Hyalopterus persikonus Miller, Lozier

Lozier, Jeffrey D., Foottit, Robert G., Miller, Gary L., Mills, Nicholas J. & Roderick, George K., 2008, Molecular and morphological evaluation of the aphid genus Hyalopterus Koch (Insecta: Hemiptera: Aphididae), with a description of a new species, Zootaxa 1688, pp. 1-19 : 11-13

Hyalopterus persikonus Miller, Lozier , and Foottit new species

( Fig. 6 )

Recognition characters. Apterous vivipara (Fig 6.1): Body length 1.89–2.85 (2.38); width through eyes, 0.32– 0.48 (0.44). Head (Fig. 6.2) weakly sclerotized, smooth; dorsal head and frons setae filiform; longest frons seta (fs) nearly as long as width of antennal segment II; distance of the bases median dorsal head setae (mdhs) usually less than their lengths (Fig. 6.3B); antennal tubercle weakly to moderately developed. Antenna 6-segmented, shorter than body without secondary sensoria, pale with segment VI darker and occasionally apex of segment V, setae on segment III 0.01–0.03 (0.02) long, more than half width of segment; segment III 0.30– 0.46 (0.39) long; IV 0.21–0.40 (0.28) long; V 0.18–0.28 (0.24) long; base of VI 0.09–0.16 (0.12) long; terminal process, 0.32–0.44 (0.38) long. Rostrum extending to metacoxae, bluntly rounded apically; ultimate rostral article (Fig. 6.4) 0.07–0.11 (0.09) long, 0.06–0.09 (0.08) wide at base, with a pair of accessory setae. Hind femur 0.42–0.70 (0.59) long; hind tibia 0.84–1.23 (1.00) long; hind tarsus II 0.15–0.21 (0.17) long; basitarsi with 3 ventral setae on pro- and mesobasitarsi and 2 on metabasitarsi; Apex of tibia and tarsi darker than rest of leg. Abdomen without pigment, with faint fine reticulation and marginal tubercles on segments I–VI; abdominal setae pointed, longest seta on abdominal segment VIII 0.03–0.08 (0.06); anal plate entire, genital plate (Fig. 6.5) with several anterior and median setae and posterior row of setae. Siphunculus (Fig. 6.6) small, 0.07–0.14 (0.11) long, shape variable, ranging from cylindrical with slight tapering to slightly swollen on apical half, weakly scabrous, apically dark with paler base, apical flange absent. Cauda (Fig. 6.7) 0.14– 0.26 (0.20) long, elongate, with 3–4 pairs of lateral setae and a subapical seta.

Embryo: Antenna 5-segmented; setae pointed; disc with 2 pair of anterior and 2 pair of posterior setae; pronotum with 1 anterior, 1 posterior lateral, and 1 posterior submedian seta on each side; abdominal segments each with 4 setae medially and a dorsolateral seta on each side of I–VI; siphunculus short, poriform; basistarsi with 2 ventral setae.

Etymology of specific epithet. The name persikonus , a variant of the Greek “Persikon malum” or Persia apple for early reference to supposed origins of the “peach,” refers to one of the primary hosts for this aphid species.

Specimens examined. Holotype: GREECE: Kala Nera, Peliou, 12-V-2004, on Prunus persica, N. Mills coll. (apterous vivipara) USNM; with slide label stating “ Hyalopterus persikonus Miller, Lozier , and Foottit HOLOTYPE ”

Paratypes: ITALY: Squinzano, Gemini, 15-VI-2004, on Prunus persica, N. Mills coll.(9 apterous viviparae on 9 slides) BMNH, CNCI, EMEC, USNM; GREECE: Kala Nera, Peliou, 12-V-2004, on P. p e r s i c a, N. Mills coll. (8 apterous viviparae on 8 slides) CNCI, EMEC, USNM; SPAIN: Benferi, Muro d’Alcoi, summer 2002, on P. persica, N. Mills coll. (8 apterous viviparae on 8 slides) CNCI, EMEC, USNM; all slides with label stating “ Hyalopterus persikonus Miller, Lozier , and Foottit PARATYPE ”.

Other specimens examined. REPUBLIC OF GEORGIA: Karsp District, Doesi, 5-IX-2005, on P. p e r - sica, S. Barjadze coll. (12 apterous viviparae and 24 immatures on 12 slides) CNCI, USNM; IRAN: Tabriz, 8- VIII-1958, on peach, Hambleton coll. (3 apterous viviparae on 1 slide) USNM; AFGANISTAN: Kabul, 29- V-1961, on apricot, E. R. Millet and E. J. Hambelton coll. (2 apterous viviparae, 2 alate viviparae, 2 immatures on 1 slide) USNM; IRAQ: Baghdad, 23-III-1965, on apricot, on nectarine, A. K. Daoud coll. (8 apterous viviparae and 5 immatures on 5 slides) USNM.

Comments. Hyalopterus persikonus is very similar to H. amygdali and H. pruni , morphologically. Characters useful for species separation are included within the following key. In addition, host plant association of the specimen is critical. However, the use of the key for field identification remains difficult as evidenced by the overlap of the various ranges. Single individual specimens may be problematic and it is advisable to use multiple specimens from the same collection series. However, molecular data and morphometic analyses can be applied for separating Hyalopterus species.

Figures

FIGURE 6. Morphology of apterous vivipara of Hyalopterus persikonus n. sp. 6.1. Dorsal habitus of slide-mounted specimen; 6.2. Head dorsum (left) and venter (right), median dorsal head setae (mdhs), frons seta (fs); 6.3 Head dorsum, A, Hyalopterus amygdali (Blanchard), B, Hyalopterus persikonus n. sp.; 6.4. Ulltimate rostral article; 6.5. Genital plate; 6.6 Siphunculus; 6.7. Cauda.