Kerria varshneyi Ahmad & Ramamurthy

Ahmad, Ayashaa, Sharma, K. K., Mohanasundaram, A., Vidyarthi, A. S. & Ramani, R., 2013, Three new species of Kerria (Hemiptera: Coccoidea: Tachardiidae) from India, Zootaxa 3734 (4), pp. 442-452 : 448-451

Kerria varshneyi Ahmad & Ramamurthy sp. nov.

Holotype ♀: India: Patiala, Punjab, 31.x.2009, Ziziphus mauritiana (Rhamnaceae) , 1 slide (1 ad♀), coll. NAIP (Line no. LIK0063) (NPC). Paratype ♀♀: Data as for holotype, 2 slides (6 ad♀♀), coll. NAIP (Line no. LIK0063) (NPC); 1 slide (3 ad♀♀) (ANIC); 1 slide (2 ad♀♀) (BME).

Adult female ( Figs 3 , 40–57 )

Unmounted material. Lac test brown. Tests occur in aggregations; live mature females globular and crimson. Cleaned female removed from test shown in Figure 3 .

Mounted material. Body globular to elongated, 1.77–3.65 mm long, 1.86–2.42 mm wide at apex, 2.35–3.23 mm wide at middle and 1.34–2.47 mm wide at base (n=10).

Dorsum: Brachia sessile, club-shaped and slightly sclerotized, 400–530 Μm long. Brachial plate circular, 290– 325 Μm wide; brachial crater shallow, central, sub-circular, 150–180 Μm wide, with a defined rim; dimples large, distinct, 4 or 5 in number. Anterior spiracle apodeme 250–295 Μm long and peritreme 160–200 Μm wide, 90–215 Μm away from brachial crater. Ratio of distance of anterior spiracles from crater rim to width of brachial plate 1:1.15. Ratio of length of anterior spiracle to width of brachial plate 1:1.10. Dorsal spine well developed 190–235 Μm long and 90–130 Μm wide at base; pedicel small, bulbous, more sclerotized, 75–100 Μm long; spine 115–145 Μm long and slightly sclerotized, with 2 or 3 spinosities at its base. Ratio of length of pedicel to length of spine 1:1.45. Ratio of total length of dorsal spine to width of brachial plate 1:1.38. Anal tubercle elongated, well developed; pre-anal plate membranous, 250–810 Μm long, 480–590 Μm wide; supra-anal plate heavily sclerotized, hispid near apex, 360–480 Μm long, 360–430 Μm wide, ratio of length of supra-anal plate to width of plate -1:0.89. Ratio of length of supra-anal plate to length of brachia 1:1.10. Anal fringe plates short, fringe maximum length 30– 70 Μm. Anal ring 6 sectored with 10 setae. Dorsal duct clusters present as a row of ducts on both sides between dorsal spine and base of anal tubercle, each cluster with 8–10 tubular ducts plus some dorsal setae and spermatoid ducts.

Venter: Antennae 40–55 Μm long, segmentation obscure perhaps 3 segmented, apical segment pointed, with 3 long fleshy setae and 2 short hair-like setae. Clypeolabral shield 280–320 Μm long, 140–170 Μm wide. Labium 2 segmented. Pre-oral lobes elongated, membranous, present along sides of clypeolabral shield. Post-oral lobes each 130–200 Μm long, membranous, dome-shaped. Legs present and vestigial, small and one-segmented, with rudimentary claw. Posterior spiracles, each 85–100 Μm long, smaller than anterior spiracles, born on a sclerotized plate; with 54–70 spiracular pores present along anterior margin of spiracle. Marginal duct clusters distinct, 3 on each side, each cluster arranged in a convoluted line consisting of 39–42 ducts without any surrounding sclerotization. Perivulvar pore clusters: 11 or 12 on each side of anal tubercle, circular in shape, each pore with 15– 20 loculi. Ventral duct clusters irregular in shape; with a cluster on either side of mouthparts, another laterad to each posterior spiracle and a posterior pair in abdomen. Star pores: 2–11 present near mouthparts.

Comments. Kerria varshneyi Ahmad & Ramamurthy sp. nov. is similar to Kerria chamberlini Varshney in having: (i) an elongated, conical, supra-anal plate, and (ii) brachia wide sloping down and merging with body. Kerria varshneyi differs in having (character states for K. chamberlini in brackets): (i) 4 or 5 dimples on brachial plate (generally 7), (ii) distance between anterior spiracle and brachial plate is 90–215 µm (0 µm), and (iii) perivulvar pore clusters numbering 11–12 on each side of base of anal tubercle (5–8).

Etymology. This new species is named after Dr. R. K. Varshney, in honour of his contributions to the lac insects of India and his valuable guidance in our studies on lac insects as a member of CAC of the NAIP subproject.

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 3. Cleaned adult females after removal of tests. 1, K. pennyae Ahmad & Ramamurthy, sp. nov.; 2, K. dubeyi Ahmad & Ramamurthy, sp. nov.; and 3, K. varshneyi Ahmad & Ramamurthy, sp. nov.

FIGURES 40 – 49. Kerria varshneyi Ahmad & Ramamurthy, sp. nov. 40, whole mount, StPo- Star pores, RuLrudimentary leg. 41, anal tubercle, Pap- Pre-anal plate, Spap- Supra-anal plate. 42, dorsal spine, Ped- Pedicel, Sp- Spine. 43, dorsal duct cluster with a single tubular duct, dorsal seta and spermatoid duct. 44, brachia with anterior spiracle. 45, marginal duct cluster. 45 a, single duct magnified. 46, antenna. 47, Mouthparts, ClySh- Clypeolabral shield, Lb- Labium, Prl- Pre oral lobe, Pol- Post oral lobe. 48, ventral seta. 49, posterior spiracle.

FIGURES 50 – 57. Kerria varshneyi Ahmad & Ramamurthy, sp. nov., scanning electron micrographs. 50, anal tubercle. 51, brachia with anterior spiracle. 52, brachial plate with dimples. 53, dorsal spine with spinosities (spi) indicated by arrow. 54, marginal duct cluster. 55, mouthparts. 56, antenna. 57, posterior spiracle.