Capulinia sallei Signoret.

Hodgson, Chris & Miller, Dug, 2010, A Review of the Eriococcid Genera (Hemiptera: Sternorrhyncha: Coccoidea) of South America 2459, Zootaxa 2459 (1), pp. 1-101 : 23-29

Capulinia sallei Signoret.

Capulinia sallei Signoret 1875: 28–29 .

Material examined: CUBA, Santiago de los Vegas, on Eugenia tuberculata (Myrtaceae) 14.i.1908, W. T. Horne ( USNM): 1/1adf, (in good condition). Also: as previous 2/23 1st instars (mainly in good condition). MEXICO, Arroyo San Isidro, no host, June 1897, Townsend ( USNM): 1/8adff (rather poor specimens) (see discussion after description). Also: no collection data but perhaps as previous ( USNM): 1/3admm (1 in fair condition, other 2 poor; wings folded over body or absent; few legs complete; only 1 penial sheath complete). [Type material has not been seen. This species also has been recorded from Eugenia axillaris (Myrtaceae) and Muntingia calabura (Elaeocarpaceae) ( Hoy, 1963)]

Adult Female ( Fig. 9 )

Unmounted material. Occurs on the leaves of its host. Forms an extraordinarily long ovisac which can exceed 15 mm, is not attached to the host, is tubular, and looks like a piece of cotton thread.

Mounted material. Body apparently globular, derm entirely membranous. Length and width about 1.4 mm. All segmentation apparently absent.

Dorsum. Derm membranous, without striations or a reticulate pattern of areolations. Dorsal setae finely spinose, each mostly about 3–5 µm long but those anterior to anus up to 12 µm long; basal socket broad; sparsely distributed in no apparent pattern. Macrotubular ducts absent. Microtubular ducts of perhaps 3 or 4 types: (i) a long thin microduct, abundant on perhaps posterior 5 abdominal segments of both dorsum and venter, each about 10–12 µm long and 0.8–1.2 µm wide, with a small sclerotised distal apex, apparently without an inner ductule; (ii) a rather larger and broader microduct, abundant in a complete band around abdomen on about abdominal segment IV, each 8–11 µm long and 2.0–2.5 µm wide, with a strongly sclerotised distal end, apparently without an inner ductule; (iii) a microduct rather similar to (i) but slightly wider and longer (length about 12 µm, width about 1.5 µm), with an inner ductule, present throughout entire dorsum and venter but much sparser than types (i) and (ii); and (iv) a larger microduct rather similar to type (ii), length 6–7 µm, width 3.0–3.5 µm, apparently narrowly oval in cross section, inner sclerotised end appearing 8-shaped, with an inner ductule; rather scarce and probably restricted to dorsal surface. Loculate pores absent. Anal lobes barely developed or absent, unsclerotised, without a discernable pattern of anal lobe setae homologous to those on other eriococcids but with a few setae in general area, each about 8–12 µm long. Median lobe absent. Anal ring possibly represented by a partially sclerotised ring, about 18 µm wide; anal ring setae absent; derm around anus with numerous micro-folds .

Margin. Undefined; apparently without differentiated marginal setae. Eyespots not detected.

Venter. Derm membranous. Setae very sparse, short, each 3–5 µm long, although up to 10 µm near anus (but rather finer than those on dorsum); without long setae medioventrally between antennae and mesad to coxae; setae on abdominal segments possibly in segmental lines, with perhaps 4 or 5 in each line, otherwise apparently randomly distributed. Macrotubular ducts absent. Ventral microtubular ducts of perhaps 3 types, similar in structure and distribution to types (i)–(iii) on dorsum. Loculate pores, with mainly 5 loculi, restricted to 4–6 near each spiracle, immediately laterad and anterior to each spiracular peritreme.

Antennae represented by a pair of very short structures, each 1 (or perhaps 2) segmented, each about 23– 25 µm long, with perhaps 4 fleshy setae on apical segment and 1 very small seta on basal segment. Clypeolabral shield about 100 µm long; labium, probably 1 segmented and with 4 pairs of setae. Spiracles: width of peritremes 30–33 µm; length of muscle plate (apodeme) 48–50 µm. Legs very much reduced: prothoracic legs each represented by a membranous basal segment (with a few minute setae) and a sclerotised claw-like structure; total length about 15–18 µm; mesothoracic legs slightly larger, with an unsclerotised basal area and a sclerotised distal part, perhaps representing fused tibia, tarsus + claw, total length about 18 µm; and metathoracic legs much larger but segmentation very poorly defined; mainly membranous and without setae; with median segment (femur?) about 55–60 µm wide, basal "coxal" part much wider, and distal part, perhaps composed of fused tibia, tarsus plus claw; total length 100–140 µm; position of metathoracic legs far back, and therefore abdomen very short. Vulva not detected.

Comment. Of the material studied, the rather poor specimens labelled C. sallei from Mexico appeared to be very similar to the series studied above as far as could be seen except that the pro- and mesothoracic legs were slightly larger and the metathoracic legs more clearly defined, perhaps with a distinct claw and even with claw digitules. The body is also rather larger, up to perhaps 2.6 mm in length and width. For a comparison of the adult female of Capulinia with other eriococcid genera, see the “Comment” section after the generic diagnosis of Capulinia .

First-Instar Nymph (gender not determined) ( Fig. 10 )

Unmounted material. Not seen.

Mounted material. Body oval, slightly more pointed posteriorly. Length about 490–625 µm, width 285– 375 µm.

Dorsum. Derm membranous, without obvious dermal spinules. Dorsal setae spinose, tending to be rather swollen in basal quarter, each 15–19 µm long, with a narrow basal socket, in 2 medial lines, with pairs on abdominal segments I–V, 2 pairs on pro-, meso- and metathorax plus 2 pairs on head; also with submarginal setae on meso- and metathorax and on head, plus a submedial pair posteriorly on head. Macrotubular ducts absent. Microtubular ducts with an 8-shaped, strongly sclerotised, dermal pore, with an outer ductule about 5 µm long, probably with an inner dividing membrane, and a heavily sclerotised distal apex; no inner ductule noted; distributed as follows: with a submarginal pair on abdominal segments VIII, V, III and I and on meta- and mesothoracic segments, plus another submarginally on head; also with pairs medially on abdominal segment IV, and on meta- and mesothorax and 3 pairs on head; plus a submedial and a sublateral pair on prothorax. Loculate pores absent. Anal lobes absent or rounded, membranous; each with a very long apical flagellate seta about 175–190 µm long; marginally with 3 pairs of spinose setae between long apical setae, each about 12–19 µm long. Anus slightly oval, about 5 µm wide, without an anal ring or anal ring setae, but with two pairs of minute setae on each side ventrally, each about 2 µm long plus a much longer seta, 35–45 µm long (anterior suranal seta?). Anus surrounded by a sclerotised crescent, outer width of crescent 8 µm, width of opening about 3 µm.

Margin. Marginal setae spinose, similar in shape to those on dorsum and about same size, each 15–17 µm long; with 6 between eyespots, 4 on each side between eyes and point opposite anterior spiracles, 4 on each side laterally between anterior spiracles and abdomen and with 1 on each side of abdominal segments I–VII. Eyespots fairly small, each 8 µm wide, situated on margin near base of antennae.

Venter. Derm membranous. With 3 pairs of long setae between antennae plus pairs mesad to each meso- and metacoxa (these setae long, each about 17 µm); no setae present medially on abdominal segments I–VII. Submarginal setae strongly spinose, each 11–13 µm long, somewhat similar to marginal setae but basal swelling less pronounced; with a pair on each side of abdominal segments I–VII, 4 on each side of thorax and 2 on each side of head. Microtubular ducts apparently similar to those on dorsum, with pairs submarginally on abdominal segments II, III, VI and VIII, between meso- and metathorax, and with 1 pair between antennae and 2 pairs posteriorly on head; also with a duct between each pro- and mesocoxae. Loculate pores with mainly 5 loculi: with 2 or 3 immediately laterad of each peritreme, in a small cavity.

Antennae 6 segmented, each 75–80 µm long; segment IV particularly short and ring–like; setal distribution: scape 3; pedicel 0 or 1; segments III and IV 0; V 1 setose seta + 1 fleshy seta; VI 3 fleshy setae, 3 short setose setae plus 3 long setae, length of longest about 50 µm. Clypeolabral shield about 66–77 µm long; labium perhaps 1 segmented; about 33–42 µm wide, with possibly 2 pairs of short setae + 1 pair rather long setae on apex. Spiracles small, peritremes 11–12 µm wide, each with a lateral membranous cavity, and with 2 or 3 loculate pores. Legs well developed; lengths (metathoracic leg (µm)): coxa 21–25; trochanter + femur 50–53; tibia 25–30; tarsus 25; claw 15; tibia generally subequal to or slightly shorter than tarsus; setae: coxae 3, trochanter 2, femur 2, tibia 2, tarsus 3; long trochanter seta 18–20 µm long; tarsal campaniform sensillum present; claw without a denticle; both tarsal digitules on all legs capitate and equal in size; claw digitules alike with small capitate apices.

Comment. The first-instar nymphs of C. sallei are characterised by the following combination of characters: (i) 6-segmented antennae; (ii) dorsal setae all of 1 type, spinose with a swollen base; (iii) anal lobes poorly differentiated and not sclerotised; (iv) microtubular ducts present on both dorsum and venter; (iv) absence of cruciform pores; (v) loculate pores restricted to cavity laterad to each spiracle; and (vi) claw digitules similar. The first-instar nymph of Chilechiton lynnae also has dorsal spinose setae with swollen bases but is otherwise rather different (see first-instar nymph diagnosis under that genus).

Adult Male ( Fig. 11 )

Mounted material. Total body length about 1.2 mm; antennae short, about half total body length; body with relatively few setae; fleshy setae (fs) long (each about 26–35 µm long) and thin, similar to long, fine hairlike setae and not easily distinguishable, therefore mainly just referred to as setae below, except on antennae.

Head. Approximately oval to slightly 6-sided in dorsal view; width across genae about 182 µm; length about 178 µm. Median crest (mc) represented by 2 almost parallel arms extending anteriorly from postoccipital ridge (por), almost touching median margin of dorsal eyes; not reticulated; postoccipital ridge (por) distinct, extending laterally and slightly posteriorly; with about 14 or 15 pairs of dorsal head setae (dhs); head without pores of any sort. Mid-cranial ridge: dorsal ridge (dmcr) present as a short extension dorsally from lateral arms of mid-cranial ridge; ventral ridge (vmcr) with a pair of distinct lateral arms (lmcr) and a ventral extension almost to ocular sclerite posteriorly; with 6–9 ventral mid-cranial ridge setae (vmcrs) on either side anterior to occipital sclerite. Dorsal ocular setae absent. Genae (g) not reticulated but with 15 or 16 genal setae (gs) on each side laterad to postoccipital ridge. Eyes: with 2 pairs of round, simple eyes; dorsal eyes (dse) subequal in size to ventral eyes (vse), each 38–42 µm wide. Ocelli (o) absent. Ocular sclerite (ocs) barely sclerotised; reticulation only visible immediately around each simple eye, although perhaps with a small area laterad to each dorsal eye. Preocular ridge (procr) extremely short or absent, possibly represented only by an antennal articulatory sclerite. Postocular ridge (pocr) strongly developed, extending dorsally to about level with or just past posterior margin of each dorsal eye. Ventral head setae (vhs): rather abundant, with about 18 long setae between ventral simple eyes, and a further 20–30 on each side anterior and laterad to each ventral simple eye. Preoral ridge (pror) absent. Cranial apophysis (ca) apparently absent. Mouth present as a small membranous opening.

Antennae. Ten segmented and filiform, segment III longest and then each segment becoming smaller towards apex; length about 635 µm long (ratio of total body length to antennal length 1:0.53). Scape (scp): 50–56 µm long and 45–50 µm wide, with about 9–12 setae, mainly on ventral surface. Pedicel (pdc): length 48–66 µm, width 37–42 µm; without concentric ridging distally; with 18–27 setae, some probably fs, plus 1 campaniform sensillum. Flagellar segments 20–27 µm wide; fs about 40–50 µm long; lengths of segments (µm): III 90–112; IV 81–92; V 95–100: VI 85–90; VII 70–75; VIII 47–63; IX 50–58 and X 46–53; approximate number of setae per segment: III–IX 14–24 fs, no hs; X 10–15; segment IX with 1 bristle (ab), segment X also with 2 bristles and 4–7 capitate setae (caps); sensilla basiconica not detected.

Thorax. Prothorax: pronotal ridge (prnr) present and fused medially on dorsum; lateral pronotal sclerites (prn) distinct, each with faint ridging; without lateral pronotal setae. Medial pronotal and post-tergital setae apparently absent, but perhaps with 1 propleural seta (pl 1 s) on each side. Post-tergites (pt) lightly sclerotised. Sternum (stn 1) not sclerotised and without radial striations; transverse ridge well developed and sclerotised, but possibly without apophyses laterally; median ridge faintly indicated or absent; with 1–8 pairs of prosternal setae (stn 1 s). Proepisternum + cervical sclerite (pepcv) showing nothing distinctive. Anteprosternal setae: perhaps 0 or 1 present; antemesospiracular setae absent.

Mesothorax: prescutum (prsc) oval, 91–112 µm long; 120–130 µm wide; sclerotised but not reticulated; with 4–7 prescutal setae (prscs) on each side; prescutal ridges (pscr) well developed; prescutal suture (pscs) only lightly sclerotised; prealare (pra) and triangular plate (tp) well developed. Scutum (sct): median area sclerotised, without reticulations; distance between prescutum and scutellum about 25–57 µm, with 10 or 11 setae (scts) on each side posterior to prescutum; without other setae laterally; prealar ridge weak. Scutellum (scl) 140–150 µm wide and 37–46 µm long; with an inverted U-shaped scutellar ridge; probably not tubular and lacking a foramen; scutellar setae (scls): 3–5 pairs; posterior notal wing process (pnp) quite long, more or less transverse and heavily sclerotised. Basisternum (stn 2) 248–265 µm wide and 103–112 µm long; median ridge either entirely absent or indicated by a faint sclerotisation; bounded anteriorly by a moderately strong marginal ridge (mr) and posteriorly by strong precoxal ridges (pcr 2); with 20–30 pairs fs basisternal setae (stn 2 s), mainly distributed posterolaterally and anteriorly; lateropleurite (lpl) with suggestions of striations, but without a marginal ridge extension; furca (f) well developed, narrow-waisted, arms divergent and extending to anterior marginal ridge. Mesopostnotum (pn 2) well developed; postnotal apophysis (pna) well developed. Area bounded anteriorly by scutellum and laterally and posteriorly by mesopostnotum not sclerotised. Mesepisternum (eps 2) not reticulated; subepisternal ridge (ser) strongly sclerotised. Postalare (pa) well developed; without postalare setae. Mesothoracic spiracle (sp 2) of moderate size: width of peritreme 25 µm. Postmesospiracular setae (pms): with 10–17 on each side, extending across full width of segment between spiracles. Tegula (teg) present; with about 3 tegular setae (tegs).

Metathorax: with 1 pair of hs metatergal setae (mts) medially. Dorsospiracular setae (dss): 10–14 on each side. Dorsal part of metapleural ridge absent; ventral part of metapleural ridge (plr 3) short; episternum (eps 3) unsclerotised, with 3–6 postmetaspiracular setae (eps 3 s) on each side; precoxal ridge (pcr 3) arising close to metacoxae. Metepimeron (epm 3) sclerotised but without setae. Antemetaspiracular setae absent. Metathoracic spiracle (sp 3) of moderate size: width of peritreme 22–25 µm. Metasternum (stn 3) membranous and without metasternal apophyses; with a total of 6–8 anterior metasternal setae (amss) and 9–15 posterior metasternal setae (pmss).

Wings: hyaline, probably about 760 µm long but width unknown (ratio of total body length to wing length 1:0.63); alar lobe and alar setae absent. Hamulohalteres absent.

Legs: metathoracic legs marginally longest. Coxae (cx): I 85–95; II 85–100; III 85–100 µm long; with 11 setae on each coxa III; long apical seta on each coxa not differentiated, but seta in this position about 30 µm long. Trochanter (tr) + femur (fm): I 178–195; II 157–180; III 178–205 µm long; trochanter III with 11–15 setae; campaniform sensilla oval and in a diagonal line; long trochanter seta not differentiated but setae in this position about 33 µm long; femur III with about 14 setae. Tibia (tib): I 153–166; II 153; III 170 µm; tibia III with a total of 38–40 setae, mainly hs, a few becoming spur-like on distal third of leg; without fleshy setae on dorsal surface; with 2 or 3 apical spurs (tibs), length 20–22 µm. Tarsi (tar): I 70–78; II 66; III 75 µm long (ratio of length of tibia III to that of tarsus III 1:0.44); tarsi 2 segmented, proximal segment ring-like; tarsus III with about 13 setae, mainly spur-like; tarsal spurs (tabs) differentiated, but not most distal seta, length 27 µm; tarsal campaniform sensillum (cp) present; tarsal digitules (tdt) subequal to or longer than length of claw, with small apical knobs. Claws (c) quite long and thin, much longer than width of tarsi, almost straight, without a denticle; length: III: 28–30 µm; claw digitules (cdt) distinctly longer than claw, with minute apical knobs.

Abdomen. Segments I–VII: tergum (at) and sternum (as) both membranous, except on segment VII, where sternum lightly sclerotised; without obvious oval membranous areas in inter-segmental membranes. Pleurites unsclerotised. Caudal extension (ce) of segment VII absent. Dorsal setae (ads): segments I–VII with 3–7 setae on each side. Pleural setae: dorsopleural + ventropleural setae (dps + vps on each side): segments I– VII 5–9 on each side. Ventral setae (avs) (on each side): II–VII 4–9.

Segment VIII: tergum (at) unsclerotised; sternite (as) distinctly sclerotised, with more strongly sclerotised areas laterally; tergite with 5 ante-anal setae (aas); sternite with about 16 ventral abdominal setae (avs); caudal extension (ce) absent; with about 6 pleural setae, subequal in length. Glandular pouches (gp) present, with a fairly broad opening, each with many loculate pores, all within pouch; glandular pouch setae (gls) each about 115–125 µm long.

Genital segment: penial sheath (ps) rather swollen anteriorly (probably representing segment IX), then rapidly narrowing and becoming more or less parallel over middle 1/2, before gradually narrowing to a fairly sharp apex; total length 320 µm, width anteriorly 97 µm (ratio of total body length to length of penial sheath 1:0.26); anal opening medially on dorsal surface; with 1 longish seta (gts) laterally on each side of swollen section, each about 20–33 µm long; plus 3–6 shorter setae (pss) dorsally anterior to anal opening and 3 or 4 on each side just anterior to base of basal rod, each 10–15 µm long. Aedeagus (aed) tapering slightly, and extending almost to tip of penial sheath; length 150 µm. Basal rod (bra) quite long, 33–35 µm long, possibly with a sclerotised internal genital aperture (iga) at anterior end. Penial sheath also with a few small sensilla (psp) near apex.

Comment. The adult male of C. sallei can be separated from the other known males from the Neotropics in having the following combination of characters: (i) a long penial sheath (at least 3x as long as basal width); (ii) 10-segmented antennae, with fleshy setae clearly longer than width of each segment; (iii) fleshy setae on body hard to distinguish from hair-like setae; and (iv) claws long and thin, without a denticle.

Figures

FIGURE 9. Capulinia sallei Signoret. Adult female, where E, E1, E2 = enlarged microtubular ducts; F = view of anal area; J = dorsal setae on abdomen; K = smaller microtubular ducts on abdomen; L = ventral loculate pore; R = marginal seta; V = antenna, and W, W1, W2 = legs.

FIGURE 10. Capulinia sallei Signoret. First-instar nymph, where A = dorsal spinose seta; B = dorsal microtubular duct; J = ventral submarginal seta; K = ventral microtubular duct; L = ventral loculate pore, P = anterior spiracle, V = antenna, and W = distal end of metathoracic leg.

FIGURE 11. Capulinia sallei Signoret. Adult male, where C = fleshy seta, D = hair-like seta, E = dorsal view of penial sheath; F = ventral view of penial sheath; L = apical antennal segment, and K = distal end of metathoracic leg. For other abbreviations, see under ‘Figure captions’ on p.5.