Reticulaphis fici (Takahashi)

Yeh, Hsin-Ting, Ko, Chiun-Cheng & Hsu, Tung-Ching, 2008, Review of the East-Asian genus Reticulaphis (Aphididae: Hormaphidinae), with two new species, Zootaxa 1782, pp. 34-48 : 39-40

Reticulaphis fici (Takahashi) , stat.n.

( Figs. 4, 5 )

Astegopteryx fici Takahashi, 1923: 55 , 146.

Thoracaphis fici ( Takahashi) : Takahashi, 1931: 92.

Reticulaphis fici ( Takahashi) : Takahashi, 1958: 11.

Reticulaphis distylii subsp. fici: Hille Ris Lambers & Takahashi, 1959: 12 .

Apterous adult female. Body ovate, black with purplish-blue burnish, marginal to submarginal setae long, with acute apices, body margin with much waxy powder. Body 0.82–0.94 mm long, about 1.30 (1.25–1.42) times as long as wide, forehead slightly concave. Antennae on front of to beneath head, shorter than space between them, L-shaped bend with 3 indistinct segments, long arm about 50–75 μm with 2 minute rhinaria and 1 terminal seta near apex. Eyes submarginal, with 3 facets. Prosoma distinctly reticulated with pale thin lines, dorsum with 3 lower transverse ridges on median area and several rounded areas surrounding it, but sometimes outline of these not well-defined; 5 rows of short setae on central axis of prosoma, 1st row with 2– 4 setae between eyes, 2nd row on pronotum with 2–5 setae, 3rd row on mesonotum with 4–7 setae, 4th row on metanotum with 2–5 setae, and 5th row on abdominal tergite I with 2–4 setae; prosoma with 10 pairs of marginal or submarginal setae, these setae long, with acute apices. Legs short, front and middle legs concealed under body, hind legs exposed; front and middle tibiae shorter than femora, hind tibiae longer than or equal to femora; tarsi narrower than tibiae, longer than wide; 1 long fine capitate seta on dorsal front tarsi, 2 such setae on middle and hind tarsi. Abdominal tergites II–VII about 225–260 μm wide and 67.5–100 μm long, also reticulated, without siphunculi and with 6 pairs minute setae along converging sides of tergites. Abdominal tergite VIII an equilateral triangle, about 122.5–140 μm wide and 55–60 μm long, with 4 setae, central two long, with acute apices, nearly as long as marginal setae of prosaoma, but outer two short. Cauda knobbed, constricted basally. Subanal plate deeply bilobed, each lobe with 5 or 6 setae.

Material examined. Taiwan: Da-an district, Taipei City, 25-x-2006, 6 apterous adults from F. superba , (A.K. Dubey #541); Taipei City, 27-xi-2006, 59 apterous adults from F. superba , (on 8 microscope slides) (T.C. Hsu #569) ( ANIC, BMNH, CDFA, NMNS, TARIIC, USNM); Taihoku, Formosa, ii-1925, 4 apterous adults from Ficus sp. (R. Takahashi) (originally labeled as Astegopteryx fici ) ( BMNH); Taihoku, Formosa, ii- 1927, 11 apterous adults from Ficus sp. (R. Takahashi) ( BMNH). Philippines: College, Laguna, 19-i-1967, 6 apterous adults from F. pseudopalma, (V.J. Calilung) ( BMNH). China: Central, Hong Kong, 23-xii-1979, 12 apterous and 3 alate adults from Ficus sp. (on 4 microscope slides) (J.H. Martin) ( BMNH); Mai Po Marshes, Hong Kong, 15-x-1990, 14 apterous adults from F. s u p e r b a (on 4 microscope slides) (J.H. Martin) ( BMNH); slope of The Peak, above Pok Fu Lam Reservoir Road, 12-xi-1996, 10 apterous adults from Ficus sp. (on 2 microscope slides) (J.H. Martin) ( BMNH); Macau, Taipa, 06-xii-2005, 8 apterous adults from F. r u m p h i i, (J.H. Martin) ( BMNH).

Remarks. This species is adapted to urban areas and suburbs, and can usually be found on mature or defoliating leaves. Sometimes the population density is high, and it is easy to find individuals which have been parasitized by parasitoids. This species is conspicuous for the number of setae on the central axis of the dorsal prosoma which is always greater than two, and differs from R. distylii in the ovate body shape, pleural regions of the prosoma not being expanded, and the marginal setae of prosoma being comparatively thin; and differs from R. rotifera in the comparatively thin marginal setae with acute apices of the prosoma.

Figures

FIGURES 4 – 7. 4, 5. Reticulaphis fici apterous adults, (4) alive; (5) dorsal view. 6, 7. Reticulaphis foveolatae apterous adults; (6) alive; (7) dorsal view.