Cryptostigma saundersi Laing, 1925

Kondo, Takumasa, 2010, Taxonomic revision of the myrmecophilous, meliponiphilous and rhizophilous soft scale genus Cryptostigma Ferris (Hemiptera: Coccoidea: Coccidae) 2709, Zootaxa 2709, pp. 1-72 : 54-56

Cryptostigma saundersi Laing

( Fig. 22)

Cryptostigma saundersi Laing : Laing 1925: 59; Ben-Dov 1993: 99; Qin & Gullan 1989: 225.

Material examined. Lectotype, here designated. Cryptostigma saundersi Laing , adult ♀. BRAZIL: Rio de Janeiro, ex trunk of a tree protected by ants, 9.viii.1923, coll. L.G. Saunders (# 4), 1 (1) ( BMNH) . Paralectotype. Same data as lectotype, except that no date given, 1 slide with 1 specimen with dorsum and venter under separate cover slips ( BMNH) .

Adult female ( Fig. 22)

Unmounted material. Alcohol preserved specimens with a pale yellowish brown longitudinal stripe and several intertwining stripes on dorsum; also with semicircular stripes on declivity anterior to anal lobes; remainder of dorsum of a darker brown; a small darker brown to almost black area around anal plates. Ventral surface dark brown with a paler marginal area. Length (unmounted) approximately 7 mm, breadth from 5–6 mm ( Laing, 1925).

Mounted material. Body outline oval, constricted at stigmatic areas, 6.0–7.0 mm long, 6.5–7.0 mm wide (n=2).

Dorsum. Derm membranous, with numerous (68–92) subcircular compound orbicular pores, scattered on dorsum, size variable, those closest to body margin smallest, abundant on body margin and submargin but absent from mid-dorsum; each orbicular pore associated with 4–15 bilocular microducts, and about 6–24 slender setae around pore margins; each seta 13–19 µm long. Dorsal setae absent, except for those on margins of orbicular pores. Simple pores of 2 sizes: larger pores each about 8 µm wide; smaller pores each about 4.5 µm wide, scattered throughout dorsum. Dorsal microducts of 2 types: small microducts each about 2 µm wide and unilocular; larger microducts each about 6.0 µm wide and appearing bilocular, both types scattered on dorsum. Preopercular pores absent. Narrow sclerotic crescent present around anal plates. Anal plates together quadrate, with rounded angles, each plate 243–265 µm long, 108–140 µm wide, anterolateral margin 135–150 µm long, posterolateral margin 173–185 µm long; with 10–21 setae on dorsal surface; plates located about 1/5 of body length from posterior margin. Anal ring with 10 setae. Eyespots absent.

Margin. Margin smooth. Marginal setae each 13–17 µm long and conical, with well-developed bases; in 2 or 3 rows; numerous, with 100 or more setae between anterior and posterior stigmatic areas. Stigmatic clefts deep; stigmatic sclerotization enclosing spiracles; with 3–5 stigmatic setae in each cleft, usually broken off.

Venter. Derm membranous. Ventral setae slender, each 23–41 µm long, those on abdominal segments usually longest, shortest around body margin. Ventral microducts each about 4.5 µm wide, present in transverse intersegmental groups, and around margin; each microduct surrounded by a slightly sclerotized area. Tubular ducts present around vulva and in a small area on last 3 or 4 abdominal segments. Clypeolabral shield 447–530 µm wide. Multilocular disc-pores each 8–10 µm wide with 5–11 (mostly 8) loculi, present in perivulvar region and medially on all abdominal segments, and also transversely on meso- and metathorax; also with pores extending from mid areas between meso- and metathoracic legs in a narrow line that connects to mesothoracic legs and posterior spiracles; with 1 pore near each antenna. Spiracular disc-pores each 6–7 µm wide with 6–9 (mostly 5) loculi, present in a small group around each spiracle. Antennae reduced, with about 3 segments, total length 102–155 µm. Legs reduced, segments mostly fused, total length 119–237 µm long; tarsal and claw digitules slender, knobbed; claw denticle absent. Spiracles located near margin; anterior peritremes each 205–245 µm wide, posterior peritremes each 248–310 µm wide.

Diagnosis. The adult female of C. saundersi can be diagnosed by the following features: (i) sclerotic pores absent, (ii) complex orbicular pores present, totalling 34, (iii) dorsal setae absent, except for those present on orbicular pores, (iv) preopercular pores absent, (v) each anal plate with about 21 setae on dorsal surface, (vi) with about 100 or more marginal setae between anterior and posterior stigmatic areas, (vii) 1 multilocular disc-pore present near each antenna, (viii) ventral microducts present in transverse linear intersegmental rows and around margin, and (ix) ventral tubular ducts present. C. saundersi appears closest to C. chacoensis , but the following features separate C. saundersi from C. chacoensis (character states on C. chacoensis in brackets): (i) 60 or more complex orbicular pores (22–33); a multilocular disc-pore present next to each antenna (absent); and ventral microducts present in rows (scattered).

Remarks. The above description is based on a single slide labelled as paratype and agrees well with the original description. According to its collector, L.G. Sanders, the insects were found in the trunk of an undetermined tree, and tended by ants of an undescribed species of the genus Azteca ( Laing, 1925) .

First-instar nymphs were not available during present study.

Host plants. Host not determined.

Associated Hymenoptera . Dolichoderinae: Azteca sp. ( Laing, 1925) .

Distribution. Neotropical Region: Brazil.