Aphis (Aphis) gutierreziae Ortego, Mier Durante & Nieto Nafría, 2022

Nieto Nafría, Juan M., Ortego, Jaime, Moreno-González, Víctor & Durante, M. Pilar Mier, 2022, The genus Aphis (Hemiptera, Aphididae) living on Asteraceae species in southern South America: Argentina and Chile, with five new species, Zootaxa 5183 (1), pp. 439-463 : 449-451

Aphis (Aphis) gutierreziae Ortego, Mier Durante & Nieto Nafría sp. n.

Types. Holotype: apterous viviparous female ARG-917- 7: ARGENTINA: MENDOZA: Las Heras: Uspallata 30 km. N (32º 20’ S, 69º 22’ W, 2300 m), on Gutierrezia gilliesii Griseb. , 16-November-2001, collection of the Universidad de León . Paratypes: 51 apterous viviparous and 5 alate viviparous females, of them (1) same data as the holotype, 11 apterae; (2) same locality, host plant as the holotype, 17-April-2005, 23 apterae and 2 alatae; and (3) NEUQUéN: Zapala: Villa del Puente Picún Leufú (39º 12’ S, 70º 03’ W, 780 m), on G. sp., 13-December-2009, 17 apterae and 3 alatae. collection of the Universidad de León

Etymology. The specific epithet of Aphis gutierreziae sp. n. is the genus name of its host plant in genitive case.

Apterous viviparous females ( Fig. 5 , A–E). From 52 specimens. When alive green with reddish spots behind the base of SIPH. In mounted specimens, head light brown, gently reticulated on dorsum, and ventrally striated. Clypeus very well delineated —with thick and dark edges—, more pigmented than the cephalic dorsum and mandibular and maxillar laminae, and rough ahead. Frons straight . ANT.I–II almost smooth. ANT.III with 2–7 ST. URS with concave edges. TH.1–3 with MG patches, as pigmented as head; these on TH.2 are broad and with a rough appearance, because the spicules that form the reticular ornamentation are very thick. ABD usually membranous; small and pale post-siphuncular sclerite; ABD.8 sometimes with small sclerites and with 2((3)) ST. TH.1 MG TUB low, but more voluminous than the triommatidium and bigger than those on ABD.1 and ABD.7. COM MG TUB sometimes present, 1–3(4). ST pale, somewhat thick, those on ANT, TH and ABD and many on legs are blunt. Coxae and trochanters dark. Tarsal formula, 3.3.2. SIPH very dark brown, sub-cylindrical, long, but not longer than the cauda, which is lanceolate, with little marked midway constriction and parallel edges for most of their length. ABD.8 with 2((3)) ST. Genital plate with 2–3 discal and (5)8–13 posterior ST, pigmented as head but with a paler anterior portion, where the discal ST are placed. Cauda with 4–9 ST. Other qualitative features in “Common features of the new species”. Metric features in Table 3 .

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Alate viviparous females ( Fig. 5 , F–G) From 5 specimens. Clypeus well delineated from the mandibular and maxillary lames like apterous viviparae. ABD.1–5 mostly membranous (some small MG sclerites can be present); ABD.6 with post-siphuncular patches; and ABD.7–8 with transverse bands. ANT.III with big and poorly aligned 5–9 SEC SEN. ANT.IV rarely with 1 small SEC SEN. Other qualitative features in “Common features of the new species”. Metric features in Table 3 .

Bionomics and distribution. A. gutierreziae specimens live on the stems of Gutierrezia plants forming compact groups. There are no data to establish the cycle of the species; presumably, it will be holocyclic and monoecious.

The localities of collection are at very different altitudes (780 and 2300 m) and approximately 770 km apart in a straight line, which suggests that the species should be widespread in the arid Argentine western. The species seems infrequent or limited to a few places, since the authors have collected aphids on this territory for years and only found this species three times.

Taxonomic discussion, diagnosis. Aphis gutierreziae sp. n. and A. fuentesi , which can live on Gutierrezia , can be differentiated from each other by the number, shape and size of the COM MARG TUB, the sclerotization of ABD and the size and shape of SIPH.

A. gutierreziae sp. n. can be differentiated from the species included in the key to apterous viviparae of Aphidina species known in South America by Nieto Nafría et al. (2019) by its clypeus with marked dark edges and darker than the mandibular and maxillary laminae.

Figures

FIGURE 5. Aphis gutierreziae Ortego, Mier Durante & Nieto Nafría sp. n. A–E, apterous viviparous female; A, complete view, with details: frons, eye and TH.1 MG, TH.2 MG, ABD.1–2 MG; B, ANT.III and ANT.VI; C, URS; D, ABD.5 MG (note the reticulation) and SIPH: E, ABD.8 and cauda. F–G, alate viviparous female; F, ABD; G, ANT.III and ANT.VI. The scales vary according to specimens or parts photographed; see measurements in Table 1.