Montanococcus petrobius, Henderson, Rosa C., 2007

Henderson, Rosa C., 2007, Three new genera and six new species of felt scales (Hemiptera: Coccoidea: Eriococcidae) from mountain habitats in New Zealand, Zootaxa 1449, pp. 1-29 : 21-25

Montanococcus petrobius sp. nov.

( Figs 11–13 )

Live appearance: unknown

Adult female, 2nd-instar females and 1st-instar nymph were available life stages. Description of adult female, measurements taken from 1 specimen ( Fig. 11 ).

Body elongate-oval, 0.67 mm wide, 1.1 mm long; derm membranous except for anal lobes. Eyespots present on margin at about level of antennal scape. Marginal setae setae 10–80 μm long, in groups of 2 long setae plus 1 shorter seta on each abdominal segment, reducing to 1 long seta plus a short seta in a line each side to head. Antennae 6-segmented, 105–120 μm long; fleshy setae: 1 each on segments IV and V, 3 on VI; flagellate setae: 3 on segment I, II, III and V, 4–5 on VI. Labium 60 μm long, with 4 pairs of setae discernable. Anal lobes very wide at base, thick, with both lobules on inner margins and apex most strongly sclerotised; length 150–155 μm, width at base 135 μm, width at posterior lobule (LD2) 80–85 μm; with a deep lateral cleft between inner margin lobules LD1 and LD2, lobule LD2 extending medially, seta LD2 nearly in line with apical seta; anal lobe setae lengths (μm): LD 1 20–30, LD2 20–22.5, LD3 30–32.5, LV1 77.5–80, additional ventral seta LV2 22.5–25, apical seta terminal 110; suranal seta 45 μm long. Anal ring ventral at base of anal lobes, with 2 rows of cells and 6 narrow, sword-shaped anal ring setae, 5 μm wide at setal base and 80 μm long, tapering abruptly to an elongate point. Legs well developed; metathoracic coxa and femur each with translucent pores, metathoracic coxa not larger than coxae of other legs, metathoracic leg lengths(μm): coxa 50, trochanter + femur 115–120, tibia 50–55, tarsus 60–65, claw 25; claw without a denticle. Tarsal and claw digitules normal and subequal.

Dorsum. Dorsal setae spinose, 5–50 μm long; distributed in rows of 4 long setae with 7–10 shorter to very short setae; short setae fewer per row on abdomen and head. Macrotubular ducts 24–32 μm long, distributed throughout dorsum. Microtubular ducts 10–13 μm long, scattered over dorsum. Venter. Submedian abdominal setae flagellate, 5–35 μm long; with a submarginal abdominal line of spinose setae,12–62.5 μm long, longest on most posterior segment, decreasing in size towards thorax and with several smaller setae in proximity of each spinose seta. Macrotubular ducts absent. Microtubular ducts as for dorsum, with about 2 per segment submarginally on each side. Ventral disc pores wide-rimmed, 7-locular, 3.5–4 μm wide, with slightly raised centres, distributed in a discrete, sinuous submedian band varying from 1–5 pores wide, from posterior spiracle to approx. mid-ventral surface of each anal lobe; disc pores more numerous in groups of 12–20 pores near peritreme of each spiracle. Vulva normal (not a wide slit), between segments VI and VII. Mesothoracic spiracle length 35 μm, width across peritreme 15 μm; metathoracic spiracle length 35–37.5 μm, width across peritreme 15 μm. With broad submedian bands of microtrichia on all abdominal and thoracic segments.

Comments. Diagnostic features of the adult female of M. petrobius are: (i) ventral disc pores 7-locular, restricted to a line between posterior spiracle and anal lobes; (ii) each anal lobe with a deep lateral cleft between setae LD1 and LD2 on inner margin, LD2 lobule extending medially: (iii) seta LD2 nearly in line with apical seta; (iv) small to moderate numbers of translucent pores present on metathoracic coxa and femur, and (v) anal ring setae sword-shaped, moderately wide, about 5 μm wide at setal base (those of M. graemei 12.5–20 μm wide at setal base).

Description of 2nd-instar female, measurements taken from 2 specimens ( Fig. 12 ).

Body elongate-oval, 0.39–0.41 mm wide, 0.67–78 mm long; derm membranous except for anal lobes. Eyespots present at about level of antennal scape. Marginal setae 25–65 μm long, in groups of 2 long setae plus 1 short seta on each abdominal segment, reducing to 1 long seta in a line each side on thorax and head. Antennae 6-segmented, 95–105 μm long; fleshy setae: 1 each on segments IV and V, 3 on VI; flagellate setae: 3 on segment I, 2 each on segment II and IV, 3 each on III and V, 6 on VI. Labium 50 μm long, with 4 pairs of setae discernable. Anal lobes very wide at base, thick, with lobules on inner margins and apex; strongly sclerotised; width at base 100–110 μm, width at posterior lobule (LD2) 65–70 μm; length 80–95 μm; with a deep lateral cleft between inner margin lobules LD1 and LD2; lobule LD2 extending medially; anal lobe setae lengths (μm): LD1 12.5, LD2 10–12.5, LD3 12.5, LV1 40–57.5, apical seta approx. terminal 82.5–90; suranal seta 40 μm long. Anal ring ventral at base of anal lobes, with 1 row of cells and 6 narrowly sword-shaped anal ring setae, 52.5 μm long. Legs well developed; metathoracic coxa not larger than coxae of other legs, metathoracic leg lengths (μm): coxa 35, trochanter + femur 80–90, tibia 35–45, tarsus 45–55, claw 20; claw without a denticle. Tarsal and claw digitules normal and subequal.

Dorsum. Dorsal setae spinose, 7.5–22.5 μm long; distributed in 4 longitudinal lines of longer setae with additional short setae on abdomen and thorax. Macrotubular ducts absent. Microtubular ducts 10–12 μm long, distributed in a marginal and a submarginal line on each side with 2 submedian lines on abdomen and a few ducts on thorax. Venter. Submedian abdominal setae flagellate, 5–22.5 μm long; longer setae on head 35–50 μm long; with a submarginal abdominal line of spinose setae, each 10–35 μm long, longest on most posterior segment, decreasing in size towards thorax. Macrotubular ducts absent. Microtubular ducts as for dorsum, with about 2 per segment submarginally on each side of abdomen, scarce anteriorly. Ventral disc pores as for adult female, 3–4 μm wide, distributed in a discrete, sinuous submedian band varying from 1–3 pores wide, from posterior spiracle to approx. one-quarter mid-ventral surface of each anal lobe; with a group of 7–20 disc pores close to each spiracle and 1–4 disc pores submedially on thorax. Mesothoracic spiracle length 25 μm, width across peritreme 10 μm; metathoracic spiracle length 25 μm, width across peritreme 10 μm. With broad submedian bands of microtrichia on all abdominal and thoracic segments.

Comments. Diagnostic features of the 2nd-instar female of M. petrobius are: (i) absence of macrotubular ducts, and translucent pores on metathoracic leg (both present in adult female), and (ii) ventral disc pore band extending from posterior spiracle to anal lobes (very few abdominal disc pores on 1st-instar nymph; extending from antennae to anal lobes on M. graemei female 2nd-instar nymph).

Description of 1st-instar nymph, measurements taken from 1 good specimen ( Fig. 13 ).

Body elongate-oval, 0.23 mm wide, 0.45 mm long; derm membranous except for anal lobes. Eyespots faint, present on margin at about level of antennal scape. Marginal setae 15–45 μm long; with 1 long seta on each segment, longest posteriorly. Antennae 6-segmented, 70–75 μm long; fleshy setae: 1 each on segments IV and V, 3 on VI; flagellate setae: 3 on segment I, 2 on II, 3 each on III and V, 4 on VI. Labium 35 μm long, with 5 pairs of setae discernable. Anal lobes very wide at base, thick, lightly sclerotised; width at base 65 μm, length 50–60 μm; width at posterior lobule (LD2) 45 μm; with a deep lateral cleft between inner margin lobules LD1 and LD2; lobule LD2 extending medially; seta LD2 nearly in line with apical seta; anal lobe setae lengths (μm): LD1 10, LD2 7.5–10, LD3 7.5, LV 1 25–30, apical seta terminal 80; suranal seta 20 μm long. Anal ring ventral at base of anal lobes, with about 2 rows of cells and with 6 relatively broad anal ring setae. Legs well developed; metathoracic coxa not larger than coxae of other legs, metathoracic leg lengths (μm): coxa 25–30, trochanter + femur 60, tibia 25–30, tarsus 30, claw 15; claw without a denticle. Tarsal and claw digitules normal and subequal.

Dorsum. Dorsal setae spinose of 1 size only, 7.5–12.5 μm long; distributed in 2 submarginal and 2 submedian longitudinal lines from mid-thorax to posterior abdomen. Macrotubular ducts absent. Microtubular ducts as for adult female, 10–11 μm long, in a line around body near margin. Venter. Submedian abdominal setae flagellate, 7.5–15 μm long, longest on head where 30–37.5 μm long; with a submarginal abdominal line of spinose setae, each 5–12.5 μm long. Macro- and microtubular ducts absent. Ventral disc-pores as for adult female, 3–4 μm wide, distributed in a submedian band, with 2–4 pores on each segment, from posterior spiracle to anterior margin of each anal lobe; with a group of 4–7 disc pores associated with each spiracle. Spiracles very small. With sparse submedian bands of microtrichia on abdominal segments.

Comments. The diagnostic feature of 1st-instar nymphs of this species is the very large, lightly sclerotised, anal lobes, an unusual feature for 1st-instar nymphs but typical for the genus (see under M. graemei 1stinstar above for diagnostic differences).

Type material. Holotype: female. NEW ZEALAND, CO, Rock & Pillar Range, Rock & Pillar Reserve, 2 km NE of Summit Rock, 1200 m, 25 Feb 2002, S Rate, tussock core of Chionochloa sp. ( Poaceae ), #02-290: 1/ 1F.

Paratypes: as for holotype, except #02-289: 1/1f; as previous except 16 May 2002, Chionochloa rigida core sample, #04-167a–b: 2/1f, 1 1st-instar.

Etymology. The specific epithet petrobius means living among rocks, for the Rock & Pillar Range.

Figures

FIGURE 11. Montanococcus petrobius sp. nov., adult female. Anal lobe setae LD 1 – LD 3, LV 1 – LV 2, SS (shown displaced from socket), as for fig. 1

FIGURE 12. Montanococcus petrobius sp. nov., 2 nd-instar female nymph. Anal lobe setae LD 1 – LD 3, LV 1, SS (shown displaced from socket), as for fig. 1

FIGURE 13. Montanococcus petrobius sp. nov., 1 st-instar nymph. Anal lobe setae LD 1 – LD 3, LV 1, SS (shown displaced from socket), as for fig. 1.