Metopolophium rogeri Mehrparvar, 2022

Mehrparvar, Mohsen, Rokni, Moein & Rakhshani, Ehsan, 2022, A new species of Metopolophium Mordvilko, 1914 (Hemiptera: Aphididae Aphidinae) on Rosa beggeriana from Iran, Zootaxa 5183 (1), pp. 64-74 : 65-72

Metopolophium rogeri Mehrparvar sp. nov.

( Figs. 1–5, Table 1)

Material examined. Fifty one apterous viviparous females, six alate viviparous females, fourteen apterous oviparae and seven apterous males were examined.

Holotype: Apterous viviparous female, Iran, Kerman Province, Mes-e-Sarcheshmeh , (29°59’52˝N, 55°51’27˝E), 2564 m, ex Rosa beggeriana ( Fig. 1), 14.iv.2020, M. Mehrparvar leg. ( ARG 00277 ) ( KGUT).

Paratypes: IRAN: nine apterous viviparous females, same data as the holotype; six apterous viviparous females, Kerman Province, Shahr-e-Babak , (30°08’24˝N, 55°04’57˝E), 1854 m, ex Rosa beggeriana , 24.viii.2020, M. Mehrparvar leg. ( ARG 00274 ) ; four apterous viviparous females, fourteen oviparous females and seven apterous males, Kerman Province, Mes-e-Sarcheshmeh , (29°59’51˝N, 55°51’24˝E), 2553 m, ex Rosa beggeriana , 13.x.2006, ( ARG 00273 ) ; six alate viviparous females, Kerman Province, Mes-e-Sarcheshmeh , (29°59’52˝N, 55°51’27˝E), 2564 m, ex Rosa beggeriana , 14.iv.2020, M. Mehrparvar leg. ( ARG 00275 ) ( KGUT) .

Additional non-type material s: thirty one apterous viviparous females, same data as the holotype.

Diagnosis. Color in living specimens green, not powdered. Body without dark sclerotization. The species is close to M. alpinum Hille Ris Lambers, 1966 , but the ratio of PT to ANTVIb is too low, the ratio of SIPH to Cauda is too high and the number of accessory hairs on URS is higher compared with equivalent morphs of M. alpinum ( Table 2). In addition, the dorsal abdominal pigmentation of the apterous males is distinctive in M. rogeri sp. nov. These are the most important distinguishing characteristics of M. rogeri sp. nov.. Other morphological characteristics which separate this species from the other close species of Metopolophium are as follows: the ratio of SIPH to body length is 0.3–0.38; PT 1.65–3.0 (3.3) times as long as ANTVIb; the length of ANTVIb is relatively longer (0.2–0.26 mm); ANTIII with 2–7 secondary rhinaria ( Table 2).

Description. Apterous viviparous females (based on 51 examined specimens, 41 spring, 6 summer and 4 autumn populations): Color in living specimens: Body green not covered with wax powder. Color in macerated specimens

( Fig. 2A): Body mainly pale. The end of ANTIII–V, ANTVI, the apical part of SIPH and tibiae and tarsi are pale brown. Cauda slightly darker than body.

Morphological characters: Body spindle-shaped; head smooth; antennal tubercles well developed with diverging inner sides; median frontal tubercle low ( Fig. 3A). Antenna as long as or shorter than body length; antennal hairs blunt and shorter than B.D. ANTIII. ANTIII bearing 2–7 rounded or slightly oval secondary rhinaria with welldeveloped sclerotized rings on their edges distributed on basal half of the segment ( Fig. 4A); primary rhinarium ciliate. PT 1.65–3.3 times as long as ANTVIb and 0.55–1.14 times as long as ANTIII. Other antennal ratios: ANTIII/ANTIV: 1.24–2.10, ANTVI/ANTIII: 0.85–1.49, ANTV/ANTIII: 0.56–0.75, ANTIV/ANTIII: 0.48–0.80, PT/ANTIV: 0.95–1.50, PT/ANTV: 0.96–1.56. Body with numerous fine blunt hairs. URS relatively long and blunt ( Fig. 3E); first tarsal segment with 3–3–3 hairs. ANTVIb 1.53–2.17 times longer than URS. URS 0.80–0.93 times longer than 2HT. Rostrum relatively short and reaching mesosternum ( Fig. 2A). Dorsum membranous; marginal and siphuncular sclerites not visible; ABD tergites I and VII without marginal tubercles; dorsal hairs blunt and short; hairs on ABDTVIII 31–40 μm long. SIPH thin, tapering, slightly wider at base ( Fig. 5A), 2.38–3.32 times longer than cauda and 0.28–0.38 times as long as body length. Ratios of SIPH to some various body parts are as follows: SIPH/ANTIII: 0.95–1.25, SIPH/HFemur: 0.70–0.99, SIPH/PT: 0.89–2.21, SIPH/URS: 4.92–8.33. HTibia and HFemur 0.58–0.84 and 0.34–0.45 times body length, respectively. 2HT 1.07–1.25 times URS. Cauda tongueshaped ( Fig. 5K). Other biometric data are presented in Table 1.

Alate viviparous females (based on six examined specimens): Color in living specimens: Body green not covered with wax powder. Color in macerated specimens ( Fig. 2B): ANTI–VI brown except for basal part of ANTIII which is paler. Head, tibiae and tarsi are brown. Femur brown except for basal part which is pale. Thorax dark brown. Wing vein brown. Abdomen pale with brown marginal and transverse dorsal patches and anal plate. SIPH and cauda pale brown.

Morphological characters: Body spindle-shaped; head smooth; antennal tubercles moderately developed ( Fig. 3B); antenna as long as or shorter than body length; antennal hairs blunt and shorter than B.D. ANTIII. Antennal ratios: ANTIII/ANTIV: 1.46–1.72, ANTVI/ANTIII: 1.04–1.22, ANTV/ANTIII: 0.43–0.51, ANTIV/ANTIII: 0.58– 0.69, PT/ANTIII: 0.83–0.97, PT/ANTVIb: 3.75–4.22, PT/ANTIV: 1.37–1.58, PT/ANTV: 1.71–2.0. URS blunt ( Fig. 3F), 0.80–0.89 times shorter than 2HT. ANTVIb 1.13–1.30 times longer than URS. First tarsal segments with 3–3–3 hairs. Dorsum membranous; marginal, dorsal transvers bars and postsiphuncular sclerites evidently visible; SIPH tubular, slightly wider at base ( Fig. 5B). Ratios of SIPH to some particular body parts are as follows: SIPH/ Body length: 0.17–0.20, SIPH/Cauda: 1.74–1.96, SIPH/ANTIII: 0.58–0.76, SIPH/HFemur: 0.52–0.59, SIPH/PT: 0.69–0.79, SIPH/URS: 3.20–3.92. HTibia and HFemur 0.59–0.62 and 0.31–0.34 times as long as body length, respectively. Cauda tongue-shaped ( Fig. 5L). Further biometric data are presented in Table 1.

Oviparous females (based on 14 examined specimens): Color in living specimens: similar in appearance to apterous viviparous female specimens. Color in macerated specimens: head thorax and abdomen membranous. Apical parts of ANTIII-V brown. Apical parts of femora, tibiae and SIPH pale brown. Tarsus pale brown. Cauda slightly darker than body. Abdominal segments pale without pigmentation.

Morphological characters: Body spindle-shaped but narrower than apterous viviparous females ( Fig. 2C). Compared to apterous vivipara legs are relatively shorter.Antennal tubercles developed ( Fig. 3C). Antennae as long as body length. ANTIII hairs shorter than B.D. ANTIII. Secondary rhinaria distributed on basal part of the segment ( Fig. 4I). Some antennal ratios are as follows: ANTIII/ANTIV: 1.15–1.55, ANTVI/ANTIII: 1.32–1.73, ANTV/ ANTIII: 0.70–0.88, ANTIV/ANTIII: 0.65–0.87, PT/ANTIII: 0.97–1.27, PT/ANTVIb: 2.73–2.83, PT/ANTIV: 1.20–1.57, PT/ANTV: 1.30–1.54. ANTVIb 1.83–2.31 times longer than URS. URS 0.80–0.93 times longer than 2HT. HTibia and HFemur 0.70–0.96 and 0.41–0.51 times as long as body length, respectively. Ratios of SIPH to some particular body parts are as follows: SIPH/Body length: 0.28–0.35, SIPH/Cauda: 2.48–3.42, SIPH/ANTIII: 0.93–1.15, SIPH/HFemur: 0.68–0.77, SIPH/PT: 0.85–1.12, SIPH/URS: 4.31–6.31. Cauda tongue-shaped ( Fig. 5M). Hind tibiae bearing 40–65 pseudosensoria in various sizes which are distributed on basal half ( Fig. 5J) and this part is very slightly swollen. Otherwise like apterous viviparous females. Biometric data are given in Table 1.

Apterous males (based on 7 examined specimens): Color in living specimens: similar in appearance to apterous viviparous female specimens. Color in macerated specimens ( Fig. 2D): Body mainly membranous. Head, ANTI pale brown ( Figs 2D & 3D); ANTII pale ( Fig. 3D); ANTIII pale brown except for the basal part which is pale ( Fig. 4M); ANTIV–ANTVI pale brown ( Figs 4N–P); the apical part of SIPH and tibiae and tarsi pale brown ( Figs 5D & H); dorsal abdominal segments with brown cross-bands pigmentations ( Fig. 2D). Femora pale with a brown spot near apex. Thorax pale without pigmentation. Cauda pale ( Fig. 5N).

Morphological characters: Body elongate spindle-shaped; head smooth; antennal tubercles well developed with diverging inner sides ( Fig. 3D); median frontal tubercle absent. Antenna longer than body length; antennal hairs blunt and shorter than B.D. ANTIII. ANTIII and ANTV bearing rounded or slightly oval secondary rhinaria with well-developed sclerotized rings on their edges ( Figs 4M & O). Antennal ratios are: PT/ANTVIb: 3.0–3.21; PT/ ANTIII: 0.93–1.10; ANTIII/ANTIV: 1.11–1.42, ANTVI/ANTIII: 1.23–1.44, ANTV/ANTIII: 0.75–0.87, ANTIV/ ANTIII: 0.70–0.90, PT/ANTIV: 1.03–1.48, PT/ANTV: 1.15–1.43. ANTVIb 1.92–2.18 times longer than URS. Body with fine blunt hairs. URS relatively long and blunt ( Fig. 3H); first tarsal segment with 3–3–3 hairs. URS 0.81–1.0 times longer than 2HT. Rostrum reaching metasternum ( Figs 2D & 3D). SIPH tubular ( Fig. 5D). Ratios of SIPH to some body parts are as follows: SIPH/Body length: 0.30–0.35, SIPH/Cauda: 2.91–3.67, SIPH/ANTIII: 0.74–0.88, SIPH/HFemur: 0.57–0.74, SIPH/PT: 0.68–0.89, SIPH/URS: 4.48–5.58. HTibia and HFemur 0.81–1.02 and 0.47–0.54 times body length, respectively. 2HT 1.0–1.23 times URS. Cauda tongue-shaped ( Fig. 5N). Other biometric data are presented in Table 1.

Etymology. The new species is named to honor Dr. Roger L. Blackman who was a great and outstanding aphid taxonomist.

Host plant and biology. This aphid lives in colonies on young shoots of Rosa beggeriana ( Rosaceae ) which is distributed from the West to East Asia ( Mozaffarian 1998). Since the apterous viviparous females and apterous males have been collected on R. beggeriana in autumn, it can be concluded that this species has no host alternation and hence it is a monoecious holocyclic species. The Metopolophium species with host alternation (Heteroecious) migrate to grasses and in autumn it would not expect to find apterae on Rosa , only oviparae and alate males. But since apterae were collected on Rosa in autumn, as well as apterous males, so this species does not have host alternation. The alate viviparous females are very rare as there is no host alternation. This aphid is not attended by ants.