Ovaticoccus betsyae Miller and Stocks, 2022

Miller, Douglass R. & Stocks, Ian C., 2022, New genera and species of felt scales (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Eriococcidae), with descriptions of new species and immature instars of described species, Zootaxa 5221 (1), pp. 1-213 : 106-110

Ovaticoccus betsyae Miller and Stocks sp. n.

Type material: Adult female holotype middle specimen of 3,with right label “ Ovaticoccus / betsyae / Miller & Stocks / HOLOTYPE / [with a drawing of the position of the 3 specimens on the slide and arrows pointing to the 2 paratypes and holotype] / paratypes USNM.” Left label “ Ovaticoccus / betsyae / Pinyon Hills / San Bernardino / Co., CA on Yucca / brevifolia , D.R. / Miller XII-7-81.” Label on back “ Ovaticoccus / betsyae Miller & / Stocks / HOLOTYPE & / PARATYPES / USNM / Pinyon Hills.” Holotype is in USNM . Paratypes: UNITED STATES: California: Los Angeles Co.: Lancaster (taken in quarantine at Borrego Springs ), XI-9-1956, on Yucca brevifolia, J.P. Dion (2 secondinstar ♀♀ paratypes, 1 second-instar ♁ paratype on 3 slides) CDFA ; Lancaster (taken in quarantine at San Diego ), XII-13-1956, on Yucca brevifolia, J.P. Dion (2 ad. ♀♀ paratypes and 1 second-instar ♀ paratype on 1 slide) CDFA ; Lancaster , IV-2-1963, on Yucca brevifolia, A. Cravens (2 ad. ♀♀ paratypes on 2 slides) CDFA ; Lancaster (northern part), XII-27-1964, on Yucca brevifolia,D.R. Miller and J.F.Miller (2ad.♀♀ paratypes on 1slide) UCD ; San Fernando , I-15-1962, on Yucca sp. , H. Whitmore (13 ad. ♀♀ paratypes on 11 slides) CDFA (9 slides) , UCD (1 slide) , USNM (1 slide); San Bernardino Co.: 3 mi. S. Kramer Junction , XII-28-1964, on Yucca brevifolia, D.R. Miller and J.F. Miller (2 ad. ♀♀ paratypes on 1 slide) UCD ; 5 mi. S. Kramer Junction , I-24-1965, on Yucca brevifolia, D.R. Miller (2 ad. ♀♀ paratypes on 1 slide) UCD ; Pinyon Hills , XII-7-1981, on Yucca brevifolia, D.R. Miller and E.R. Miller (1 ad. ♀ holotype, 2 ad. ♀♀ paratypes on 1 slide) USNM . Utah: Washington Co.: 2 mi. E. Welcome Spring , XI-18-2004, on Yucca brevifolia, M.E. Gruwell, R. Gwiazdowski, B.B. Normark (2 ad. ♀♀ on 1 slide, not a paratype) USNM .

The type specimens of this species from Yucca sp. were originally included by Miller and McKenzie (1967) in Ovaticoccus californicus primarily because both lack microtubular ducts; it now is apparent that they are a different species, here described as Ov. betsyae .

Etymology: Ovaticoccus betsyae is named in honor of Elizabeth (Betsy) Ross Miller who is the mother of the first author and who passed away at the age of 102 in 2020. She assisted in collecting the holotype of this species and often helped with collecting material in various parts of Southern California. She was present when the first author discovered that Ov. salviae occurs under the bark of its host. She and her husband James L. Miller (the first author’s father) spent many hours collecting Ov. salviae at a location on a regular basis and sent the samples to Maryland to help understand the life history of the species (see Appendix 1).

Field features: Occurring at base of leaves closely appressed to main body of plant.

Adult female ( Fig. 54 )

Description: Holotype, slide mounted, about 2.4 mm long, 1.4 mm wide (paratypes 1.9–2.4 mm long, 1.1–1.5 mm wide). Holotype with part of ventral surface of segment VIII located on dorsal surface, some paratypes similar, others with ventral segment of VIII entirely on venter. Body elongate oval, without protruding anal lobes. Anal-lobe areas each dorsally and ventrally with 5 flagellate setae (paratypes with 6 or 7 setae) including suranal seta and elongate anal-lobe seta, 6 5-locular pores (paratypes with 5–7).

Dorsum with flagellate setae scattered over entire surface, shorter than those on venter, straight. Enlarged setae on head, thorax, and abdomen, forming 2 sporadic longitudinal lines on mediolateral and lateral areas, with 11 setae (paratypes with 0–4 setae, not in longitudinal lines, present on head and posterior abdominal segments); largest seta 8 μm long (paratypes 8–10 μm); conical, sometimes with slight concavity near apex, central projection thin, with slightly rounded apex; setal base thin, not located in dermal pocket; segment IV with 13 setae including 1 enlarged seta and 12 flagellate setae (paratypes with 13–15 setae including 0 or 1 enlarged seta and 12–14 flagellate setae); segment IV with combined total of 0 or 1 enlarged seta dorsally and ventrally. Macrotubular ducts uncommon, in marginal and submarginal areas of segments VI–VIII, with 7 ducts (paratypes with 4–9) on segments V, VI or VII to VIII, each about 12 μm long (paratypes 10–18 μm). Microtubular ducts absent. Multilocular pores of 2 kinds: 5-locular pores scattered over entire surface, less abundant anteriorly; 3-locular pores rare. Cruciform pores and microtrichia absent.

Anal ring ventral, circular, divided anteriorly (divided posteriorly and anteriorly in some paratypes), without cells, with 3 setae on each side of ring (paratypes sometimes with 1 missing on 1 side), each noticeably shorter than diameter of ring; anal tube unsclerotized; anal opening sclerotized; without anal flap.

Venter with longest seta on segment II 30 μm long (paratypes 18–30 μm), on segment VII 40 μm long (paratypes 38–42 μm); longest anal-lobe seta 127 μm long (paratypes 112–127 μm). Enlarged setae on 1 side of head (absent from paratypes) of same type as on dorsum. Macrotubular ducts absent (paratypes with 2 or 3 ducts on posterior abdominal segments). Microtubular ducts absent. Multilocular pores over entire surface, most abundant posteriorly, of 2 kinds: 5-locular pores most abundant; 3-locular pores rare or absent. Cruciform pores near body margin on segments IV–VI (paratypes with pores on any or all of segment III–VIII), with 6 pores on each side of body (paratypes with 1–8 pores). Legs with hind coxae with 4 and 5 dorsal pores and 1 faint ventral pore (paratypes with 3–6 dorsal pores, 1–8 ventral pores); each femur with 4 setae including 1 proximally and 3 distally; each tibia with 4 setae, without middle seta; hind tibia/tarsus 0.7 (paratypes 0.6–0.8). Antennae each 7-segmented, 187 μm long (paratypes 168–210 μm). Frontal lobes absent. Preantennal pore present. Microtrichia absent from body, present on ventral surface of hind 2 pairs of coxae.

Notes: The description is based on six specimens from two localities. The adult female of Ov. betsyae is most similar to the adult female of Ov. californicus in lacking microtubular ducts and dorsal cruciform pores, having an incomplete anal ring and a proximal seta on the femur. They differ as follows (character states in brackets are of Ov. betsyae ): multilocular pores with about equal numbers of 5-locular pores and 7-locular pores (predominantly 5-locular pores); cruciform pores common ventrolaterally, forming clusters of 9–18 pores on abdominal segments (ventrolateral clusters with one or two pores); occurring on Agave sp. (on Yucca sp. ).

Second-instar female ( Fig. 55 )

Description: Slide-mounted specimen 0.8 mm long, 0.4 mm wide. Body elongate oval, without protruding anal lobes. Anal-lobe area dorsally each with 2 flagellate setae and 2 5-locular pores; ventrally each with 3 flagellate setae including suranal seta and elongate anal-lobe seta, and 1 5-locular pore.

Dorsum with flagellate setae scattered over entire surface in segmental rows, often curved. Enlarged setae of 1 size, present erratically along body margin, occasionally in medial and mediolateral areas of thorax and abdomen; largest seta 10 μm long; enlarged setae each narrowly conical with thin apex; setal base thin, about same thickness as flagellate setal base; segment IV with 10 flagellate setae; without enlarged setae. Macrotubular ducts absent. Microtubular ducts absent. Multilocular pores all 5-locular pores present over entire dorsum, arranged in rows, less abundant on head. Cruciform pores absent. Microtrichia present on segments VII and VIII.

Anal ring ventral, semicircular, incomplete, non-cellular, with 3 poorly developed setae on each side of ring, each shorter than diameter of ring; additional pair of setae associated with, but not attached to, ring; anal tube weakly sclerotized, dermal orifice sclerotized.

Venter with flagellate setae, longest seta on segment II 12 μm long, on segment VII 25 μm long; anal-lobe seta 80 μm long. Enlarged setae absent. Macrotubular ducts and microtubular ducts absent. Multilocular pores of 2 kinds: 5-locular pores most abundant, scattered over entire surface; 4-locular pores near anterior spiracles. Cruciform pores rare, 1 near body margin on segment V. Legs with 0 or 1 translucent pores on hind coxa; each femur with 4 setae including 1 proximally and 3 distally; each tibia with 3 setae, without middle setae; hind tibia/tarsus 0.8. Antennae each 6-segmented, about 138 μm long. Frontal lobes absent. Preantennal pore present. Microtrichia on head to segment VIII and on ventral surface of hind 2 pairs of coxae.

Notes: The description is based on three specimens from two localities. The second-instar female of Ov. betsyae is most similar to the second-instar female of Ov. neglectus in lacking cruciform pores and in having an incomplete anal ring with setae absent or much shorter than diameter of ring. They differ as follows (character states in brackets are of Ov. betsyae ): each femur with three setae, without proximal seta (four setae, with one proximal seta); microtubular ducts present (absent); enlarged setae broad, with lateral margins curved (enlarged setae narrow, with lateral margins nearly straight); enlarged setae in three definite pairs of longitudinal lines from mesothorax to segment VII (enlarged setae with three indefinite pairs of longitudinal lines, setae in medial and mediolateral lines often replaced by flagellate or transitional setae).

Second-instar male

A single specimen of Ovaticoccus betsyae is available, but it is in such poor condition that an illustration has not been attempted. Character states that can be discerned are presented below, others are left out.

Description: Slide-mounted specimen 0.7 mm long, 0.4 mm wide. Body elongate oval, without protruding anal lobes. Anal-lobe areas each dorsally and ventrally with flagellate setae and tubular ducts.

Dorsum with flagellate setae scattered over entire surface in segmental rows, often curved. Enlarged setae absent; segment IV with 8 flagellate setae. Macrotubular ducts scattered over entire surface. Microtubular ducts absent. Multilocular pores all 5-locular pores arranged in rows, less abundant on head. Cruciform pores absent. Microtrichia on segments VI to VIII.

Anal ring semicircular, incomplete, non-cellular, with 3 poorly developed setae on each side of ring, each shorter than diameter of ring; additional pair of setae associated with, but not attached to, ring; anal tube weakly sclerotized, anal opening sclerotized.

Venter with body setae flagellate, longest seta on segment II 30 μm long, on segment VII 30 μm long; anallobe seta broken. Enlarged setae absent. Macrotubular ducts and microtubular ducts absent. Multilocular pores all 5-locular, scattered over entire surface. Cruciform pores absent. Legs without translucent pores on hind coxa; each femur with 4 setae, including 1 proximally and 3 distally; each tibia with 4 setae, without middle seta; hind tibia/tarsus 0.5. Antennae each 7-segmented, about 92 μm long. Frontal lobes absent. Preantennal pore present. Microtrichia on abdomen and on ventral surface of hind 2 pairs of coxae.

Notes: The description is based on one specimen that is not in good enough condition to illustrate. The secondinstar male of Ov. betsyae is most similar to the second-instar male of Ov. neglectus and Ov. salviae in lacking pores in the anal ring and ventral cruciform pores. They differ as follows (characters in brackets are of Ov. betsyae ): each femur with three setae, without proximal seta (four setae with one proximal seta).

Figures

FIGURE 54. Ovaticoccus betsyae sp. n., adult female, Lancaster (northern part), Los Angeles Co., California, USA., December 27, 1964, on Yucca brevifolia, D.R. Miller and J.F. Miller. A=enlarged seta; B=slightly enlarged seta; D=5-locular pore; E=3- locular pore; G=macrotubular duct; H=cruciform pore; I=anal ring; W=hind leg.

FIGURE 55. Ovaticoccus betsyae sp. n., second-instar female, Lancaster (taken in quarantine at San Diego), Los Angeles Co., California, USA, December 13, 1956, on Yucca brevifolia, J.P. Dion. A=enlarged seta; B=slightly enlarged seta; D=5-locular pore; I=anal ring; N=flagellate seta; Q=dorsal surface of coxa; U=4-locular pore.