CRYPTOCOCCIDAE Kosztarab 1968

Hodgson, Chris, 2020, A review of neococcid scale insects (Hemiptera: Sternorrhyncha: Coccomorpha) based on the morphology of the adult males, Zootaxa 4765 (1), pp. 1-264 : 102

CRYPTOCOCCIDAE Kosztarab 1968

Cryptococcus Douglas 1890 , 155. Type species: Coccus fagi Baerensprung (= Cryptococcus fagisuga Lindinger ), by monotypy.

Introduction. This small family, known as the bark-crevice scales, has now been shown to be non-monophyletic ( Gwiazdowski et al. 2006; Nan et al. 2013). Gwiazdowski et al. (2006), in a molecular study using 18S ribosomal DNA sequences of the type species, C. fagisuga Lindinger plus C. nudatus Brittin , C. williamsi Kosztarab & Hale and C. ulmi Tang & Hao , showed that the first three species fell within the Gondwanan clade of the “ Eriococcidae ” of Cook and Gullan (2004), but that C. ulmi did not but was closer to Cook and Gullan’s (2004) “BSE” clade. Since then, Nan et al. (2013) have confirmed these findings and transferred C. ulmi to a new genus ( Macroporicoccus Nan & Wu). As all known cryptococcid males are apterous, members of this family were not included in Hodgson and Hardy’s (2013) study based on adult male morphology. The family Cryptococcidae therefore does not really exist but this group is dealt with here (despite apparently belonging to separate eriococcid clades) because of the apterous males. Thus, this group includes just 9 species in 3 genera, namely 5 in Cryptococcus Douglas , 3 in Pseudochermes Nitsche and 1 in Macroporicoccus ( García Morales et al. 2019) . These species have a mainly Holarctic distribution but with one species ( C. nudatus ) described from New Zealand. The adult males of only M. ulmi Tang & Hao ( Wu 2000) and Peudochermes fraxini (Kalt.) ( Afifi 1968) have been described and appear to be very similar.

Family diagnosis based on the adult male morphology of M. ulmi Tang & Hao and P. fraxini (Kalt.) ( Fig. 41 ). Body. Apterous, without a neck; body roundly pointed anteriorly, abdomen narrowing to a point posteriorly. Setae very few, all hs ( Pseudochermes ) or some peg-like ( Macroporicoccus ); pores absent. Head with a pair of ocelli but no simple eyes; antennae 7 or 8 segmented, segments varied in shape; some segments with fs and hs setae; apex with a few short capitate setae and antennal bristles barely differentiated; with vestigial mouthparts; all cranial ridges absent. Thorax. Pronotal ridge and sclerite absent; prosternum with transverse ridge only; with a sparse band of hs. Mesothorax and metathorax membranous, with a few hs. Spiracles normal, without pores. Legs moderately developed, five segmented; arrangement of trochanter sensilla and presence of tarsal campaniform pore unknown; setae few; tibia with 2 spurs; tarsal and claw digitules capitate; claw without a denticle. Abdomen membranous, gradually narrowing to a short penial sheath; with segmental bands of hs (Macroporicoccuss with some peg-like setae in pleural areas). Caudal extensions, ostioles and glandular pouches absent. Penial sheath about as long as broad, abdominal segment IX fused to style, with a few short setae. Aedeagus short.

Afifi’s (1968) figure of the adult male of P. fraxini is reproduced here ( Fig. 41 ).

Figures

FIGURE 41. Pseudochermes fraxini (Kalt.). Apterous adult male.(Cryptococcidae; Gondwanan group). (AfterAfifi 1968). Where C=apical antennal segments, F=metathoracic leg and H=side view of posterior abdominal segments and penial sheath. For abbreviations see p. 8.