Bryococcus, 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 : 7-8

Bryococcus gen. nov.

Type species Bryococcus hippodamus sp. nov.

Genus description. Adult female body rotund-oval, derm membranous. Eyespots not seen. Dorsal and marginal setae sparse, spinose, often minute, larger setae on posterior abdomen; ventral setae spinose on posterior abdominal segments, a few minute setae elsewhere; interantennal setae flagellate. Antennae 6-segmented, with 1 fleshy seta on segments IV, V and 3 on VI; with 3 flagellate setae on segment I, 2 each on II, III, 1 on V, 4 long flagellate setae and 1 short seta on VI; segment III not longer than other segments. Mouthparts distinctive: clypeolabral shield partly enclosed within and surrounded by a horse collar-shaped, wide sclerotised rim, labium free of rim. Anal lobes sclerotised, short and broad, with rounded apices curving towards median; apical setae displaced from terminal position by dorsal seta LD2; anal lobe setae all small, spinose; anal ring ventral, cellular with 6 setae. Legs well developed but small for body; metathoracic coxa rectangular in shape, with rounded angles, covered with reticulate translucent pores. With unique 5-locular disc pores, each raised on a stalk to a height at least equal to the diameter of the disc pore; distributed over all dorsum, more numerous around margin where continous with ventral submargin; when on anal lobes, these stalked disc pores are each sunken in a dermal invagination. Macrotubular ducts absent. Microtubular ducts minute, present dorsally on posterior lateral lobules. Lateral lobes of last 3 free abdominal segments with sclerotised lobules present near margin, decreasing in size anteriorly; posterior lateral lobule largest, consisting of a convoluted raised area penultimate to anal lobes, anterior lateral lobule a lightly sclerotised patch, middle lateral lobule intermediate in structure; each lobule with a few stout setae and stalked disc pores. Spiracles each with a rim of stalked 5-locular disc pores surrounding a cluster of smaller, inner 5-locular disc pores, apodeme relatively large and atrium small.

Comments. Bryococcus can be distinguished immediately from other genera of Eriococcidae in New Zealand by: (i) the presence of uniquely stalked 5-locular disc pores on the dorsum and on ventral submargins; (ii) the sclerotised, horse collar-shaped rim surrounding the clypeolabral shield; and (iii) the lateral lobules on dorsal margins of posterior abdomen.

Etymology. The genus name is derived from Bryo-, meaning moss, combined with coccus for ‘scale’, for the mossy habitat.