Tanyscelis maskelli (Froggatt) Hardy, Nate B. & Gullan, Penny J., 2010

Hardy, Nate B. & Gullan, Penny J., 2010, Australian gall-inducing scale insects on Eucalyptus: revision of Opisthoscelis Schrader (Coccoidea, Eriococcidae) and descriptions of a new genus and nine new species, ZooKeys 58, pp. 1-74 : 27-29

Tanyscelis maskelli (Froggatt) comb. n. Figs 2h,i15

Opisthoscelis maskelli Froggatt 1894b: 340-341; Froggatt 1929: 377.

General.

In the original description, Froggatt (1894b) states that he collected this species at Cooma, Maitland, Newcastle, and a dozen localities within a radius of 20 miles [32 km] of Sydney, but that a constant locality was Flemington on Eucalyptus siderophloia , the large-leaved box. Flemington is in western Sydney and now in the suburb of Homebush West Subsequently, Froggatt (1929) treated Flemington as the type locality, as did Miller and Gimpel (2000) in their catalogue of the Eriococcidae .

Gall

(Fig. 2h,i). Female (Fig. 2h). On stem. Conical (Fig. 2h) to thorn-like, height 6.4-14.1 mm, width 3.7-7.8 mm, length of basal attachment 5.2-11.0 mm. Gall opening round to oblong, 0.2-1.8 mm wide. Base of gall broad, surface rugose, distal portion attenuated and annulated, with 2-7 rings.

Male (Fig. 2i). On stem and either leaf surface. Tubular, narrowing slightly towards apex, height 2.1-7.0 mm, width 1.0-2.1 mm, length of basal attachment 1.3-4.7 mm. Gall opening indistinct to round, 0.3-1.7 mm wide. Gall thin-walled and cylindrical, distal edge surrounding opening crenulate.

Adult female

(Fig. 15) (n = 16). Body outline ovate to turbinate, length 3.5-6.2 mm, greatest width 3.1-5.1 mm; abdomen tapered, quite small relative to thorax and head. Eyespots each 20-45 mm wide, dorsad of margin fringe setae. Antennae 1-segmented, 43-130 mm long. Frontal lobes difficult to see, each 300-350 µm long, 350-520 µm wide. Tentorial box 440-1400 mm long. Labium 125-160 mm long, 83 -150 mm wide. Spiracles 120-310 mm long, 60-120 mm wide across atrium. Fore and mid legs small sclerotic protuberances, 25-55 µm long. Hind legs slender and elongate; coxa 500-1170 µm, trochanter + femur 510-1222 µm, tibia 1820-2730 µm long, tarsus 115-360 µm; translucent pores on both surfaces of tibia and tarsus; trochanter with 3 or 4 campaniform sensilla on each side; femur-tibia articulation non-functional, tibia fixed in orientation parallel to long axis of femur; claw and digitules absent. Anal opening poorly formed, 15-35 µm wide, sclerotic anal ring and anal ring setae absent.

Dorsum. Derm membranous in young females, sclerotic in older specimens. Dorsal setae ranging from minute and conical to long and flagellate, 20-175 mm long; arranged in a transverse row or band across each body segment, longer setae present on abdominal segments and forming fringe along entire body margin. Macrotubular ducts 12 mm long, dermal orifice with rim ca 5 mm wide; ducts restricted to posterior abdominal segments. Microtubular ducts absent. Quinquelocular pores large, 7-11 mm in diameter, present on posterior abdominal segments.

Venter. Setae flagellate, 20-165 mm long, in a transverse row across each posterior abdominal segment plus a cluster extending from each spiracle to margin, otherwise ventral body surface naked. Macrotubular ducts absent. Quinquelocular pores similar to those on dorsum, similar in distribution to ventral setae.

Material examined.

Lectotype of Opisthoscelis maskelli (here designated): AUSTRALIA: New South Wales: 1 adult female (4.02 mm long, 3.24 mm wide): ex dry gall on stem, with printed label: "No. 1944 E / GALL MAKING COCCIDS. / Ophisthoscelis [sic] maskelli, Frogtt. / Male and female galls on Eucalyptus / Flemington, N.S.W." ASCT00004851 (ASCU).

Paralectotypes: AUSTRALIA: New South Wales: 1 adult female: same data as lectotype (ASCU); 1 adult female (slide perhaps from collection of W.M. Maskell since part of label in his handwriting): "B.M. 1945.121 / Opisthoscelis / MASKELLI / n. sp. / female / 1891 Froggatt W.M.M" and "Co Type / A gall making scale / insect, showing /the long hind / legs. / B.M. 1945.121" (BMNH); 2 adult females (slide-mounted by PJG from dry collection): ex dry stem galls with labels: "Opisthoscelis maskelli / Frogtt / on Eucalyptus siderophloia / Sydney - Australia / ex coll. W.W. Froggatt" and "Opisth Maskelli / ex Coll W. Maskell." (BMNH).

Additional material:

AUSTRALIA: New South Wales: 3 adult females: ex galls, Eucalyptus fibrosa , 8 km N of Bargo, Hume Hwy, 9 May, 1999, LGC (ANIC); 1 adult female: ex gall, Eucalyptus fibrosa , ca 110 km N of Goulburn and 8km N of Bargo, Hume Hwy, Pheasant Nest, -34.27°; 150.65°, 10 May, 1999, LGC, Opis15 (ANIC). Queensland: 1 adult female: ex gall on stem, Eucalyptus sp. (ironbark), 13 km N of Injune, 7 Dec., 1993, LGC (ANIC); 15 first-instar nymphs: ex stem galls, Eucalyptus sp. (ironbark), 14 km N of Injune, 7 Dec., 1993, LGC (ANIC); 2 adult females: ex galls on petiole, Eucalyptus sp., 31 km NE of Chinchilla, Auburn Road, 6 Dec., 1993, LGC (ANIC); 3 adult females: ex stem galls, Eucalyptus sp., 34 km NNE of Chinchilla, Barakula State Forest, 5 Dec., 1993, LGC (ANIC); 1 adult female: ex pot gall with peaked cap, Eucalyptus crebra , Isla Gorge Lookout, in camping ground, 413 m, -25.19°; 149.97°, 12 Oct., 2003, LGC and M. D. Crisp, LGC 00032 (ANIC); 1 adult female: ex gall, Eucalyptus melanophloia , on Sarina to Clermont Road, -21.77°; 148.79°, 2 Nov., 2003, LGC and M. D. Crisp, LGC00072 (ANIC).

Comments.

Adult females of Tanyscelis maskelli are very similar to those of Tanyscelis maculata [see comments under Tanyscelis maculata ].