Poliaspis naamba Hardy & Henderson

Hardy, Nate & Henderson, Rosa C., 2011, Revision of Poliaspis (Hemiptera, Coccoidea, Diaspididae), with descriptions of 8 new species from Australia, ZooKeys 137, pp. 1-40 : 11-12

Poliaspis naamba Hardy & Henderson sp. n. Fig. 9

Material examined.

Holotype: female: Australia, QLD, Nambour [-26.63, 152.96], of Melaleuca sp., 4.2.2005, C Freebaim (QDPI);

Paratypes: QLD. 2 adult females: Bray Park, Brisbane [-27.3, 152.98], ex Melaleuca sp., 6.3.2005, C Freebaim (QDPI); 3 adult females: Cooloola National Park [-26.1, 153.04], on leaves and stems of Monotoca scoparia , 7.4.1987, J Donaldson (QDPI); 3 adult females: Indooroopilly [-27.5, 152.97], on leaves of Melaleuca sp., 6.1989, J Grimshaw (QDPI); 2 adult females: Indooroopilly, 30.10.1998, C Neale (QDPI); 10 adult females: Indooroopilly, of Melaleuca sp., 28.2.2005, C Neale (QDPI); 2 adult females: Kenmore [-27.51, 152.94], on leaves of Melaleuca nodosa , 2.1953, G Smith (QDPI); 7 adult females: Mareeba [-16.99, 145.42], ex Melaleuca bracteata , 12.2004, B Pinese (QDPI); 1 adult females: Mareeba, on leaves of Melaleuca sp., 30.1.1982, J Donaldson (QDPI); 2 adult females: Nambour [-26.63, 152.96], of Melaleuca sp., 4.2.2005, C Freebaim (QDPI); 1 adult females: Yarraman [-26.84, 151.98], on leaves of Guoia semiglauca , 20.3.1952, F Muell. (QDPI).

Description, n=10.

Slide-mounted adult female 942-1475 μm long (holotype 1475 μm), body outline fusiform to pyriform, with weakly-developed lobes on pre-pygidial abdominal segments. Pygidium with 2 pairs of lobes; median lobes zygotic, divergent, lobes connected via strong sclerosis, each lobe wider than long, with rounded, dentate apex; margin between lobes incised; second lobe bi-lobed, medial lobule larger and with stronger basal sclerosis. Gland spines 19-45 μm long, 2-3 × length of median lobes, 1 gland spine on lateral margin of each pygidial segments; pair of setae between median lobes. Dorsal ducts smaller than marginal ducts; present in rows; 2-4 submedial ducts present on segment 6; ca. 4 submarginal and ca. 4 submedial ducts on segment 5. Perivulvar pores: 1-3 posteromedial, 10-15 posterolateral, 15-23 posterior, 2-4 anteromedial, and 2-5 anterolateral. Trilocular pores in cluster of 3-4 near anterior spiracle; 1-2 near posterior spiracle. Microducts numerous on dorsal surface of head, scattered on ventral surface of abdomen and thorax. Antenna with 1-2 fleshy setae.

Comments.

Poliaspis naamba is very similar to Poliaspis waibenensis sp. n. Poliaspis naamba adult females can be distinguished from those of Poliaspis waibenensis by (1) lacking a strong duct spur between the medial and second lobes (present in Poliaspis waibenensis ); (2) having pores associated with the posterior spiracles (lacking in Poliaspis waibenensis ); and (3) with pre-pygidial margin of abdomen only weakly lobed (strongly lobed in P. waibenensis). The two species also have different host associations, with Poliaspis naamba almost always collected from Melaleuca species, and Poliaspis waibenensis from mangrove plants.

Etymology.

The species name is taken from the Aborignal word naamba used in reference to red bottlebrush Melaleuca viminalis . This species has been most often found associated with Melaleuca species.