Brachyunguis zygophylli (Nevsky, 1928)

Stekolshchikov, Andrey V., 2024, A contribution to the aphid fauna (Homoptera, Aphidinea) of the Republic of Dagestan (the Russian Federation), with descriptions of three new species, redescription of Macrosiphum pulcherimum Nevsky, 1928, and descriptions of previously unknown morphs of three species, Zootaxa 5545 (1), pp. 1-68 : 46-47

Brachyunguis zygophylli (Nevsky, 1928)

( Figs 88–106 , Table 8 )

Material. KSB: 7.ix.2023, Zygophyllum fabago L., on stem, apt. and al.; 5.x.2023, Zygophyllum fabago L., apt., al., males and ovip.

Comments. This species is known from Central Asia ( Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tadzhikistan and Turkmenistan), western China, Turkey, Iran, Azerbaijan and possibly found in Ukraine ( Nevsky 1928b; 1929a; 1929b; Rusanova 1942; Davletshina 1956; Narzikulov 1959; Ivanovskaya 1960; Bozhko 1976; Kadyrbekov et al. 2002; Kadyrbekov 2003; Remaudière et al. 2006). Oviparous females and males of this species were not previously known. At my disposal were specimens of the amphigonic generation found by Dr. E.V. Ilina on 5.x.2023 on Zygophyllum fabago in the State Nature Reserve “Dagestansky” (section “Sarykum Barkhans”), which made it possible to make their description. The oviparous female is described in detail below and for the male, only differences from this morph are given.

Description. Oviparous female. Body elliptical, 1.5–2.1 (1.7) times as long as wide. Color when alive unknown. Cleared specimens with head, distal half of 6th antennal, two last segments of rostrum, legs, peritremes on abdomen, anal and subgenital plate, and cauda light-brown. Dorsal and ventral surface of body not sclerotized, except very light-brown peritremes. Surface of head wrinkled, slightly tuberculate, dorsal and ventral sides of thorax and abdominal tergites I–VI smooth, slightly wrinkled, of abdominal tergites VII–VIII with long rows of small pointed spinules which partially fusing, of ventral side of abdomen with long rows of small pointed spinules. Setae on dorsal side of thorax and abdomen pointed, on ventral side pointed or finely pointed, on abdominal tergite VIII finely pointed; numbers of marginal setae 1–2, 2–3, 1–3, 1–3, 1–3, 2–4, 0–2 on each side of abdominal segments I–VII, respectively. Hemispherical marginal tubercles present on prothorax and abdominal segments I and VII; marginal tubercles on other segments absent and only one specimen has one marginal tubercles on abdominal segment III. Head without epicranial suture or with its weak traces. Frontal tubercles indistinct, low; median tubercle wide, occupies large part of frons and surpassing the level of antennal tubercles. Setae on head pointed or finely pointed. Antennae 6-segmented, without secondary rhinaria; 1st, 2nd and base of 3rd antennal segment slightly wrinkled, almost smooth, 3rd segment (except base) with rare strongly smoothed out scales and 4th–6th segments with large scales. Setae on antennae pointed. Rostrum reaching metathorax or abdominal segment II. Ultimate rostral segment wedge-shaped, with straight or slightly concave sides, 1.73–2.37 (1.99) times as long as its basal width. Legs normally developed; setae on legs pointed or finely pointed. Chaetotaxy of first tarsal segments 3, 3, 2. Arms of mesosternal furca connected by thin almost not sclerotized base. Spiracles reniform. Siphunculi very short, cylindrical or slightly connical, with relatively small, but distinct flange. Surface of siphunculi wrinkled, covered by smoothed out scales. Subgenital plate oval, with a longitudinal not sclerotized band along the center line of the plate, with finely pointed setae. Setae on anal plate finely pointed. Cauda short tongue-shaped with a broadly rounded apex and long finely pointed setae. Hind tibia slightly widened, more clearly in the middle part, with 14–69 (28.7) round pheromone plates located along the entire tibia, but mainly in the middle third.

Male. Apterous. Body elongate elliptical, 1.9–2.0 times as long as wide. Color when alive unknown. Cleared specimens with 3rd–6th antennal segments (except proximal third of third segment) brown. Antennae 6- or 5- segmented; 3rd antennal segment with 14–43, 4th segment with 10–18, 5th segment with 8–22, and base of 6th antennal segment with 1–4 secondary rhinaria; 1st, 2nd and base of 3rd antennal segment slightly wrinkled, almost smooth, 3rd–5th segments (except base of 3rd segment) with rare large folds and scales, 6th segments with large scales. Setae on antennae pointed. Rostrum reaching metathorax or 3rd abdominal segment. Ultimate rostral segment with straight or slightly convex sides, 2.00–2.57 (2.19) times as long as its basal width. Cauda triangular.

Figures

FIGURE 88. Male of Brachyunguis zygophylli (Nevsky, 1928), habitus.

FIGURES 89–96. Brachyunguis zygophylli (Nevsky, 1928), male. 89, antennae; 90, 3rd antennal segment; 91, last antennal segment; 92, head; 93, III and ultimate rostral segments; 94, hind tarsus; 95, siphunculus; 96, cauda.

FIGURE 97. Oviparous female of Brachyunguis zygophylli (Nevsky, 1928), habitus.

FIGURES 98–106. Brachyunguis zygophylli (Nevsky, 1928), oviparous female. 98, antennae; 99, 3rd antennal segment; 100, last antennal segment; 101, head; 102, III and ultimate rostral segments; 103, hind tibia; 104, hind tarsus; 105, siphunculus; 106, cauda.