Capulinia Signoret, 1875

Hodgson, Chris & Miller, Dug, 2010, A Review of the Eriococcid Genera (Hemiptera: Sternorrhyncha: Coccoidea) of South America 2459, Zootaxa 2459 (1), pp. 1-101 : 22-23

Capulinia Signoret

Capulinia Signoret, 1875: 27–28 . Type species Capulinia sallei Signoret 1875: 28–29 .

Generic diagnosis. Adult female ( Fig. 9 ). On leaves of host, secreting an extraordinarily long ovisac. Body apparently globular; derm entirely membranous, all segmentation apparently absent. Dorsum. Setae finely spinose, sparse. Macrotubular ducts absent. Microtubular ducts highly varied, of possibly 3 or 4 types: a long thin duct immediately around anus, a larger and broader duct forming a complete band around abdomen on about abdominal segment IV; a duct somewhat similar to first type but very sparse throughout dorsum and another somewhat like second type but pore apparently 8-shaped, sparse. Loculate pores absent. Anal lobes possibly totally absent. Anal ring probably with a partially sclerotised ring. Margin. Undefined. Venter. Setae setose. Macrotubular ducts absent. Microtubular ducts similar to first 3 types on dorsum, sparse. Loculate pores mainly with 4–6 loculi, restricted to near each spiracle. Antennae 1 or 2 segmented. Frontal lobes and antennal tubercles absent. Number of labial segments unknown. Legs very much reduced; those anteriorly merely membranous lobes, metathoracic legs showing slight signs of segmentation but segmentation obscure and setae absent. Hind legs positioned very far posteriorly, therefore abdomen probably small; translucent pores absent. Vulva not detected .

Known only from Myrtaceae .

Comment: Capulinia contains 4 species, 1 ( C. orbiculata Hoy ) from New Zealand, the type species ( C. sallei ) from Cuba and Mexico, and 2 species ( C. crateraformis Hempel and C. jaboticabae Ihering ) from Brazil. Capulinia differs from all other South American eriococcid genera in having the hind legs modified into membranous lobes that are located near the posterior apex of the abdomen. Opisthoscelis also has enlarged hind legs located near the posterior apex of the abdomen but these 2 genera differ as follows: Capulinia has ( Opisthoscelis character states in parentheses): (i) numerous microtubular ducts forming a circle around the anal opening (without microtubular ducts); (ii) loculate pores restricted to spiracular area (scattered around anal area); and (iii) hind legs smaller than length of labium (hind legs much longer than labium). There are significant differences between C. sallei , the type species of Capulinia , and the other species currently placed in this genus.

Figures

FIGURE 9. Capulinia sallei Signoret. Adult female, where E, E1, E2 = enlarged microtubular ducts; F = view of anal area; J = dorsal setae on abdomen; K = smaller microtubular ducts on abdomen; L = ventral loculate pore; R = marginal seta; V = antenna, and W, W1, W2 = legs.