Paralecanium neoguineense Hodgson

Chris J. Hodgson & Douglas J. Williams, 2018, Revision of the soft scale genus Paralecanium (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Coccidae) with the introduction of three new genera and twenty new species, Zootaxa 4443 (1), pp. 1-162 : 122-124

Paralecanium neoguineense Hodgson spec. n.

( Fig. 51 )

Material examined. Holotype and paratype ff: PAPUA NEW GUINEA: left label: NEW GUINEA / Markham Vly, Chwasing / on Pandanus / R.W. Paine / 2.vi.1957 1016 / CIE 4650/15426; right label: Paralecanium / neoguineense / Hodgson (BMNH): 3/5ad ff (f, but Canada balsam milky; holotype specimen on a slide with another mature f, clearly marked; other specimens paratype ff.

Note. The description is based on all the type specimens.

Slide-mounted adult female. Body broadest posteriorly. Length 3.3–3.8 mm, width 2.3–2.9 mm.

Dorsum. Derm of younger specimens barely sclerotised but more or less evenly sclerotised on older specimens; with some darker areas around anal plates and anal cleft; areolations barely visible, showing as darker ovals; derm with minute pale spots throughout, each about 1.0 µm wide. Marginal radial lines membranous and distinct, appearing as long cracks in the sclerotised derm, as follows: with 11 lines on head, each side with 3 between stigmatic clefts, none from clefts and 11 on abdomen. Abdominal clear areas present but obscure on mature specimens. Dorsal setae setose but not flagellate, often curved, each 8–12 µm long; most frequent submarginally and submedially, absent medially, probably in a sparse polygonal pattern. Large dorsal pores, each 6–10 µm wide with distinct micropores (smaller pores towards outside of band), present in broad submedial bands each containing 60–85 pores, extending anterolaterally from anal plates to head, forming a sparse polygonal pattern. Small simple pores, each about 2–3 µm wide in a clear, unstained area of derm, sparsely present throughout except absent medially. Anal plates together quadrate, each with outer angle rounded, and with anterior margin subequal to or slightly longer than posterior margin; with at least 1 seta (probably 2), near apex of each plate; also with 2 or 3 small pores medially; length of plates 140–155 µm, combined width 110–130 µm. Anogenital fold with 1 pair of small setae along anterior margin; each lateral margin with 1 seta anteriorly and 1 posteriorly.

Margin. Margin with flat castellations, each castellations without fine radial lines; with mainly 2 or 3 castellations between marginal setae; also with each seta emerging from a slightly taller and broader castellation. Marginal setae oval and fan-shaped; each fan 28–39 µm wide and 16–25 µm long; with 115–118 setae anteriorly between anterior stigmatic clefts, each side with 39–46 between stigmatic clefts, and 81–103 along abdominal margin. Stigmatic clefts quite deep, each with a sclerotised inner margin and 3 slightly clavate stigmatic spines; median spine clearly longest, length 40–44 µm; lateral spines each 25–35 µm long. Eyespots each with socket more or less round; diameter of lens uncertain.

Venter. Venter without a marginal band. Multilocular disc-pores abundant around genital opening and preceding 2 segments, each side with 22–33 in abdominal segment VII, 30–45 in segment VI and 3–10 in segment V. Spiracular disc-pores present in a narrow band between margin and each spiracle, numbers uncertain but perhaps 20–25 pores in each band. Ventral microducts not detected. Ventral setae: with 2 pairs of interantennal setae; 1 pair of long setae medially on abdominal segment VII and shorter setae in segments VI–II; submarginal setae few and small; other setae sparse. Antennae each with 6 segments; total length 185–205 µm; length of apical segment 36– 38 µm; length of apical seta 16–20 µm; setal distribution typical of family. Clypeolabral shield about 120–125 µm long. Spiracles moderately large; width of each peritreme 28–36 µm. Legs significantly reduced in size, with rather indistinct segmentation; dimensions of hind leg (µm): coxa 63–66, trochanter + femur 65–70, tibia + tarsus 53–75; claw 8. Tarsal digitules short, subequal to or shorter than claw digitules with capitate apices; claw digitules rather narrow, one with a significant capitate apex, other shorter and without a capitate apex; claw very short, without a denticle. Setal distribution: coxa 5; trochanter 1 (short); femur 0; tibia 2 and tarsus 2 or 3.

Comments. In having reduced legs, adult female P. neoguineense Hodgson spec. n. are superficially very similar to those of P. ovatum but differ as follows (character-states for P. ovatum in brackets): (i) dorsal setae narrowing to a blunt point (parallel-sided and usually capitate); (ii) setose setae present on antennal segments IV and V (absent); (iii) large dorsal pores significantly larger, about 6–10 µm wide with clear micropores (3–4 µm wide, without clear micropores); (iv) legs and antennae somewhat larger, with trochanter + femur 65–70 µm long (trochanter + femur 26–35 µm), and (iv) large dorsal pores significantly more abundant, with 60+ per side (18–25 per side).

Currently, P. neoguineense is restricted to Papua New Guinea.

Host-plant. Pandanus sp. ( Pandanaceae ).

Name derivation. This species is named after the country in which it was collected, Papua New Guinea.

Figures

FIGURE 51. Paralecanium neoguineense Hodgson, spec. n., adult female.