Crypticerya abrahami (Newstead)

Unruh, Corinne M. & Gullan, Penny J., 2008, Identification guide to species in the scale insect tribe Iceryini (Coccoidea: Monophlebidae), Zootaxa 1803 (1), pp. 1-106 : 26-27

Crypticerya abrahami (Newstead)

Llaveia abrahami Newstead, 1917: 1 .

Crypticerya abrahami (Newstead) ; Vayssière (1926: 313).

Unmounted material. In alcohol, adult female buff-yellow, humped dorsally, flattened ventrally with distinct segmentation on both surfaces and mealy wax deposited in hollows between the segments (adapted from Newstead, 1917).

Slide-mounted material. Adult female elongate to oval (lectotype 6.3 mm long, 5.0 mm wide). Antennae 11 segmented. Eyes, mouthparts and legs as for tribe. Thoracic spiracles as for genus; derm at atrial opening with 8–10 simple multilocular pores with bilocular centre and 4–8 outer loculi. Short hair-like setae evenly scattered across all body segments; long setae with large sockets longitudinal band around ventral margin. Flagellate setae as for genus. Simple multilocular pores, 9–10 µm in diameter, with bilocular or trilocular centre scattered across all body segments on dorsal surface and associated with long setae on ventral margin. Ovisac absent. Marsupium absent. Simple multilocular pores with bilocular or trilocular centre and 4–8 outer loculi, scattered on ventromedial surface, similar to vulvar pores, appearing slightly bluish when stained. Vul- var opening as for genus, surrounded by typical multilocular pores each 11–13 µm in diameter with trilocular centre (appearing elongate) and 10–14 elongate outer loculi. Cicatrices oval to round, numbering three, central cicatrix slightly larger than lateral cicatrices. Abdominal spiracles as for genus. Anal tube as for genus; anal opening surrounded by hair-like setae and typical multilocular pores each 8–10 µm in diameter with very round centre and 8–12 outer loculi.

First-instar nymph 0.9–1.0 mm long. Antennae 6 segmented, terminal segment with longest (500 µm) setae. Eyes, mouthparts and legs as for tribe. Thoracic spiracles as for genus. Marginal setae long, 0.7–0.8 mm long. Setae at abdominal apex in 4 pairs, the median setae longest, 1.1–1.2 mm. Dorsal surface covered in long fine setae and numerous pores. (Diagnosis of first-instar nymph adapted from original description.)

Type data. GUYANA [=BRITISH GUIANA]: North West District , Issororo, ex bark of Sapium jenmani , 3.vi.1915 (A.A. Abraham) .

Type material. Lectotype here designated: ad ♀, “ I.B.E. Coe 49/Isoro Issororo,/ N.W. District /Brit Guiana A.A./Abraham, 3.vi.15/ Per G. E. Bodkin No 42.”//“BM 1945, 121/ Llaveia /abrahamii/Nest./Cotype ♀♀ / (Type ♀)/R.N.” ( BMNH) . Paralectotypes: 1 ad ♀ (same slide as lectotype); 2 ad ♀ (one slide), “ I.B.E. Coc. 49./Issororo, N.W./ Dist. British Guiana /3.vi.15 A.A. Abraham [another word crossed out]/per. G.E. Bodkin. 42)/B.M.N.H. 1916 –158.”//“ Llaveia /abrahamii, Newst / Cotype ♀♀ /Co-type [round sticker]/R.N./B.M.N.H. 1916-158.” ( BMNH) ; 4 ad ♀♀ (one slide), “ I.B.E. Coc. 49./Issororo, N.W./Dist. Brit. Guiana /3.vi.15. (A.A. Abraham /per G.E. Bodkin 42)/B.M. 1945, 121”//“ Llaveia /abrahamii/Newst/Cotype ♀♀ /R.N.” ( BMNH) ; 11 embryos (one slide), “ I.B.E. Coc 49/Issororo, N.W. Dist. / British Guiana./3.vi.15 (A.A. Abraham /per. G.E. Bodkin No 42./B.M.N.H. 1916 -158”//“Co-type [round sticker]”//“ Llaveia /abrahamii, Newst/Co-type larvae - /from body of parent./B.M.N.H. 1916 - 158” ( BMNH) ; 5 embryos (one slide), “ I.B.E. Coc. 49./Issororo, N.W./Dist. Brit. Guiana./3.vi.15 (A.A. Abraham /per G.E. Bodkin. 42)”//“ Llaveia /abrahamii/Newst/Cotype larvae/BM/R.N. 1945, 121” ( BMNH) .

Taxonomic notes. Refer to the C. rosae group for discussion of similar species.

The lectotype is on the right side of the slide when the slide is held to read the label on the left. Type material is not labelled with a host plant, but Newstead’s original description (1917) states, “inhabiting indentations in the bark of a rubber-producing tree ( Sapium jenmani ); attended by ants which construct coverings over the Coccids, (A. A. Abraham, per G.E. Bodkin).” The original description described 4 pairs of setae at the abdominal apex of the first-instar nymph. We were unable to examine first-instar nymphs of this species, so we cannot corroborate this claim.