Ripersiella pediandensis Schneider & LaPolla, 2022

Schneider, Scott A. & LaPolla, John S., 2022, A Neotropical complex of Ripersiella species (Hemiptera, Coccomorpha, Rhizoecidae) collected from the nests of Acropyga ants (Hymenoptera, Formicidae), ZooKeys 1123, pp. 1-30 : 1

Ripersiella pediandensis Schneider & LaPolla sp. nov.

Figure 9

Material examined.

Holotype. Peru • 1 adult ♀; Madre de Dios, Dept. Cusco, Cosnipata Valley, Carretera a Manu ; -13.0685, -71.5539; 3.viii.2012; TR Schultz leg. (TRS120803-05); collected from Acropyga goeldii (group) colony; host not recorded; USNM (nest TRS1: prep S0092B) . Paratypes. Peru • 1 adult ♀; same data as holotype; USNM (nest TRS1: prep S0092A) • 1 adult ♀; same data as holotype; UNAB (nest TRS1: prep TRS120803-05A) .

Description.

Adult female (N = 3). Appearance in life not recorded.

General. Mounted on microscope slide, body membranous, broadly oval in young adults to nearly circular in more mature specimens, 1.31-1.53 (1.43) mm long, widest near abdominal segments III-V, 1.01-1.44 (1.21) mm wide. Abdomen smoothly rounded; abdominal segment VIII 258-275 (258) μm wide at base. Anal lobes poorly developed with several flagellate setae on venter and dorsum, ranging from 10-40 μm long, each with group of 3 distinctly stouter setae situated near dorsal margin 71-108 μm long. Body setae flagellate, 11-33 μm on head, 11-15 μm on thorax, 10-40 μm on abdominal segments. Trilocular pores abundant and distributed among body setae; bitubular cerores absent. Microtrichia present; presence of rounded dermal micro-bumps uncertain. Eyes absent.

Venter. Cephalic plate present, with few setae on the plate and several setae and trilocular pores surrounding the ventral and lateral margins. Labium with 3 segments; 92 μm long and 49 μm at widest point. Antennae geniculate, 5-segmented, closely situated near midline on ventral submargin of head; overall length 188-201 (192) μm; length of segment I: 45-50 (48) μm; segment II: 19-24 (19) μm; segment III: 19-21 (19) μm; segment IV: 19-23 (23) μm; segment V: 79-88 (79) μm; apical antennal segment with 1 spine-like and 4 falcate stout sensory setae; a few flagellate setae on each antennal segment, 30-45 μm long; sensorium present on second antennal segment. Legs well developed; overall length of hind leg 346-381 (346) μm; length of hind coxa 42-63 (42) μm; hind trochanter + femur 132-137 (132) μm; hind tibia + tarsus 136-144 (136) μm; hind claw 36-37 (36) μm; each claw with short setose digitule 7.5 μm long; flagellate setae present on each segment, about 25 μm long; 3 stout spine-like setae on inner margin of tibia and tarsus. Circulus absent. Multilocular disc pores present near the vulva on abdominal segments VII-VIII with 9 loculi in the outer ring; near each spiracle a multilocular disc pore with 6 or 7 loculi present. Oral collar tubular ducts present in singular rows or sparsely scattered on median to submedian areas of ventral abdominal segments, 1 or 2 present on thoracic segments near each spiracle.

Dorsum. Anal ring on dorsal surface separated from posterior body margin by approximately 1 × diameter of ring, 66-73 μm in diameter; with oval cells, some cells bearing spicules; with three pairs of setae 30-42 μm long. Posterior pair of dorsal ostioles present, diameter of orifice measured along longitudinal axis approximately 44 μm; anterior pair present but smaller than posterior pair, diameter of orifice approximately 29 μm. Multilocular disc pores absent. Oral collar tubular ducts absent.

Etymology.

The species epithet is an adjective meaning "from the foot of the Andes", which combines the noun pedis (foot), the adjective andinus (pertaining to the Andes Mountains), and suffix - ensis (of or from a place).

Diagnosis.

Ripersiella pediandensis sp. nov. is similar in appearance to R. andensis but the two species can be distinguished as follows (character states for R. andensis are given in parentheses): having oral collar tubular ducts present on the venter (absent); having comparatively long claws, 37 μm (comparatively short, 24 μm); having comparatively long anal lobe setae, 71-108 μm (comparatively short, 33 μm). The body and appendages of R. pediandensis are also longer in comparison. Compared to R. kelloggi (character states in parentheses), the legs of R. pediandensis are larger in proportion to the body (smaller in proportion), the cephalic plate is present (absent), multilocular disc pores are present near the vulva (absent), it is lacking a circulus (bears 2 small circuli), and the longest anal lobe setae are 71-108 μm long (less than 30 μm long). See the diagnosis under R. telalia sp. nov. for a comparison to that species.

Comments.

The association between R. pediandensis and a species of Acropyga (within the Acropyga goeldii group) is lacking information on observations that were made to confirm direct trophobiosis between these partners, and only a single nest was collected. Thus, as in some other cases discussed by Schneider and LaPolla (2020), we consider this relationship to be speculative (however likely) until it can be confirmed through further collections and observations.

Figures

Figure 9. Ripersiella pediandensis Schneider & LaPolla sp. nov. Adult female, full body view, illustrated from holotype by T. Litwak (USDA ARS SEL), with edits by SAS.