Pseudococcus luciae, Caballero, 2021

Caballero, Alejandro, 2021, Four new scale insect species (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha) associated with coffee roots in Colombia, South America, with identification keys for genera Newsteadia Green, 1902, Distichlicoccus Ferris, 1950, and Paraputo Laing, 1929, Zoosystema 43 (18), pp. 341-363 : 356-361

Pseudococcus luciae n. sp.

( Figs 7 ; 8 )

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:FD789556-375E-48E7-97F1-332C3867273A

TYPE MATERIAL. — Holotype. Colombia • adult ♀ (2 specimens in the same slide, holotype at the right side indicated as “Holo” in additional label); Cauca, Caldono, Vereda Chindaco, Farm La Esmeralda ; 02°48’36.68”N, 76°28’40.22”W; 1603 m a.s.l.; 28.XI.2015; J. Medina leg.; ex roots Coffea arabica (Rubiaceae) – coffee, manual; UNAB 4635.

Paratypes. 8 adult ♀ on 5 slides • 1 ♀ (marked as “Para” shares a slide with the holotype); same data as for holotype; UNAB 4635 • 1 ♀ (marked as “Para” shares a slide with an immature specimen); same data as for holotype; UNAB 4635 • 4 ♀ (on 2 slides); same data as for holotype; UNAB 4635 • 2 ♀ (on 1 slide); same data as for holotype; MNHN .

ETYMOLOGY. — The specific epithet “ luciae ” dedicated to Dr Lucia Calderón-Espinosa, Colombian herpetologist.

DIAGNOSIS. — Combination of only a few oral collar tubular ducts (<75 ducts), a few oral rim tubular ducts (<15 over entire body), and few multilocular disc pores (<12), a small circulus (<61 µm wide) and eyes not associated with either a sclerotized area nor with discoidal pores.

DESCRIPTION

Pre-mounting specimens

Appearance in situ: not observed. Specimens preserved in 75% ethanol with milky appearence; color unchanged in 10% potassium hydroxide.

Post-mounting specimens

Slide-mounted adult females (n = 6): body oval to round ( Fig. 7 ; 8 A ), length 1.9 ± 0.2 [2.2] (1.5-2.2) mm; wide 1.4 ± 0.3 [1.7] (0.9-1.7) mm.

Dorsum

Ostioles. Conspicuous, 20.4 ± 4.0 (13-30) µm wide, with membranous lips and 3-5 setae and scattered trilocular pores on each lip.

Anal ring. 76.1 ± 2.3 [77] (72-80) µm in transverse diameter, with 6 flagellate setae each 104.9 ± 8.9 (90-123) µm long; ring containing two rows of cells, external row with cells smaller than those in internal row, subquadrate and subrectangular, each cell with a spicule 2 or 3 µm long; internal row with 45.8 ± 4.0 (41- 53) irregular cells tending to be elongate and without spicules.

Cerarii. Numbering 17 pairs ( Fig. 7A ); cerarian pattern C 1 [2;4] (1-2;2-6), C 2 [2;4-5] (1-2;2-6), C 3 [2;2-4] (2;1-5), C 4 [2;2] (2;1-3), C 5 [2;1-3] (1-2;1-3), C 6 [2;0-1] (2;-4), C 7 [2;1] (2;1-3), C 8 [2-3;1-2] (1-3;0-2), C 9 [2;2] (2;0-3), C 10 [2;0-1] (1-3;0-1), C 11 [2;1-2] (2;1-3), C 12 [2;2-3] (1-2;0-5), C 13 [2;1] (1-2;1-4), C 14 [2-3;1-3] (1-3;1-3), C 15 [2;0-2] (1-2;0-3), C 16 [2-3;1-2] (2-4;0-3), C 17 [2;1-2] (1-4;0-3), all cerarii situated on membranous plates.

Body setae. Flagellate, 19.1 ± 6.5 (9-45) µm long, longest setae found in mesial and submarginal regions, shortest setae evenly distributed.

Trilocular pores. Evenly distributed over entire surface ( Fig.7B ), each pore 3-4 µm in diameter.

Multilocular disc pores. Absent.

Oral rim tubular ducts. All same size, each 8.6 ± 0.6 (8-10) µm in diameter and associated with 1 or 2 discoidal pores and 1 seta ( Figs 7C ; 8B ), numbering 2.4 ± 1.5 [3] (0-5), distribution highly variable but never situated on head, thorax at the level of C 11 or on SabdIII and posterior segments.

Oral collar tubular ducts. Absent.

Discoidal pores. Of two types: type I with a single loculus, present in two sizes: I) small, each 2-3 µm in diameter, smaller than a trilocular pore ( Fig. 7D ), distributed from head to SabdVI; and II) larger, each 3-5 µm in diameter, similar size to, or larger than a trilocular pore ( Fig. 7E ), distributed on SabdVII and SabdVIII + IX, with border stout and sclerotized; type II discoidal pores bilocular, each 4-5 µm in diameter ( Figs. 7F ; 8C ).

Spicule. Present from metathorax and posterior segments.

Venter

Antennae. Each 393.8 ± 13.5 (367-419) µm long ( Fig. 7G ; 8D ), with eight segments, segment lengths and chaetotaxy as follows: SantI 61.9 ± 4.3 (55-71) µm long, with four flagellate setae; SantII 63.6 ± 3.2 (58-69) µm long, with five to eight flagellate setae and one placoid sensilla; SantIII 44.9 ± 3.3 (39- 51) µm long, with five to seven flagellate setae; SantIV 30.3 ± 2.8 (23-34) µm long, with three to five flagellate setae; SantV 36.4 ± 3.7 (31-44) µm long, with six to nine flagellate setae; SantVI 31.3 ± 2.4 (28-35) µm long, with five flagellate setae; SantVII 39.0 ± 2.1 (33-43) µm long, with five flagellate setae and one fleshy seta; SantVIII 86.4 ± 2.8 (79-91) µm long, with 18 flagellate setae and four fleshy setae; ratios SantI / SantII 1.0 ± 0.1 (0.8-1.2), SantI / SantIV 2.1 ± 0.2 (1.8-2.6), SantI / SantVI 2.0 ± 0.2 (1.7-2.3), and SantVIII / SantIV 2.9 ± 0.3 (2.5-3.7).

Eyespots. Each 39.1 ± 2.8 (33-43) µm in diameter, not associated with discoidal pores ( Fig. 8 ).

Labium. 120.4 ± 4.6 (115-129) µm long and 114.7 ± 6.6 (101-121) µm wide, with three segments: basal segment with 3 pairs of setae; middle segment with one pair of setae; and apical segment with seven to nine pairs of setae.

Fore leg. 566.6 ± 10.8 (546-582) µm long; trochanter + femur 262.1 ± 6.3 (248-275) µm long, femur 198.0 ± 5.1 (188-205) long and 86.8 ± 4.0 (76-94) µm wide; tibia + tarsus 268.5 ± 6.6 (259-282) µm long, tibia 172.3 ± 5.2 (163-181) long and 43.9 ± 2.0 (39-47) µm wide; claw 36.1 ± 1.5 (32-39) µm long; ratios: lengths of trochanter + femur/tibia + tarsus 1.0; trochanter + femur length/femur width 3.0 ± 0.2 (2.8-3.4); tibia + tarsus length/tibia width 6.1 ± 0.3 (5.5-6.8); chaetotaxy: coxa with 10 flagellate setae, trochanter with seven setae and four placoid sensilla, femur with 17-22 setae, tibia with 18-20 flagellate setae plus two spines on internal margin of distal region; tarsus with 11-13 setae and a pair of slender and capitate tarsal digitules of two sizes, the larger one 40.3 ± 2.3 (35-46) µm long, the shorter one 30.0 ± 4.2 (23-38) µm long; claw without a denticle, with two ungual digitules capitate, slightly thicker than tarsal digitule, each 27.9 ± 1.8 (24-30) µm long.

Mid leg. 581.4 ± 11.4 (562-601) µm long; trochanter + femur 269.3 ± 6.0 (258-282) µm long, femur 205.1 ± 4.8 (196-214) long and 89.4 ± 1.9 (87-92) µm wide; tibia + tarsus 275.3 ± 7.8 (257-288) µm long, tibia 178.2 ± 6.5 (163-191) long and 45.8 ± 2.2 (41-49) µm wide; claw 36.8 ± 1.8 (32-39) µm long; ratios: lengths of trochanter + femur/tibia + tarsus 1.0, trochanter + femur length/femur width 3.0 ± 0.1 (2.8- 3.2), tibia + tarsus length/tibia width 6.0 ± 0.4 (5.2-6.9); chaetotaxy: coxa with 11 flagellate setae, trochanter with seven, femur with 16-20, tibia with 18-28 flagellate setae plus two spines (as fore tibia), tarsus with 10-13 setae and a pair of unequal tarsal digitules similar those on fore tarsus, the larger one 38.2 ± 1.9 (36-42) µm long, the shorter one 32.4 ± 2.6 (28-36) µm long; claw without a denticle, ungual digitules similar those on fore claw, each digitule 29.4 ± 2.5 (21-32) µm long.

Hind leg. 655.1 ± 11.6 (637-678) µm long; trochanter + femur 295.9 ± 5.8 (282-306) µm long; femur 228.8 ± 4.3 (219-234) µm long and 94.6 ± 3.0 (88-101) µm wide; tibia + tarsus 322.7 ± 7.3 (312-334) µm long; tibia 219.0 ± 6.0 (210-228) µm long and 44.5 ± 3.2 (37-51) µm wide; claw 37.2 ± 2.7 (30-41) µm long; ratios: lengths of trochanter + femur/tibia + tarsus 0.9-1.0; trochanter + femur length/ femur width 3.1 ± 0.1 (2.9-3.4), tibia + tarsus length/tibia width 7.3 ± 0.6 (6.4-8.7), lengths of tibia/tarsus 2.1 ± 0.1 (2.0-2.2).Translucent pores on hind leg distributed as follows: absent from coxa, trochanter and tarsus, femur with 90 ± 12 (69-112) pores, tibia with 58 ± 12 (34-74) pores ( Fig. 7H ); chaetotaxy: coxa with 11 flagellate setae, trochanter with seven, femur with 14-17, tibia with 20-26 flagellate setae plus two spines (similar those on fore tibia), tarsus with 8-10 flagellate setae; tarsal digitules unequal, similar those on fore tarsus, the larger one 38.6 ± 3.4 (31-45) µm long, the shorter one 39.9 ± 4.6 (21-37) µm long ( Fig. 8F ); claw without a denticle, ungual digitules similar to those on other legs, each 29.3 ± 2.8 (21-32) µm long.

Circulus. Situated in posterior part of SabdIII, 48.9 ± 6.0 [61] (41-61) µm in transverse diameter ( Fig. 8G ).

Anal lobes. Prominent, not sclerotized, each with apical flagellate seta 127.3 ± 11.0 (104-144) µm long, 2-7 auxiliary flagellate setae and 1-2 discoidal pores, each 4-5 µm in diameter ( Fig. 8H ).

Body setae. Flagellate and of variable length: 50.2 ± 21.4 (21- 88) µm long on head, 31.9 ± 12.9 (14-65) µm on thorax, and 33.0 ± 14.0 (11-80) µm long on abdomen, the longest setae distributed in mesial region on all segments. Intersegmental areas lacking setae.

Obanal setae. Each 60.4 ± 5.1 (51-69) µm long.

Cisanal setae. Each 49.3± 5.7 (40-57) µm long.

Trilocular pores. Each 3-4 µm in diameter ( Fig. 7I ), evenly distributed.

Multilocular disc pores. Each 8.4 ± 0.6 (7-10) µm in diameter ( Fig. 7J ; 8I ), numbering 5.8 ± 2.7 [3] (2-11), distributed as follows: SabdV [0] (0-1), SabdVI [0] (0-1), SabdVII [0] (0-5) and SabdVIII + IX [3] (1-6).

Discoidal pores. Of two types: I) one type with a single loculus each 4-5 µm in diameter, evenly distributed ( Fig. 7K ); II) second type bilocular, each pore 5-6 µm in diameter, scarce ( Fig. 7L ).

Oral rim tubular ducts. All same size, each 8.8 ± 0.9 (7-10) µm in diameter, length about 11.3± 1.2 (10-12), usually not associated with discoidal pores or setae; numbering 1.9 ± 2.3 [7] (0-7) ( Fig. 7M ), distribution highly variable but absent from SabdIV and posterior segments.

Oral collar tubular ducts. All same size, each 7.4 ± 0.8 (6- 10) µm long and 4.1 ± 0.4 (3-6) µm in diameter ( Fig. 7N , Fig. 8J ), numbering 63.1 ± 8.5 [70] (53-71), forming lateral clusters and transverse rows in mid-region as follows: SabdIII [2] (0-6), SabdIV [22] (11-26), SabdV [29] (20-33), SabdVI [30] (21-33), and SabdVII [17] (12-18) ducts.

Spicules. Present on mesothorax and posterior body segments.

REMARKS

Pseudococcus luciae n. sp. is similar to Pseudococcus dendrobiorum Williams, 1985 and Pseudococcus lycopodii Beardsley, 1959 because all three species have only a few multilocular disc pores, restricted to the last three abdominal segments (<12 in P. luciae n. sp., <13 in P. dendrobiorum and <15 in P. lycopodii ); only a few dorsal oral rim tubular ducts on the dorsum (<5 in P. luciae n. sp., 0 in P. dendrobiorum and 4-12 in P. lycopodii ) and venter (<7 in P. luciae n. sp., <3 in P. dendrobiorum and 4-12 in P. lycopodii , absent from SabdIV and posterior segments). Pseudococcus luciae n. sp. differs from P.dendrobiorum (characters in parenthesis) by having a shorter labium, less than 130 µm long (150-160 µm long), a smaller circulus, less than 60 µm of transverse diameter (100-130 µm in transverse diameter), a longer hind tibia + tarsus, around 310-340 µm long (160-200 µm long), and hind tibia + tarsus length greater than hind trochanter +femur length (hind tibia + tarsus much shorter than hind trochanter + femur). Pseudococcus luciae n. sp. differs from P. lycopodii (characters in parenthesis) by having 17 cerarii (14-16 cerarii), more than 50 collar tubular ducts (10-20) and a smaller circulus (80 µm in transverse diameter) [character data on P. dendrobiorum taken from Williams (1985) and on P. lycopodii from Beardsley (1959)].

The taxonomic character “transverse diameter of circulus” is considered to be useful for separating species groups ( Gimpel & Miller 1996). Pseudococcus luciae n. sp. belongs to the “small-circulus” (transverse diameter less than 80 µm) group, which includes P. apomicrocirculus Gimpel & Miller, 1996 , P. dolichomelos Gimpel & Miller, 1996 , P. debilis Granara de Willink, 2018 , P. dysmicus Gimpel & Miller, 1996 , P. eriocerei Williams, 1973 , P. microcirculus McKenzie , P. neomicrocirculus Gimpel & Miller, 1996 , P. sorghiellus (Forbes, 1885), and P. spanocera . Among these species, P.luciae n. sp. is closest to P.neomicrocirculus and P.spanocera . In addition to having a small circulus, these species have only a few oral rim tubular ducts. Morphological differences between them include absence of discoidal pores associated with eyespot ( P. neomicrocirculus and P. spanocera have discoidal pores associated with eyespots), translucent pores restricted to femur and tibia (present in all segments of the hind leg in P. spanocera ; restricted to the hind tibia in P. neomicrocirculus ), and less than five multilocular disc pores on each abdominal segment from SabdV and posterior segments ( P. neomicrocirculus and P. spanocera have more than 10 multilocular disc pores on each abdominal segment) [character data of P. neomicrocirculus and P. spanocera taken from Gimpel & Miller (1996)].

Figures

FIG. 7. — Taxonomic illustration of Pseudococcus luciae n. sp. adult ♀, enlarged details: A, cerarius; B, tritubular pore; C, oral rim tubular duct; D, dorsal large discoidal pore; E, dorsal small discoidal pore; F, discoidal bilocular pore; G, antenna; H, hind femur and tibia; I, trilocular pore; J, multilocular disc pore; K, ventral discoidal pore; L, ventral discoidal bilocular pore; M, oral rim tubular duct; N, oral collar tubular duct. Scale bars: A-F, H-K, 5 µm; G, 100 µm; M, N, 6 µm.

FIG. 8. — Microphotographs of female specimens of Pseudococcus luciae n. sp. A, body; B, oral rim tubular duct with upper view (picture above) and lateral view (picture down); C, discoidal bilocular pore; D, antenna; E, eyespot with upper view (picture above) and lateral view (picture down); F, tarsal digitules; G, circulus; H, anal lobe; I, multilocular disc pore; J, oral collar tubular duct. Scale bars: A, 300 µm; B, C, H-J, 4 µm; F, µm; 10 D, E, G, 20 µm.