Lecanopsis sicula Pellizzari

Pellizzari, Giuseppina, 2013, Three new species in the subfamily Eriopeltinae Šulc from Italy (Hemiptera, Coccoidea, Coccidae) with comments on the genus Lecanopsis, Zootaxa 3635 (2), pp. 101-116 : 106-109

Lecanopsis sicula Pellizzari n. sp.

( Fig. 3 )

Type material. Holotype: adult female, Italy, Sicily, Carlentini (Borgorizzo), 29.v.1998, leg. P. Fontana, slide n. 852 /1. Paratypes: 5 adult females, 3 first instars, same data as holotype, slides n. 852/2-17.

Adult female

Living specimens: oval, slightly convex, pale yellow.

Mounted specimens: body oval, 4 (3.6– 4.3) mm long, 2.3 (2–2.5) mm wide.

Venter: derm membranous, dermal spinules present medially on thoracic and abdominal segments. Antennae usually 8 segmented (one specimen with 7-segmented antennae, two specimens with one antenna 8 segmented, other 7 segmented); length of segments in µm: I 46 (40–50); II 47 (40–50); III 54 (46–60); IV 40 (28–54); V 28 (26–30); VI 21 (18–24); VII 18 (16–24), and VIII 33 (30–36). Scape and segment II each with 2 setae, III and IV without setae, V with 2 hair-like setae, VI with 1 fleshy seta, VII with 1 fleshy setae + 1 hair-like seta, and VIII with 3 fleshy setae + 4 or 5 hair-like setae. Legs well developed, stout ( Table 1: D). Tibio-tarsal sclerosis present. Measurements of hind leg: coxa 138 (120–150) µm long; trochanter + femur 246 (220–270) µm; tibia 200 (190–210) µm long and 40 µm wide ((length to width ratio 5:1); tarsus 102 (90–110) µm, bent, with a clear indentation on its dorsal margin; claw 14–16 µm, without a denticle; claw digitules longer than claw, broad; tarsal digitules longer than claw, thin and with a small apical swelling.

Spiracles with peritreme 51 (48–56) µm wide; peritreme cavity large, round, 70 (66–76) µm wide, each peritreme cavity with 30–60 multilocular disc pores, each with 7 or 8 loculi ( Table 1: B). Spiracular disc pores, each 6–8 µm wide with 7 or 8 loculi, with 1–5 near each anterior spiracle, and 0 or 1 near each posterior spiracle. Simple pores numerous, scattered. Pregenital disc pores each 7–9 µm wide with 7–9 loculi, present around genital opening and across abdominal segments, less numerous near submargin and on anterior abdominal segments.

Tubular ducts of three sizes, all with elongate ridges along half or 1/3rd of outer and 1/3rd of inner end ( Fig. 4 ): large ducts each 36 (32–40) µm long, 8 (6–9) wide, mostly with a narrow inner ductule; small tubular ducts each 27–32 µm long, about 5 µm wide, inner ductule not seen; large ducts more frequent than small ducts and most numerous on abdomen and thorax, rare on head. Also with a thin type of tubular duct, each 28–30 µm long and 3.2 µm wide, few, present on either side of anal cleft only. Body setae very small, about 6–8 µm long, sparse; with one pair of interantennal setae, 60–70 µm long; and with a pair of pregenital setae medially on posterior 4 or 5 abdominal sternites, most posterior pair of setae each 50–80 µm long, other pairs usually shorter, about 20–30 long.

Dorsum: derm membranous, with segmentation apparent on thorax and abdomen. Eyespots present near margin. Preopercular pores 5–8 µm wide, possibly convex, with a dark rim and a granulate surface, forming a sparse longitudinal band 10–12 pores wide from anal plates to prothorax, but wider on metathorax and anterior abdominal segments. Simple dark-rimmed pores numerous, scattered. Tubular ducts as on venter, rare on head, numerous on thorax and abdomen, more frequent on anal lobes. Body setae very short, about 6 µm long, sparse. Marginal setae all bent, each about 8–12 µm long on thorax and abdomen but those on head apex 16–30 µm long; anal lobe setae 10–20 µm long. Anal ring with 8 setae, each about 150–160 µm long. Anal plates subtriangular, with three apical or subapical setae.

First instar (crawler) ( Fig. 4 )

Living specimens: orange, elongate and flattened. Legs and antennae well developed.

Mounted specimens: body elliptic, elongate, 525 (500–560) µm long and 200 (190–215) wide. Eyes situated dorso-marginally.

Venter: antennae 6-segmented, 116 (100–125) µm long. With one pair of interantennal setae. With one trilocular pore near each scape. Legs subequal, well developed; measurements of hind leg: coxa 20 µm long; trochanter + femur 60 µm; tibia 40 µm; tarsus 30 µm. Tarsal digitules longer than claw digitules. Stylet loop 300 µm long, reaching abdominal segment VI. Spiracles small, each with 2 disc pores in peritreme cavity. Spiracular disc pores each with 5–9 loculi, forming a group of 2–5 pores between anterior spiracle and body margin, and a group of 2–4 between posterior spiracle and body margin. Minute setae forming a submarginal row around body and present in two medial and submedial longitudinal rows on each side of abdomen, with most posterior pair of medial setae longer than others.

Margin: anal lobes well developed, each with an apical seta 150–160 µm long. Marginal setae minaret-like, present on body margin with 16 setae on each side: 5 on head, 3 on thorax and 8 on abdomen; setae on head and thorax smaller than those on abdomen.

Dorsum: With a pair of minute setae medially on each thoracic segment. Small simple pores present in a submarginal and a submedial longitudinal row on thorax and abdomen, with 1 or 2 pores also on head. Anal ring with 6 setae. Anal plates absent.

Etymology. The feminine Latin adjective sicula meaning “pertaining to Sicily” where this new species was collected.

Host plant. Collected on the crown of Lolium sp. ( Poaceae ).

Distribution. Sicily ( Italy)

Comments. The adult female of L. sicula has: (i) large peritreme cavities with 30+ disc pores in each cavity (as in Lecanopsis ); (ii) hind tibia up to 5 times longer than wide; (iii) large tubular ducts with ridges along their inner surface, and (iv) one pair of pregenital setae medially on each of the last five abdominal segments (as in Hadzibejliaspis ). In addition, the first-instar nymphs are Lecanopsis type, with marginal minaret-like setae. The first-instar nymph of L. sicula is morphologically close to that of L. mirabilis (Pellizzari and Fontana, 2002) but has fewer (2–4) spiracular disc pores near each spiracular opening (4–8 near each anterior spiracle and 2–8 near each posterior spiracle on L. mirabilis ).

Figures

FIGURE 3. Lecanopsis sicula n. sp., adult female.

FIGURE 4. Lecanopsis sicula n. sp., first instar nymph.