturity; areolations present, all circular to oval, extending from edge to middle, becoming progressively smaller and less distinct. Marginal radial lines usually indicated by arrangement of dorsal setae and pores, occasionally distinct; with almost invariably 11 around anterior margin of head, each side with 3 between stigmatic clefts and 11 on abdomen. Stigmatic rays absent. Clear areas present or absent. Setae variable in shape, occasionally of 2 distinct sizes; those situated submarginally and submedially not located in an obvious membranous area of derm. Preopercular pores absent. With 2 or 3 other pore types: when 3 types present, largest type is a closed pore with a sclerotized margin and often with visible micropores, present in a broad submedial band; also with a small simple pore; and a smaller pore (perhaps a microduct). Pores and setae forming a sparse polygonal pattern similar to that of test. Anal plates variable in shape, usually longer than combined width; anogenital fold with 1 or 2 pairs of setae on anterior margin, each lateral margin with 1 seta anteriorly and another posteriorly.

Margin. Ornamentation of margin variable but generally consisting of sclerotizations along margin, usually appearing as corrugations but some species with sclerotized dashes or arrow-heads lying radially. Marginal setae fan-shaped, each almost round to broadly oval (but spatulate in P. comperei Hodgson ). Stigmatic clefts deep and sclerotized, each with 1–3 stigmatic spines in a transverse line across its base.

Venter. Transverse bands of multilocular disc-pores present medially on abdominal segments V (occasionally), VI and VII. Both spiracular disc-pore bands complete, without any pore-free gap medially. Microducts and setae few. Antennae each 6 segmented and usually well developed, with a full complement of setae, but occasionally reduced and then with some setose setae missing. Spiracles usually rather small but sometimes significantly larger. Legs always present, each with 5 segments, occasionally more-or-less reduced in size.

Remarks. Paralecanium is similar to Insularicoccus and Discochiton in sharing the following character states: (i) marginal setae fan-shaped; (ii) dorsum often more-or-less asymmetrical; (iii) presence of clear areas, although they are not apparent in all species; (iv) margin with ornamentation; (v) spiracular clefts and stigmatic spines characteristically shaped; (vi) ventral setae sparse. Paralecanium can be distinguished from the former genus by (character states of Insularicoccus in brackets): (i) stigmatic spines forming a line along inner margin of each stigmatic cleft, not in an elongate group or extending radially onto dorsum (stigmatic spines in each cleft forming an elongate group of 5 or more, extending radially onto dorsum); and (ii) preopercular pores absent (preopercular pores present in groups submedially on abdomen, each group fused into a compound pore). Paralecanium can be distinguished from Discochiton by (character states of latter genus in brackets): (i) stigmatic rays absent (stigmatic rays present); (ii) each side with 3 radial lines between stigmatic clefts (each side with 5 radial lines present between stigmatic clefts); and (iii) preopercular pores absent (preopercular pores present).