Tanyscelis verrucula (Froggatt) Hardy, Nate B. & Gullan, Penny J., 2010

Hardy, Nate B. & Gullan, Penny J., 2010, Australian gall-inducing scale insects on Eucalyptus: revision of Opisthoscelis Schrader (Coccoidea, Eriococcidae) and descriptions of a new genus and nine new species, ZooKeys 58, pp. 1-74 : 39-41

Tanyscelis verrucula (Froggatt) comb. n. Figs 3g,h22

Opisthoscelis verrucula Froggatt 1894b: 338-339.

Opisthoscelis mammularis Froggatt 1894b: 344, syn. n.

General.

Here we synonymise Opisthoscelis mammularis with Opisthoscelis verrucula . Froggatt (1894b) described them as distinct species on different pages of the same article, but the two are identical based on the morphology of the adult females and their galls. Froggatt claimed that the adult female of Opisthoscelis verrucula had an "anal segment carrying an anal ring with four curved spines forming the tail." ( Froggatt 1894b: 338), whereas that of Opisthoscelis mammularis had the "tip of anal segment bearing two small reddish-brown spines curved backwards, forming a tail" ( Froggatt 1894b: 344). However all specimens that we examined had one pair of large spines, each with a small spine near its base, on abdominal segment VIII, and one pair of medium-sized spines on abdominal segment VII, with the latter sometimes appearing very close to the spines on segment VIII. The type locality of Opisthoscelis verrucula is Napolean Reef, Bathurst, New South Wales, whereas that of Opisthoscelis mammularis is Bendigo, Victoria, and the types of both were collected on unidentified Eucalyptus species.

Gall

(Fig. 3g,h). Female (Fig. 3g). On stem, leaf petiole and midrib. Gall nipple-like, broadly rugose, shape somewhat irregular, with orifice on opposite side of leaf; height 3.8-8.7 mm, width 2.7-6.4 mm, length of basal attachment 3.2-6.7 mm. Gall orifice slit-like to oblong, 0.1-0.3 mm wide, 0.3-1.2 mm long; if gall on leaf, orifice on abaxial (lower) surface.

Male (Fig. 3h). On stem and leaf (probably either surface). Height 1.5-5.0 mm, width 0.7-3.0 mm, length of basal attachment 1.1-4.2 mm. Gall cylindrical to conical, surface with shrivelled appearance, opening round to oblong, 0.1-1.3 mm wide, with opposite side of leaf swollen.

Adult female

(Fig. 22) (n = 51). Body turbinate, margin incised at intersegmental boundaries, length 1.5-4.0 mm, greatest width 0.8-2.1 mm; abdomen tapered, about as long as head + thorax, extending far beyond femur. Eyespots each 30-65 mm wide, highly convex, on dorsal margin. Antennal segmentation poor, ca 3-segmented; each antenna 50-229 mm long. Frontal lobes difficult to discern, each 120-360 µm long, 110-335 µm wide. Tentorial box 230-550 mm long. Labium 50-120 mm long, 60-140 mm wide. Spiracles 75-150 mm long, 35-85 mm wide across atrium. Fore and mid legs small sclerotic protuberances, 13-80 µm wide, each with 10-18 setae. Hind legs slender and elongate; coxa 240-542 µm long, trochanter + femur 300-732 µm long, tibia 530-1540 µm long, tarsus 170-440 µm long; translucent pores scattered on both surfaces of tibia, plus a few on tarsus; trochanter with 2 campaniform sensilla on each side; femur-tibia articulation non-functional, tibia fixed in orientation almost parallel to long axis of femur; claw and digitules present but reduced. Anal opening 8-35 µm wide, with anal ring, 18-39 µm wide, sclerotisation of ring frequently uneven, weaker at posteroventral end, usually appearing horseshoe-shaped; anal ring with 4-6 minute setae. Anal area with 2 fleshy protuberances on each side of body, 1 laterad of anal ring, 1 posterolateral of anal ring, each protuberance terminating in stout spine, 20-35 µm long, each anterior protuberance with a small auxiliary spine near medial edge of base of terminal spine, plus a few minute setae.

Dorsum. Derm membranous. Dorsal setae minute, 5-8 mm long; arranged in an irregular transverse row across each abdominal segment, scattered over surface of head and thorax. Stout spinose setae, 5-10 µm long, found on margin of each posterior abdominal segment plus along margin of head and prothorax. Macrotubular ducts 13-15 mm long, dermal orifice with rim 5 mm wide; in transverse row across each abdominal segment, scattered over head and thorax. Microtubular ducts absent. Quinquelocular pores 5-7 µm in diameter, scattered over dorsum.

Venter. Membranous lobe-like protuberance immediately posterior of each spiracle, each protuberance having a few slender setae. Setae flagellate, 30-118 mm long, in a transverse row or narrow band across each abdominal segment, and scattered along margin of head and thorax and mesad to each metacoxa. Macrotubular ducts absent. Quinquelocular pores similar to those on dorsum, in transverse band across each of abdominal segments III–VI, a small cluster near each spiracle, a few scattered among setae along margin of head and thorax, pores often occurring in pairs.

Material examined.

Lectotype of Opisthoscelis verrucula (here designated): AUSTRALIA: New South Wales: 1 adult female (3.27 mm long, 2.14 mm wide): ex dry gall on leaf, with printed label: "No. 1788 E / GALL MAKING COCCIDS. / Opisthoscelis verricula [sic], Frogtt. / Male and female galls on Eucalyptus / Bendigo / Bathurst N.S.W." ASCT00004866 (ASCU).

Paralectotypes: AUSTRALIA: New South Wales: 2 adult females, 1 second-instar female: same data as lectotype (ASCU); 2 adult females, numerous first-instar nymphs 5 adult males: ex leaf galls, Eucalyptus sp., Bathurst, ex WWF coll. (BMNH). The latter BMNH specimens are deemed to be paralectotypes because the collection is from the type locality and Froggatt (1894b, 1921) only ever recorded the species from this one locality.

Lectotype of Opisthoscelis mammularis (here designated): AUSTRALIA: Victoria: 1 adult female (2.83 mm long, 2.04 mm wide): ex dry gall on leaf, with printed label: "No. 1789 E / GALL MAKING COCCIDS. / Opisthoscelis mammularis , Frogtt. / Male and female galls on Eucalyptus / Bendigo, Victoria", ASCT00004850 (ASCU).

Paralectotypes: AUSTRALIA: Victoria: 2 adult females, 6 slides with hundreds of first-instar nymphs: same data as lectotype (ASCU).

Additional material:

AUSTRALIA: Autralian Capital Territory: 6 adult females, 1 adult male: ex galls, Eucalyptus bridgesiana , Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve, -35.48°; 148.90°, 1 Mar., 1992, PJG (ANIC). New South Wales: 4 adult females, 1 second-instar female with pharate adult: ex leaf galls, Eucalyptus?nortoni , Queanbeyan, Captains Flat Road, -35.36°; 149.27°, 7 Jan., 2001, PJG (ANIC); 4 adult females, 1 second-instar female, 45 first-instar nymphs ex stem galls, Eucalyptus sp., Tallong cementery, -34.72°; 150.08°, 16 Oct., 1993, PJG (ANIC); Northern Territory: 1 adult female: Eucalyptus sp. N of Alice Springs, near Todd River, 19 Nov, 1978, M. Kotzman (ANIC). South Australia: 18 adult females, 8 adult males: ex galls, Eucalyptus sp., Para Wirra National Park, 31 Dec., 1965, HMB, Specimen Index No. 64/65 (ANIC); 7 adult females, 2 second-instar nymphs, 2 first-instar nymphs, 2 adult males: Eucalyptus sp., Para Wirra National Park, 31 Dec., 1965 [label of several slides erroneously records date as 1 Dec., 1965], HMB, Boratynski #1743 (BMNH). Tasmania: 1 adult female: Eucalyptus sp., 2 km S of Dover, -43.33°; 146.99°, 1 Mar., 2004, LGC and M. D. Crisp, LGC00132 (ANIC). Victoria: 1 adult female: ex gall, Eucalyptus?goniocalyx , ca 20 km E of Bendigo, near Axedale Flora and Fauna Reserve, roadside on Calder Highway, -36.78°; 144.49°, 3 Feb., 2005, PJG and NBH, NH73 (ANIC); 15 adult females: ex galls, Eucalyptus viminalis , Cranbourne, 12 Apr., 1975, PJG (ANIC); 20 first-instar nymphs: Eucalyptus viminalis , Cranbourne, 24 Nov., 1975, PJG (ANIC); 3 adult females: Eucalyptus viminalis , Cranbourne Botanic Gardens Annexe, 27 Jan., 1976, PJG (ANIC); 4 adult females: Eucalyptus viminalis , Cranbourne Botanic Gardens Annexe, 29 Aug., 1976, PJG (ANIC); 6 adult females: ex galls on leaves and stems, Eucalyptus viminalis , Cranbourne, Royal Botanic Gardens, ca 150 m SE of Trig Point Lookout, -38.13°; 145.28°, 9 Feb., 2005, PJG, NH52, NH79 (ANIC, NMV); 300 first-instar nymphs, ex gall cavity, Eucalyptus viminalis , Lang Lang, A. C. I. sandmining lease, 23 Dec., 1976, PJG (ANIC).

Comments.

Adult females of Tanyscelis verrucula are very similar to those of Tanyscelis pisiformis [see comments under Tanyscelis pisiformis ].

There were numerous eggs in the cavity of mature galls of females of Tanyscelis verrucula collected by PJG from Eucalyptus viminalis at Cranbourne, Victoria, in November 1975. After oviposition, the body of the females shrunk to about one-fifth of their size prior to oviposition. It was estimated that a single female could lay more than 1000 eggs.