Poliaspis araucariae Hardy & Henderson

Hardy, Nate & Henderson, Rosa C., 2011, Revision of Poliaspis (Hemiptera, Coccoidea, Diaspididae), with descriptions of 8 new species from Australia, ZooKeys 137, pp. 1-40 : 6

Poliaspis araucariae Hardy & Henderson sp. n. Fig. 2

Material examined.

Holotype: female: Australia, QLD, Taromeo [-26.83, 152.12], Araucaria bidwillii , 1.9.1937, A Brimblecombe, 165; 1185/10387 (ANIC).

Paratypes: QLD: 10 adult females: Gallangowan [-27.93, 151.67], ex Araucaria cunninghamii , 15.2.1944, Se/1945 (QDPI); 8 adult females: same data as holotype (QDPI).

Description, n=7.

Slide-mounted adult female 724-1658 μm long (holotype 1016 μm long), body outline fusiform-pyriform, thoracic and abdominal lobes produced. Pygidium with 2 pairs of lobes; median lobes divergent, connected medially by narrow sclerotic strap, lobes with rounded apex; margin between lobes weakly incised; second lobe bi-lobed, each lobule with basal sclerosis, more strongly developed on medial lobule. Gland spines 12-27 μm long, 2-3 × length of median lobes, 1 gland spine on margin of each pygidial segment; pair of minute setae absent between median lobes. Dorsal ducts similar in size to marginal ducts; present in rows; 1-2 submedial ducts present on segment 6; ca. 6 submarginal and ca. 5 submedial ducts on segment 5. Perivulvar pores: 5-14 posteromedial, 9-20 posterolateral, 23-27 posterior, 1-8 anteromedial, and 7-12 anterolateral. Trilocular pores in cluster of 2-4 near anterior spiracle; absent from posterior spiracle. Microducts scattered on head dorsum, anterior to anterior spiracles and mesad of gland tubercles on thorax and abdomen. Antenna with 2 fleshy setae.

Comments.

The one or two submedial ducts on abdominal segment 6, in addition to the absence of setae between the median lobes (also absent in Poliaspis callitris , and Poliaspis nitens ) can be used to distinguish Poliaspis araucariae from other species of Poliaspis .

Etymology.

The species name refers to the host species: Araucaria cunninghamii and Araucaria bidwillii .