Crypticerya similis (Morrison)

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 : 41-42

Crypticerya similis (Morrison)

Icerya similis Morrison, 1927: 108 .

Crypticerya similis (Morrison) ; Unruh & Gullan (2008: 28) .

Unmounted material. Appearance of adult female unknown.

Slide-mounted material. Adult female oval (lectotype 5.4 mm long, 4.0 mm wide). Antennae 11 segmented. Eyes, mouthparts, legs and thoracic spiracles as for genus. Hair-like setae scattered across all segments, longest marginally, between antennae and at abdominal apex. Flagellate setae distributed as for genus. Simple multilocular pores, each 10–12 µm in diameter, with trilocular (rarely quadrilocular) centre and 6–8 outer loculi, covering dorsal surface, densest around submargin and forming a medial longitudinal row on head and thorax. Simple multilocular pores, each 9–10 µm in diameter, with trilocular (appearing triangular), quadrilocular (appearing cruciform) or quinquelocular (appearing star-shaped) centre and 10–12 outer loculi, present in segmental clusters of 6–14 on submedial dorsal head and thorax and submarginal ventral head and thorax. Simple multilocular pores, each 8–9 µm in diameter, with trilocular (appearing triangular), quadrilocular (appearing cruciform) or quinquelocular (appearing star-shaped) centre and 3–5 outer loculi, scattered on ventromedial head and thorax. Ovisac band made of two types of simple multilocular pores present on ventral surface: (i) slightly larger pores forming inner band 6–8 pores wide, each 10–12 µm in diameter, with trilocular or quadrilocular centre and 6–8 outer loculi, and (ii) smaller pores (appearing bluish when stained) forming outer band 3 or 4 pores wide, each pore 9–10 µm in diameter, with triangular, cruciform or star-shaped centre and 10–12 outer loculi. Simple multilocular pores, each 8–9 µm in diameter, with bilocular centre and 4–6 outer loculi, scattered in transverse rows on ventromedial abdomen. Vulvar opening as for genus. Cicatrices circular to oval, numbering 7. Abdominal spiracles as for genus. Anal ring and anal opening as for genus, surrounded by long, hair-like setae.

Type data. PANAMA: Coco Plum, near Bocas del Toro, ex Cocos nucifera (Palmae) , received ii.1922 (J.R. Johnston); TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO: Tobago, Scarborough, ex unknown fruit tree, 7.xi.1918 (H. Morrison); Trinidad, Port-of-Spain, ex Cassia fistula , 4.xi.1918 & 23.xi.1918 (H. Morrison); Trinidad, Portof-Spain, ex Clusia alba , date and collector unknown.

Type material. Holotype: ad ♀, “ Icerya zeteki Ckll /montserratensis R.+H./similis/on Coconut leaves./ Cocoplum, near Bocas/del Toro, Panama./ John R. Johnston, Coll./Rec’d Feb. 9, 1922.” ( USNM) . Paratypes: ad ♀, “ Icerya similis (?)/Morr./montserratensis R.+H./zeteki/Ckll/On Clusia alba / Port of Spain, Trinidad.” ( USNM) ; ad ♀, “ Icerya zeteki /montserratensis/R.+H./on unknown/fruit tree./similis/Scarborough./ Tobago./ H. Morrison. / Nov. 7, 1918./A–922” ( USNM) ; ad ♀, 4 1 st -instar nymphs, 1 embryo (nymphs and embryo on one slide), “ Icerya similis Morr /montserratensis/R + H./On Clusia alba / Port of Spain, Trinidad./#4708” ( USNM) ; 6 1 st -instar nymphs (one slide), “ Icerya zeteki (?)/Ckll./montserratensis R+H./larvae/similis/Morr./On Clusia alba / Port of Spain, Trinidad ” ( USNM) ; 2 ad ♀♀ (one slide), 14 1 st -instar nymphs (one slide), “ Icerya zeteki / Ckll./similis/ on Cassia /fistula./ St. Clair , Port-/of-Spain, Trin./ H. Morrison. / Nov. 4, 1918./A–881.” ( USNM) ; ad ♀, “ Icerya zeteki /On Cassia fistula / St. Clair Port-of-/ Spain Trinidad./ H. Morrison coll./ Nov. 23, 1918 /A- 1044” ( USNM) ; dry material ( USNM).

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

The type material was collected from different locations and different hosts. The World Catalogue (Ben- Dov, 2005: 224) only listed the type data of the holotype but did not list type data for the paratypes.