Paralecanium cypripedium 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 : 90-92

Paralecanium cypripedium Hodgson spec. n.

( Fig. 36 )

Material examined. Holotype and paratype ff: PHILIPPINES: left label: Paralecanium / marginatum Green + [additional label] Paralecanium / cypripedium / Hodgson / Holotype and paratypes; right label: No 12400 Col. Dept. Agr. / Philippine / Islands / July 17, 1937 / on Cypripedium / argus / H.E. Bronson coll. (USNM, 12400): 1/ 3adff (g; holotype female middle specimen; other specimens paratypes). Envelope with additionally: P.I. at San Francisco. Paratype ff: left label: Paralecanium / marginatum Green + [additional label] Paralecanium / cypripedium / Hodgson / paratypes; right label: No 12398 Col. Dept. Agr. / Philippine / Islands / July 16, 1937 / on Cypripedium / sp. / H.E. Bronson coll. (USNM, 12400): 1/2adff (g). Additional information on envelope: Cypripedium haynaldianum ; P.I. at San Francisco. Paratype ff: left label: Paralecanium / marginatum Green + [additional label] Paralecanium / cypripedium / Hodgson / paratypes; right label: No. 12400 Col. Dept. Agr. / Philippine / Islands / July 17, 1937 / on Cypripedium / argus / H.E. Bronson coll. (USNM): 1/3adff (g-p). Envelope with additionally: P.I. at San Francisco. Paratype ff: left label: Paralecanium / on Cypripedium / argus album / Manila, P.I. at D.C. / Limber coll. / May 27, 1937 / E.Q. – A41950 ; right label: Paralecanium / cypripedium / Hodgson / Paratype ff (USNM): 1/2adff (fg). Envelope with additionally: P.I. at D.C. Paratype ff: left labels: 13579 / 8.24.38 + [additional white label] Paralecanium / cypripedium / Hodgson / Paratype ff; right label: Paralecanium / Cypripedium / argus / leaves / Air Express / Manila P. I. 6-7-38 (USNM, 13579): 1/2adff (fg). Envelope with additionally: Philippine Isl. at Honolulu.

Note. The description is based on all the specimens.

Slide-mounted adult female. Body rounded at both ends, broadest across abdomen, venter showing some asymmetry. Length 2.1–2.3 mm, width 1.4–1.8 mm.

Dorsum. Derm of younger adults fairly uniformly sclerotised but older specimens with darker areas of sclerotisation medially, with a medial longitudinal line and perhaps a few radial lines emanating from it; most of derm covered in minute, irregularly-shaped pale spots, each about 1.0 µm widest; areolations obscure or absent. Marginal radial lines absent but indicated by position of dorsal setae and pores, with probably 11 lines anteriorly between anterior stigmatic clefts, each side with 3 lines between clefts (but none apparently from each cleft) and 11 on abdomen. Abdominal clear areas absent or obscure. Dorsal setae setose, each 5–7 µm long, usually straight; sparse, mostly situated close to margin in each radial line but also a few present in submargin; absent medially.

Large dorsal pores, each 8–10 µm wide with distinct micropores, present more or less in submedial bands, with 10– 15 on each side. Minute simple pores very sparse, each associated with a clear spot on sclerotised dorsum, perhaps in a sparse polygonal pattern. Anal plates together about as wide as long, posterior margin slightly longer than anterior margin; anterior margin straight; each plate with 3 setae near apex (2 on outer margin and an apical seta) plus 1 seta situated more medially, near inner margin about 1/3rd from apex; each plate with 1 or 2 minute pores medially; plates 124–157 µm long, combined width 80–90 µm; margin of anal cleft along outer margin of each plate slightly serrated, with 2 or 3 small pale spots. Anogenital fold with 1 pair of small setae along anterior margin and 3 pairs on lateral margin (anterior 2 lateral setae not always visible).

Margin. Marginal ornamentation present as sclerotised radial triangles or arrow-heads, each usually as deep as or deeper than marginal setal sockets, with usually 3–6 between marginal setae. Marginal setae mainly broadly fanshaped but some almost round; width of each fan 33–40 µm, length 18–28 µm; with 48–60 setae anteriorly between anterior stigmatic clefts, each side with 17–24 setae between stigmatic clefts, and 42–56 setae along abdominal margin. Stigmatic clefts quite deep, with a sclerotised inner margin and 3 slightly clavate to pointed stigmatic spines; median spine longest, each 28–33 µm long, each lateral spine 15–20 µm long. Eyespots each broadly oval; width of lens 20–25 µm.

Venter. Membranous but with a darker marginal band about 140–150 µm wide, with shorter dark radial “fingers” extending from margin. Multilocular disc-pores in groups on either side of genital opening and on preceding segment only, each side with 5–8 on abdominal segment VII and 9–14 on segment VI. Spiracular discpores present in a narrow band between margin and each spiracle, with 13–27 pores in each band. Ventral microducts only detected near mouthparts. Ventral setae: with 2 pairs of interantennal setae; longer setae present in all abdominal and thoracic segments and also laterad to each procoxa; other setae all small and scarce. Antennae well developed, each with 6 segments; total length 185–210 µm; apical segment 45–50 µm long; apical seta short, about 15 µm long. Clypeolabral shield 78–95 µm long. Spiracles small, width of each peritreme 13–20 µm. Legs well developed; dimensions of hind leg (µm): coxa 66–70, trochanter + femur 98–100, tibia 50–60 and tarsus 50– 56; claw 10. Tarsal digitules slightly longer than claw digitules, with capitate apices; claw digitules with one clearly broader than other; claw without a denticle; setal distribution: coxa 5; trochanter 1, moderately long; femur 1 or 2; tibia 2 and tarsus 3.

Comments. Adult female P. cypripedium spec. n. are similar to those of P. peradeniyense , and might be the same species. However, the specimens of P. cypripedium were collected on five different dates and possibly off three different species of Cypripedium but, nonetheless, show very little morphological variation. Most appendages are smaller than those of P. peradeniyense but this might be accounted for by such environmental factors as hostplant species. On the other hand, the two species differ significantly in the number and distribution of large dorsal pores, with only 10–15 per side on P. cypripedium , almost all submedially, whereas P. peradeniyense has over 40 per side and many are also present towards the submargin. The serrations along the anal cleft margins near the anal plates are very clear on P. cypripedium but almost absent on P. peradeniyense .

Host-plants. Cypripedium argus ; C. argus album (this name is now considered to be two species: C. album and C. argus (IPNI)); C. haynaldianum (Orchidaceae) .

Name derivation. Named after the orchid host plant genus, Cypripedium, on which all of these specimens were collected; the name is a noun in apposition.

Figures

FIGURE 36. Paralecanium cypripedium Hodgson, spec. n., adult female.