Chilechiton Hodgson & Miller, 2002

Hodgson, Chris & Miller, Dug, 2010, A Review of the Eriococcid Genera (Hemiptera: Sternorrhyncha: Coccoidea) of South America 2459, Zootaxa 2459 (1), pp. 1-101 : 37-40

Chilechiton Hodgson & Miller

Chilechiton Hodgson & Miller, 2002: 195–198 .

Type species: Chilechiton lynnae Hodgson & Miller, 2002: 198–200 .

Generic diagnoses. Adult female ( Fig. 15 ). Dorsum. Body nearly round; derm membranous. Setae of enlarged type only; setose setae lacking. Macrotubular ducts absent. Microtubular ducts with long outer ductule. Loculate pores absent. Anal lobes represented by 2 heavily sclerotised, plate-like anal lobes, together quadrate; withdrawn onto dorsal surface; each lobe with microtubular ducts, 4 enlarged setae on margins and C-shaped or irregular indentations on dorsal surface. Median plate present. Margin. Marginal enlarged setae similar to setae on dorsum but generally smaller; margin of anal cleft without marginal setae. Anal ring located between anal lobes, with 2 incomplete rows of pores and 8 basally enlarged setae. Anal cleft present. Venter. Derm membranous. Setae all hairlike; suranal setae unmodified. Macro- and microtubular ducts absent. Loculate pores each usually with 5 loculi; present in medial and mediolateral areas of abdomen. Cruciform pores absent. Preantennal tubercles present; frontal lobes absent. Antennae each 6 segmented. Labium 3 segmented; basal segment very small, represented by a small sclerotised plate partially or completely fused with second segment, bearing 1 or 2 pairs of setae. Legs well developed, large translucent pores present on metacoxae and femur; tibia shorter than tarsus; claw digitules with 1 conspicuously swollen, other about same size as a tarsal digitule. Opening of vulva situated between segments VI and VII .

Known only from Nothofagaceae .

Comment. The adult females of Chilechiton have several unusual or unique features, namely: (i) vulva between abdominal segments VI and VII (only shared by Icelococcus and perhaps Neotectococcus ); (ii) spinose setae in a dense line around margin, each rather clearly differentiated from dorsal spinose setae; and (iii) C-shaped markings on the dorsal surface of each anal lobe.

First-instar nymph (gender not determined) ( Fig.16 )

Diagnosis (from embryos). Mounted material. Body oval. Dorsum. Enlarged setae (excluding marginal setae) straight or slightly curved, of 2 sizes, arranged in 2 pairs of longitudinal lines, one pair submedial and one pair mediolateral; smaller setae present at posterior end of mediolateral line; large setae conspicuous, slightly longer than marginal setae. Macrotubular ducts absent. Microtubular ducts scattered. Loculate pores absent. Anal lobes platelike, each with a longitudinal fold; each also with two spinose setae on inner margin, one on outer margin + a longer aspical; each lobe with 1 or 2 microtubular ducts and several C-shaped or irregular indentations. Medial plate absent. Margin. Marginal setae each slightly smaller than dorsal setae, curved, with enlarged setal base, apex slightly rounded, pointing posteriorly. Anal ring without anal tube but with pores and 6 anal-ring setae. Venter. Loculate pores few, restricted to mediolateral areas of abdomen, each with 3–5 loculi, plus 1 or 2 pores near each spiracle and each antennal base. Macrotubular and microtubular ducts absent. Cruciform pores absent. Suranal setae: both anterior and posterior pairs hairlike. Ventral setae arranged segmentally. Antennae 6 segmented. Labium 3 segmented, basal segment with 1 or 2 setae. Legs well developed, probably without pores; each with tibia shorter than tarsus; tarsal digitules slightly capitate; claw with denticle; claw digitules different, one with enlarged apex other narrow.

Comment. Chilechiton currently contains 1 species, known only from Chile. For a description of the adult female and first-instar nymph of C. lynnae , see Hodgson & Miller, 2002: 195.

Figures

FIGURE 15. Chilechiton lynnae Hodgson & Miller. Adult female, where A = dorsal spinose setae; B = dorsal microtubular duct; G = dorsal view of anal plate; H = ventral view of anal plate; J = ventral seta; L = ventral loculate pores; P = anterior spiracle; Q = labium; R = marginal spinose seta; V = antenna and W = metathoracic leg (modified after Hodgson & Miller, 2002).

FIGURE 16. Chilechiton lynnae Hodgson & Miller. First-instar nymph, where A = dorsal spinose seta; B = dorsal microtubular duct; R = marginal spinose seta; L = loculate pores, and W = claw (modified after Hodgson & Miller, 2002).