Ceroplastes mori Hodgson & Peronti, 2012

Hodgson, Chris J. & Peronti, Ana L. B. G., 2012, 3372, Zootaxa 3372, pp. 1-265 : 180-183

Ceroplastes mori Hodgson & Peronti , spec. nov.

( Figs 81, 82; Map fig. 105)

Ceroplastes quadrilineatus Newstead ; Hodgson, 1969a: 32 (Misidentification).

Material examined: Holotype female: Zimbabwe, Harare [Salisbury], Greendale, on mulberry ( Morus nigra ), 8.iii.1967, C.J. Hodgson ( BMNH): 1/1 young (good; misidentified as C. quadrilineatus ).

Paratype female: as for holotype ( BMNH): 1/1 young (good) .

Also: Cameroon, Yaoundé , on Bridelia macrantha , 12.iii.1989, A. Dejean ( MNHN #11119 ): 1/1 (fair) . Kenya, Nairobi , on mulberry ( Morus sp. ), 26.iii.1949, W.J. Hall ( BMNH, IIE 1705 /11229): 2/4 (2 young, good + 2 old, poor) . Tanzania ( Tanganyika ), Arusha, on Cordia holstii , 3.vi.1933, A.H. Ritchie ( BMNH, TT1075 ): 3/11 (fair-good) . Zimbabwe [Southern Rhodesia], Harare [ Salisbury ], on Salvia confertiflora , -. vii.1970, J.R. McDaniel ( BMNH): 2/3 (good) .

Note. Main description taken from type series; data in [..] brackets from other specimens.

Unmounted material. Wax test not recorded (believed to be white) but with wax removed, medio-dorsal, cephalic and lateral tubercles relatively small but distinct, smoothly rounded, with small tubercles. Caudal process directed upwards at a sharp angle. Stigmatic clefts not deeply indented. (Modified from Hodgson, 1969a: 32, under Gascardia quadrilineatus ).

Mounted material. Body roundly oval and convex, with distinct, shallow, stigmatic clefts; dorsum with distinct tubercles. Caudal process broad and stout. Length 2.3–4.0 [1.5–4.0] mm; width of young adults 1.87–2.3 [1.5–3] mm; old adults: venter 3 [2.7–2.9] mm, total width 5–6 mm.

Dorsum. Derm membranous except for heavily sclerotised caudal process. Caudal process about 635–715 [400–650] µm wide and 840–900 [425–775] µm long. Derm with 8 clear areas, each with a few simple microducts and dorsal setae. Dorsal setae each mostly bluntly spinose, length subequal to width of basal-socket or longer, length 3.0–5.0 [3.0–4.0] µm; basal socket width 4–4.5 [3.5–4.5] µm; sides mostly converging to a narrow, blunt apex but longer setae occasionally present with a sharper point [a few sharply pointed]; present rather sparsely [frequent] throughout but very sparse in clear areas. Dorsal pores: (i) loculate microducts of rusci-type most abundant, each 5–7 µm widest, those with 2 satellite loculi widespread on some specimens but mainly restricted to wax-plate lines on others; pores with 3 satellite loculi frequent in wax-plate lines; abundant throughout but absent from all clear areas; wax-plate lines present; and (ii) simple microducts of 2 types present, 1 with a sclerotised orifice, rare amongst loculate microducts, and a less sclerotised pore in each clear area, each about 1 µm wide. Preopercular pores: unclear but probably with a band of about 15–20 pores [about 26 in 2 or 3 rows]. Anal plates together approximately oval, length 130–135 [132–145] µm, width of single plate 65–75 [both plates combined 125–132] µm; each plate with 3 large dorsal setal sockets plus that of an apical seta. Anal tube about 150 µm long.

Margin. Marginal setae setose, each about 12–20 [23] µm long; with 12 [8] between eyespots anteriorly, and, on each side, 7 [2–5] between eyespots and anterior stigmatic setae, 12 [2–9] setae between stigmatic clefts, and 17 [8–10] along each margin of abdomen; each anal lobe with perhaps 2 or 3 [3] long setae, each about 50 [60–75] µm long. Stigmatic clefts fairly shallow but distinct, each with a triangular group of 19–27 [14–22] rather pointed, conical stigmatic setae; each group clearly wider than long and generally with a noticeably larger seta towards dorsal apex; small stigmatic setae each 6–10 [6–8] µm long and wide, and largest setae 11–14 [13–15] µm long and wide. Eyespots each about 28–30 [30–34] µm wide.

Venter. Derm entirely membranous. Pregenital disc-pores abundant around genital opening (segment VII) and across preceding segment, segment V with 0 or 1 [4] pores medially and 7–16 [4–8] pores on each side; absent more anteriorly. Spiracular disc-pores each with 5 or 6 [mainly 5 but 6 quite common] loculi; present in broad bands of at least 100 pores [often widening near margin to wider than stigmatic setal group]; with none extending medially; those near each cleft more sclerotised. Ventral microducts showing nothing distinctive. Ventral tubular ducts absent in cephalic area but present in a group of 5 or 6 [3 or 4] on each side of abdominal segment VI, [plus 1 in V] associated with anogenital folds; each with a short, thin, inner ductule which appears to be slightly swollen basally [not swollen]. Submarginal setae about as frequent as marginal setae, each 11–17 [10–14] µm long.

Antennae each with 6 segments, but with 1 to several distinct pseudo-articulations in 3rd segment; total length 245–260 [255–270] µm. Clypeolabral shield about 170–200 [170–190] µm long. Spiracles: width of peritremes 65–80 [57–83] µm. Legs well developed, each with a small tibio-tarsal articulatory sclerosis; each claw probably without a denticle; claw digitules both broad [1 often clearly slightly narrower than other, mainly on prothoracic legs] and slightly shorter than tarsal digitules; dimensions of metathoracic legs (µm): coxa 120–125 [115–125]; trochanter + femur 145–150 [140–162]; tibia 95–108 [95–108]; tarsus 70–75 [65–80], and claw 20–22 [20–22].

Discussion. The type series are the specimens that Hodgson (1969a) considered to be Gascardia quadrilineatus (Newstead) . However, further study suggests that they are not conspecific, differing from C. quadrilineatus in the following particulars (data for C. quadrilineatus in brackets): (i) loculate microducts with 3 or 4 satellite loculi absent (both present, those with 3 quite common); (ii) pregenital disc-pores only present on abdominal segments V, VI and VII (present on all abdominal segments); (iii) each stigmatic cleft with usually less than 27 stigmatic setae (over 40); (iv) each stigmatic spine rather pointed (with a rounded apex); and (v) dorsal clear area obvious (possibly absent). C. mori is also similar to C. elaeis , described as new above, but differs in having: (i) only about half as many stigmatic setae, and (ii) short dorsal setae, each only about as long as the width of the basal socket (clearly longer). C. danieleae (described as new above in the C. rusci -group) is also superficially very similar but has a large group of ventral tubular ducts in the cephalic region.

As pointed out under C. quadrilineatus below, it is likely that all the records in Hodgson (1969a) refer to this species. Based on all of these records (i.e including those in Hodgson, 1969a), C. mori would appear to be fairly widespread in central Africa, having been recorded from Kenya, Tanzania and Zimbabwe. It has been collected on Boraginaceae, Labiatae and Moraceae (and perhaps Meliaceae and Rosaceae ( Hodgson, 1969a)) .

Name derivation: the specific name mori is after the host plant genus, Morus , on which this species has been most frequently collected.