Coccus uvaeursi

Williams, D. J. & Z. - Q, 2007, Carl Linnaeus and his scale insects (Hemiptera: Coccoidea) *, Zootaxa 1668 (1), pp. 427-490 : 463-465

Coccus uvaeursi (Family Eriococcidae ) [now known as Eriococcus uvaeursi (L.)]

( Figures 1F, M, 13 )

Description

Adult female covered in a greyish-white felted sac, often 3 mm long, almost covering entire insect.

Body of adult female on microscope slide, almost elliptical, sometimes sides sub-parallel, 1.25–1.80 mm long, 0.65–1.00 mm wide. Anal lobes well developed, sclerotized on dorsum and venter, sclerotized on venter and also laterally, with sclerotization extending antero-medially. Each lobe terminating in a long, flagellate apical seta 150–170 µm long, also with 3 enlarged setae on dorsum and a flagellate seta about 52 µm long on venter. Antennae each 260–290 µm long, with 7 segments. Legs well developed, hind trochanter + femur 160–180 µm long, hind tibia + tarsus 200–220 µm long. Claw curved, about 25 µm long, with minute denticle towards distal end. Ratio of lengths of hind tibia + tarsus to hind trochanter + femur 1.15–1.29. Ratio of lengths of hind tibia to tarsus 0.8–0.9. Hind tarsus with 4 flagellate setae, tarsus of each foreleg with 3 flagellate setae. Distal trochanteral seta about 70 µm long. Hind coxa without translucent pores. Labium 120–149 µm long, shorter than clypeolabral shield. Anal ring about 60 µm in diameter, sometimes folded at base of anal lobes, normally ventral in position, with a single row of cells except double towards posterior end, bearing also 6 setae each 110–115 µm long.

Dorsal surface with enlarged setae, mostly pointed with conical sides, present on margins forming a single row, normally 2 present on margin of each abdominal segment and 3 on each thoracic segment; posteriormost seta on abdominal segment VII, 50–55 µm long, other marginal setae 35–50 µm long. Enlarged setae distributed across posterior abdominal segments, each seta usually about 12.5–15.0 µm long, others across anterior segments, each about 35–45 µm long except some on mid-thorax wnere each about 50 µm long. Macrotubular ducts normally of 2 sizes. A large type, each 30 µm long, cup about 11 µm wide, fairly abundant across segments except on posterior abdominal segments with smaller ducts each about 20 µm long and cup about 7.5 µm wide. Microducts slender, each 10 µm long, sclerotized except near outer end, scattered.

Ventral surface with short flagellate setae except near middle of venter where each seta thicker, mostly about 50 µm long. Marginal enlarged setae similar to dorsal setae, each about 25 µm long. Macrotubular ducts of 3 main sizes. A large type, same as large type on dorsum, present around margins. A smaller type, similar to those on posterior dorsal segments, present mainly across middle of abdominal segments, scattered on head and thorax. A minute type of duct, each 10–16 µm long, with cup about 5 µm wide, present across abdominal segments only. Microducts, same as on dorsum, sparse, a few situated on abdominal margins. Quinquelocular pores present, each about 5 µm in diameter, fairly numerous across abdominal segments, medial areas of head and thorax and near each spiracle, extending to lateral margins from each anterior spiracle. Cruciform pores, each about 4 µm long, present submarginally.

Comments.

Linnaeus (1761) listed this species as the trinomen Coccus uvae ursi from Sweden on Arbutus uva ursi (now known as Arctostaphylos uva-ursi ) [ Ericaceae ] with a short description. Later, Linnaeus (1767) corrected the name to the binomen Coccus uvaeursi but omitted a description. In both entries, Linnaeus referred to an earlier reference ( Linnaeus 1759a) which includes a more detailed description of the insect and there is no doubt that Linnaeus’ name C. uvaeursi is valid, as discussed by Williams & Gertsson (2005). Original material is present in Linnaeus’ collection as a single specimen mounted on card and labelled in Linnaeus’ handwriting Coccus uvae ursi ( Fig. 1F). Other material on a piece of twig, not labelled, is represented by a few specimens (Fig. M). Two of these specimens have been prepared on two microscope slides and one of them labelled “ Coccus uvaeursi L. M” is here designated lectotype (LSL). The mounted specimens are in a condition sufficient to observe the characters but not satisfactory to illustrate. The accompanying illustration ( Figure 13 ) has been prepared from material collected in Russia, Luga, St Petersburg vicinity, on Vaccinium sp. [ Ericaceae ], 5.vi.1934 (N.S. Borchsenius) sent to me many years ago by Nikolai S. Borchsenius and since mounted on to slides (BMNH). These specimens agree well with Linnaeus’ original specimens as do others at hand from Poland, 12.vii.1958 (E. Tereznikova) (BMNH), discussed by Tereznikova (1981) and kindly sent to me by Evgenia Tereznikova, Kiev, Ukraine, also many years ago. One of the distinguishing characters of this species is the presence of enlarged dorsal setae on the thorax that are larger than the surrounding enlarged setae. The species was listed as unrecognisable by Fernald (1903), and Lindinger (1912) transferred the name to Eriococcus Targioni Tozzetti. Eriococcus uvaeursi is distributed over much of the Palaearctic Region. For full synonymy of this species see Miller & Gimpel (2000).

Figures

FIGURE 13. Coccus uvaeursi L. Adult female. (Now Eriococcus uvaeursi (L.)).