Cryptostigma philwardi Kondo, 2010

Kondo, Takumasa, 2010, Taxonomic revision of the myrmecophilous, meliponiphilous and rhizophilous soft scale genus Cryptostigma Ferris (Hemiptera: Coccoidea: Coccidae) 2709, Zootaxa 2709, pp. 1-72 : 43-45

Cryptostigma philwardi Kondo , sp. nov.

( Fig. 17)

Material examined. Holotype. Adult ♀. COLOMBIA: Magdalena, Ciénaga, 11°00’N, 74°15’W, 15.viii.1985, coll. P.S. Ward (#7932), ex colony of Pseudomyrmex sp. cf. fortis, on live tree of Avicennia germinans , 1 (1) ( USNM). Paratype. Same data as holotype 1 (1) ( USNM).

Adult female ( Fig. 17)

Unmounted material. Not available during present study.

Mounted material. Body outline oval, 3.0– 4.7 mm long, 2.2–3.0 mm wide (n=2).

Dorsum. Derm membranous, with elevated ridges arranged in a cellular, tessellated pattern, transverse ridges well-developed on thorax and abdomen. Orbicular pores present, each pore 125–305 µm wide, with 1 or 3 on head region and 2 or 5 on thoracic region, largest on head. Dorsal setae absent, except for a group of 25–40 flagellate setae present next to each stigmatic sclerotization on a thin membranous area, each 15–55 µm long. Simple pores present, of 3 types: large simple pores each 5–6 µm wide, scattered evenly on dorsum; small simple pores each 2–3 µm wide, evenly distributed on dorsum, and a second type of small simple pores each 3–4 µm wide, arranged in groups of 2–15 pores scattered throughout dorsum but most abundant near anal plates. Dorsal microducts bilocular, thick rimmed, each 4–5 µm wide, evenly distributed on dorsum. Preopercular pores absent. Sclerotic crescent present around anal plates. Anal plates together quadrate, with rounded angles, each plate 215–220 µm long, 88–100 µm wide, anterolateral margin 125–175 µm long, posterolateral margin 130–135 µm long; with 12–27 setae on dorsal surface; ventral subapical setae not visible due to sclerotization of anal plates; plates located about 1/4 of body length from posterior margin. Anal ring with 10 setae. Eyes absent.

Margin. Margin rugose, smooth or undulating. Marginal setae each 13–18 µm long and sharply spinose, with well-developed bases; arranged in a single irregular row, with 40–60 between anterior and posterior stigmatic areas. Stigmatic clefts very deep, stigmatic sclerotization C-shaped, closely associated with spiracles. Stigmatic setae bluntly spinose with swollen bases, rarely sharply spinose, each cleft with 2 or 3 setae 15–18 µm long but often broken off.

Venter. Derm membranous. Ventral setae slender, straight or slightly bent, each 18–35 µm long. Ventral microducts each 3–4 µm wide, scattered evenly on venter. Tubular ducts absent. Clypeolabral shield 285 µm wide. Multilocular disc-pores each 6–7 µm wide, with 5–8 (mostly 8) loculi, abundant around vulvar area, extending onto last 2 abdominal segments. Spiracular disc-pores each 5–6 µm wide, with 5–7 (mostly 6–7) loculi, found closely associated with each spiracle. Antennae reduced, with 1 or 2 antennal segments, total length 53–65 µm. Legs reduced, atrophied; with most segments fused, total length 33–60 µm. Tarsal digitules similar, long, setose. Claw digitules, slender, knobbed. Claws well developed, without a denticle. Spiracles larger than legs, located near margin; anterior spiracular peritremes each 113–125 µm wide, posterior peritremes each 123–130 µm wide.

Diagnosis. The adult female of C. philwardi can be diagnosed by the following features: (i) derm with elevated ridges arranged in a cellular or tessellated pattern, (ii) sclerotic pores absent, (iii) dorsum with numerous clusters of 2–15 small simple pores, (iv) dorsal setae absent, except for a group of 25–40 flagellate setae present next to each stigmatic sclerotization on a thin membranous area, (v) orbicular pores present, with 1 or 3 on head region and 2 or 5 on thoracic region, (vi) preopercular pores absent, (vii) stigmatic sclerotization forming a sclerotized crescent, each with 2 or 3 stigmatic setae, (viii) each anal plate with 12–27 setae on dorsal surface, and (ix) ventral tubular ducts absent. C. philwardi is the only known species in the genus with a cellular or tessellated pattern on the dorsum.

Remarks. First-instar nymphs were not available during present study.

Host plants. Verbenaceae : Avicennia germinans .

Associated Hymenoptera . Formicidae : Pseudomyrmecinae : Pseudomyrmex sp. cf. fortis.

Males. Unknown.

Etymology. The species is named after Dr. Philip S. Ward, its collector and world authority of ant systematics, particularly those ants in the subfamily Pseudomyrmecinae .

Distribution. Neotropical Region: Colombia.