Antecerococcus Green, 1901

Chris J. Hodgson & Douglas J. Williams, 2016, (Hemiptera: Sternorrhyncha, Coccomorpha) with particular reference to species from the Afrotropical, western Palaearctic and western Oriental Regions, with the revival of Antecerococcus Green and description of a new genus and fifteen new species, and with ten new synonomies, Zootaxa 4091 (1), pp. 1-175 : 19

Antecerococcus Green, 1901 , revived status.

Antecerococcus Green 1901: 560 . Type species: Antecerococcus punctiferus Green , by monotypy.

Phenacobryum Cockerell 1902: 114 . Type species: Planchonia bryoides Maskell , subsequently designated by Borchsenius, 1960 d: 110. Synonymy with Cerococcus by Green 1908: 41. Syn. nov.

Amelococcus Marchal 1904: 557, 560 . Type species: Amelococcus alluaudi Marchal , by monotypy and original designation. Synonymy with Cerococcus by Lambdin & Kosztarab 1977: 16. Syn. nov.

Cercococcus Scott 1907: 455 . Type species: Cercococcus eremobius Scott , by monotypy. Synonymy with Cerococcus by Green 1908: 41. Syn. nov.

Coricoccus Mahdihassan 1933: 562 . Type species: Coricoccus ornatus Green. Synonymy with Cerococcus by Lambdin & Kosztarab 1977: 16. Syn. nov.

Note. Anterocerococcus was synonymised with Cerococcus by Green ( 1908), but here its status is revised and it is removed from synonymy with Cerococcus Comstock. This revival is because the adult females of all species in Antecerococcus were found to share a range of morphological features, including an anteroventral sclerotization on each anal lobe, that are absent from the adult females of all species of Cerococcus as redefined below. With the recognition of Antecerococcus Green , the names Phenacobryum Cockerell , Amelococcus Marchal , Cercococcus Scott and Coricoccus Mahdihassan become synonyms of Antecerococcus rather than of Cerococcus because their type species (listed above) fall within this genus.

Generic description and diagnosis. Adult female. Mounted material. Basic body structure typical of Cerococcidae ( Figs 4–49). Anal lobes rarely sclerotized throughout (except in A. asparagi ), otherwise with wellsclerotized inner margins, each occasionally with reticulations or diagonal ridges, each lobe with 1 or 2 small setose seta (at most) on inner margin but with 2 long fleshy setae on dorsal surface, 1 near apex and other about half-way along each lobe, each fleshy seta several times longer than wide and generally with a blunt apex (rarely long and almost setose); ventral surface of each lobe with a setose or rather spinose seta near apex ( Fig. 3 A); also each lobe generally with a medioventral seta and sometimes an anteroventral seta (presence of latter taxonomically significant) plus a small seta on each outer margin ( Fig. 3 B). Median anal plate typical of family. Anal ring with 4 pairs of setae (exception An gallicolus (Mamet) with 3 pairs), each seta narrowing rather abruptly about 2 / 3 rds along length. Dorsum with up to 4 sizes of 8 -shaped pore: largest pores (> 15 Μm widest) present associated with each stigmatic band but also along margins and sometimes in swirls or bands medially on dorsum; almost always with a line or band of large 8 -shaped pores along dorsal margins of posterior abdominal segments; smaller sizes of 8 -shaped pore generally most common pore types medially; smallest pores generally present across posterior abdominal segments (posterior to cribriform plates) and in apices of stigmatic pore bands; structure, size and distribution of dorsal 8 -shaped pores important taxonomically; 8 -shaped pores also frequently present within apex of each stigmatic band, mainly smallest pores but occasionally other sizes. Simple pores typical of family present but rarely showing anything significant. Tubular ducts of only 1 size on dorsum, generally slightly wider and slightly more abundant on dorsum than on venter. Cribriform plates always present in a submedial group on each side of abdominal segment IV (apart from A. rubra that appears to have long ductules), of highly variable size and structure, sometimes also in bands and on segments anterior to abdominal segment IV. Ventrally, with stigmatic pore bands generally extending onto dorsum (rarely possibly not reaching dorsum (e.g., A. sparsiporus Hodgson & Williams , sp. nov.), posterior bands bifurcated or non-bifurcated; each band with quinquelocular disc-pores but many species with more loculi in disc-pores of each apical group; also each apical group often with a small seta nearby; loculate pores (generally 5 -locular) also present in a sparse group near each antenna. Small bilocular pores restricted to cephalothorax. Multilocular disc-pores present or absent; occasionally entirely absent but when present, generally each with 10 loculi, in segmental lines across abdominal segments and sometimes also on metathorax; each band normally with a submarginal group and a medial band; multilocular disc-pores on segment VII generally only represented by submarginal groups on each side of vulva but occasionally band complete; those on segments VIII and IX similar, generally in submarginal groups but occasionally forming a band posterior to vulva; multilocular disc-pores also sometimes present mesad to each spiracle. Small convex closed pores sometimes present, usually in a partial or complete line between each antenna and metathoracic leg stubs. Anteroventral sclerotized areas always present on venter laterad to anal ring ( Figs 3 A, 3 B). Leg stubs present or absent. Antennae generally unsegmented but occasionally appearing 2 segmented, usually with 7 fleshy setae but some species also with a few setose setae; some species with a distinct cone-shaped extension to apex of each antenna; other species with one or more fleshy setae in a distinct cavity. Spiracles, each with spiracular disc-pores in a group anterior to spiracle but not in a semi-circle laterad to or posterior to peritreme; occasionally with a sclerotized bar extending anteriorly over each spiracle (probably most obvious on older specimens).