Aphis apocynicola Holman, 1992

Stekolshchikov, Andrey V., 2024, A contribution to the aphid fauna (Homoptera, Aphidinea) of the Republic of Dagestan (the Russian Federation), with descriptions of three new species, redescription of Macrosiphum pulcherimum Nevsky, 1928, and descriptions of previously unknown morphs of three species, Zootaxa 5545 (1), pp. 1-68 : 12-14

Aphis apocynicola Holman, 1992

( Figs 2–11 , Tabl. 1)

Material. KSB: 7 and 8.ix.2023, Apocynum venetum subsp. sarmatiense (Woodson) ined., on stem, lower surface of leaves and fruits, apt. and al.; 5.x.2023, Apocynum venetum subsp. sarmatiense (Woodson) ined., apt. and ovip.

Comments. This species is known from Central Asia ( Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Tadzhikistan) and Astrakhan province of Russia. Oviparous females of this species have not been described previously.

......continued on the next page ......continued on the next page

Description. Oviparous female. Body broadly elliptical, 1.8 times as long as wide. Color when alive unknown. Cleared specimens with head, 1st antennal segment, siphunculi, anal and subgenital plates dark brown; 2nd antennal segment, distal two thirds of base of 6th antennal segment, distal half of processus terminalis, sclerites at the base of coxae, apices of tibiae and tarsi of all legs, and peritremes on abdomen brown; coxae, distal half of femora, marginal sclerites on pro- and mesonotum, and bands on pronotum light-brown. Band on pronotum is very pale, poorly visible, partially disintegrating into large sclerites. Surface of head with small pointed spinules sometimes forming reticulate cells, of dorsal side of thorax reticulate, contour of cells consists from very large fused rounded spinules forming high “wall” around the cell; surface of abdominal tergites I–V smooth, slightly wrinkled, of VI– VIII tergites with rows of large, strongly smoothed out spinules; surface of ventral side of abdomen with long rows of small pointed spinules sometimes forming strongly stretched reticulate cells. Setae on dorsal side of thorax and abdomen pointed, on ventral—finely pointed; numbers of marginal setae 1, 1–2, 1–2, 1–2, 1–2, 2–3, 1 on each side of abdominal segments I–VII, respectively. Medium-sized, conical or papilliform marginal tubercles present only on prothorax, and abdominal segments I and VII. Head with traces of epicranial suture. Frontal tubercles distinct but not well developed; antennal tubercles relatively high; median tubercle much lower than antennal. Setae on head pointed or finely pointed. Antennae 6-segmented, without secondary rhinaria; 1st, 2nd and base of 3rd antennal segment smooth, 3rd (except base) and 4th–6th segments with large scales. Setae on antennae pointed. Rostrum reaching abdominal segments I–II. Ultimate rostral segment blunt, elongated wedge-shaped, almost cylindrical, with slightly convex sides, 2.2 times as long as its basal width. Legs normally developed; setae on tibiae and tarsi pointed, on femora pointed or finely pointed, on coxae and trochanters finely pointed. Chaetotaxy of first tarsal segments 3, 3, 2 or 3, 2, 2. Arms of mesosternal furca connected by wide not sclerotized base. Spiracles reniform. Siphunculi clearly curved outward, with relatively wide base, conical, clearly tapering in proximal half, then almost cylindrical, with relatively small, but distinct flange. Surface of siphunculi imbricated, covered by scales which formed by partially fused large pointed spinulae. Subgenital plate oval, with a longitudinal not sclerotized band along the center line of the plate, with finely pointed setae. Setae on anal plate finely pointed. Cauda tongue-shaped, slightly tapering to a broadly rounded apex, with long finely pointed setae. Hind tibiae with 22–24 round pheromone plates located on weak swollen middle of tibia.

Figures

FIGURE 2. Oviparous female of Aphis apocynicola Holman, 1992, habitus.

FIGURES 3–11. Aphis apocynicola Holman, 1992, oviparous female. 3, antennae; 4, 3rd antennal segment; 5, last antennal segment; 6, head; 7, III and ultimate rostral segments; 8, hind tibia; 9, hind tarsus; 10, siphunculus; 11, cauda.