Cryptostigma mexicanum Kondo, 2010

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 : 41-43

Cryptostigma mexicanum Kondo , sp. nov.

( Fig. 16)

Material examined. Holotype. Adult ♀. MEXICO: Intercepted at Dallas, Fort Worth, 31.vii.1978, coll. G.M. Stamey, in wood stick of crate (from Mexico), 1 (3: holotype clearly indicated on label; smallest of three specimens, located centermost, dimensions: 2.7 mm wide, 3.0 mm long) ( USNM) . Paratypes. Same data as holotype 2 (9: 3 adult ♀ + 6 immatures) ( USNM) ; MEXICO: Jalisco, San Antonio , 4.ix.1976, coll. D. Johnston, #8535 (77–31), ex hollow pit of twig of wood crate, 2 (4: 2 adult ♀ + 1 third-instar ♀ + 1 immature [2 nd instar] ♂) ( USNM) ; MEXICO: Intercepted at New York , date not given, coll. C.E. Stegmaier, ex Sambucus wood from Mexico, 1 (3) ( USNM) .

Adult female ( Fig. 16)

Unmounted material. Not available during present study.

Mounted material. Body outline oval to elongate oval, 2.5–3.3 mm long, 2.1–3.1 mm wide (n=8).

Dorsum. Derm membranous. Dorsal setae slender, with a straight or bent apex, each 11–18 µm long; present evenly on dorsum. Simple pores circular to subcircular; variable in size, large pores 3–4 µm wide, small pores about 2 µm wide, probably minute microducts; numerous, scattered evenly on dorsum. Dorsal microducts each 3–4 µm wide, thick-rimmed, numerous, evenly distributed on dorsum. Preopercular pores present, each 5.5–10 µm wide; few, totalling 10–30, located in a small area around anterolateral margin of anal plates. Sclerotic crescent present around anal plates. Anal plates together slightly pyriform, with rounded angles, each plate 183–243 µm long, 86–97 µm wide, anterolateral margin 162–189 µm long, posterolateral margin 108–113 µm long; with about 10 setae on dorsal surface, plus about 3 ventral subapical setae on each plate; plates located about 1/5 of body length from posterior margin. Anal ring with 10 setae. Eyes absent.

Margin. Margin smooth. Marginal setae present, sharply spinose, short, each 8.9–16.0 µm long, arranged in 1 or 2 rows, mostly in 1 row, with 16–36 setae between anterior and posterior stigmatic areas. Stigmatic clefts very deep; stigmatic sclerotization extending from margin to dorsad to spiracles. Stigmatic setae not detected.

Venter. Derm membranous. Ventral setae slender, straight or slightly bent, each 15–36 µm long, those on abdominal segments usually longer. Ventral microducts each about 3 µm wide, appearing bilocular, scattered evenly on venter. Tubular ducts absent. Clypeolabral shield 329–372 µm wide. Multilocular disc-pores fairly large, each 6–8 µm wide, with 4–8 loculi, present around vulvar area, and in transverse bands in mid-ventral areas of all abdominal segments and extending onto meso- and metathoracic region; also with small subgroups of pores present next to each abdominal pore band. Spiracular disc-pores each 4–6 µm wide with 4–7 loculi, present around spiracles and reaching body margin, with a line of pores connecting from each spiracle to each prothoracic and mesothoracic leg respectively. Antennae very small, 2–4 segmented, total length 26–53 µm; with fleshy setae often bifurcated. Interantennal setae about 4 pairs. Legs greatly reduced, each with about 4 segments; each segment mostly quadrate, rarely rounded; total length 30–104 µm. Claw present, without a denticle. Spiracles much larger than legs, located near margin; anterior spiracular peritremes each 124–168 µm wide, posterior peritremes each 124–177 µm wide.

Diagnosis. The adult female of C. mexicanum can be diagnosed by the following features: (i) dorsum without sclerotic pores, (ii) dorsal setae present, slender, scattered throughout dorsum, (iii) dorsum with 10– 30 preopercular pores, (iv) multilocular disc-pores present around pro- and mesothoracic legs, (v) leg segments usually characteristically square or rectangular in shape (vi) presence of about 10 setae on surface of each anal plate, and (vii) ventral tubular ducts absent.

Remarks. First-instar nymphs were not available during present study. Cryptostigma mexicanum has been collected only from twigs of wooden crates originating from Mexico at USA quarantine facilities at New York and Texas.

Host plants. Caprifoliaceae : Sambucus sp.

Associated Hymenoptera . None reported.

Males. One second-instar male was present among the material studied.

Etymology. The species is named after its country of origin: Mexico.

Distribution. Neotropical Region: Mexico.