ACLERDIDAE Cockerell, 1905

Hodgson, Chris, 2020, A review of neococcid scale insects (Hemiptera: Sternorrhyncha: Coccomorpha) based on the morphology of the adult males, Zootaxa 4765 (1), pp. 1-264 : 197-199

ACLERDIDAE Cockerell, 1905

Aclerda Signoret 1874, 96 . Type species: Aclerda subterranea Signoret by monotypy.

Pseudolecanium Cockerell 1896b, 19 . Type species: Pseudolecanium tokionis Cockerell. Type designation unknown. Junior synonym, Fernald 1903, 210.

Introduction. Signoret (1874) introduced the genus Aclerda for a group of scale insects that mainly inhabit grasses and exhibit rather specialised morphological characters. Signoret considered Aclerda to be closely related to his soft scale genus Lecanopsis . Aclerda was later placed in its own family, Aclerdidae , by Teague (1925). Since then, the family was critically examined by McConnell (1954), who introduced 2 additional genera, Nipponaclerda McConnell from Japan, clearly closely related to Aclerda , and Rhodesaclerda McConnell which occurs on mistletoe in Zimbabwe. The Aclerdidae is now considered to contain two subfamilies ( Hodgson & Millar 2002): Rhodesaclerdinae Hodgson & Miller, with Rhodesaclerda (3 spp.) and Kwazulaclerda (1 sp.), both from southern Africa, and Aclerdinae Cockerell, including Aclerda (52 spp.), Lecanaclerda (1 sp. from South Africa) and Nipponaclerda (4 spp. from Asia). Currently, therefore, it includes five genera and 61 species ( García Morales et al. 2019). The family Aclerdidae is generally accepted as being either sister to Micrococcidae , with the micrococcids plus aclerdids sister to the coccids ( Miller & Williams, 1995) or sister to Coccidae ( Miller & Hodgson 1997; Hodgson 2002; Hodgson & Millar 2002; Hodgson & Hardy 2013; Vea & Grimaldi 2016). The only molecular study that has included a member of the Acleridae ( Aclerda takahashii Kuwana ) is that of T. Kondo & L.G Cook (unpublished data based on a Bayesian phylogenetic analysis of the family Coccidae using DNA sequences based on 18S, 28S and partial CO1 data), who found that the Aclerdidae fell within the Coccidae .

The only detailed descriptions of male Aclerdidae are those of Nada et al. (1976) of A. arundinariae McConnell, and Hodgson and Millar (2002) ( Lecanaclerda macropoda Hodgson & Millar , Rhodesaclerda combreticola McConnell , R. insleyae Hodgson & Millar and Kwazulaclerda loranthi Hodgson & Millar ), although McConnell does briefly describe those of Aclerda arundinariae McConnell , A. simplicis McConnell , Nipponaclerda biwakoensis Kuwana and R. combreticola .

Below are described the adult males of 6 further species of Aclerda . In addition, a figure of Lecanaclerda macropoda Hodgson & Millar is included ( Fig. 84 ). This is followed by a brief review of the Rhodesaclerdinae.

Key to subfamilies and genera of Aclerdidae based on adult male morphology

1. Antennae 1 or 10 segmented. Sclerotised ridges absent from around dorsal simple eyes. Abdomen with hs setae only. Claws without a denticle … Aclerdinae Cockerell................................................................. 2

- Antennae 7 or 8 segmented. Sclerotised ridges present around dorsal simple eyes. Abdomen with both hs and fs setae. Claws with a denticle … Rhodesaclerdinae Hodgson & Millar....................................................... 4

2. Adult male apterous. Legs extremely reduced to 4 ring-like segments. Penial sheath very short, only slightly longer than broad.................................................................. Nipponaclerda McConnell ( Fig. 85 )

- Adult male alate. Legs normally developed with 5 long segments. Penial sheath several times longer than basal width..... 3

3. Caudal extension on abdominal segment VIII well developed. Pleural setae absent from abdominal segment VIII. Penial sheath not articulating with abdominal segment VIII.............................. Lecanaclerda Hodgson & Millar ( Fig. 84 )

- Caudal extension on abdominal segment VIII at most a gentle curve. Pleural setae present on abdominal segment VIII. Penial sheath clearly articulating with abdominal segment VIII.......................................... Aclerda Signoret

4. Antennae 7 segmented. Lateropleurite broad. Membranous area on scutum quadrate.... Rhodesaclerda McConnell ( Fig. 86 ) - Antennae 8 segmented. Lateropleurite narrow. Membranous area on scutum triangular... Kwazulaclerda Hodgson & Millar

Figures

FIGURE 84. Lecanaclerda macropoda Hodgson & Millar. Macropterous male. (Aclerdidae. Aclerdinae). Where A=cranial apophysis, D=simple pore, K=apex of antennal capitate seta and R=dermal reticulations on ocular sclerite.

FIGURE 85. Nipponaclerda biwakoensis (Kuwana). Apterous male. (Aclerdidae, Aclerdina) (after McConnell, 1954). Where H=antenna, I=anterior leg, J=posterior spiracle, K=metathoracic leg, and L=ventral view of penial sheath.

FIGURE 86. Rhodesaclerda insleyae Hodgson & Millar. Macropterous male. (Aclerdidae, Rhodesaclerdinae).Where D=simple pore and R=dermal reticulations on ocular sclerite.