Aulacaspis thorntoni Williams and Miller

Williams, Douglas J. & Miller, Douglass R., 2010, Scale insects (Hemiptera: Sternorrhyncha: Coccoidea) of the Krakatau Islands including species from adjacent Java, Zootaxa 2451, pp. 43-52 : 49

Aulacaspis thorntoni Williams and Miller , sp. n.

( Fig. 2 )

Adult female. Body 0.8–0.9 mm long and 0.8–1.0 mm wide, with prosoma swollen, rounded, but with lateral tubercle near juncture of head and prothorax; body widest at pro- and mesothorax, other prepygidial segments with lateral lobes moderately developed; pygidium rounded.

Pygidium with median lobes forming narrow notch at apex, diverging slightly, with inner edges serrate and longer than outer edges, rounded apically. Second and third lobes smaller, bilobed, rounded, usually without serrations, rarely with 1 or 2 on each lobule. Gland spines with 1 on each side of each of segments V– VIII, with 4 or more on each side of segments II–IV. Marginal macroducts longer than wide on segments IV– VII, shorter elsewhere, with submarginal and submedian clusters on segments III–VII, with 1 or 2 submedially on segment VI, total of 35–52 macroducts on each side of body. Microducts uncommon, usually 1–5 in submedian area of segment II. With conspicuous boss on segment I. Anal opening near centre of pygidium, posterior of position of vulva. Ventral surface with perivulvar pores in 5 groups. Microducts sparse, most abundant in lateral areas of head, prothorax, and mesothorax, with cluster near posterior spiracle. Antennae each with single seta. Anterior and posterior spiracles each with groups of disc pores. Peribuccal sclerosis absent.

Type material. Holotype adult female. Indonesia, Rakata Island, Krakatau, x.1933, on Calophyllum sp., K. W. Dammerman BM196, 1 adult female on 1 slide ( BMNH).

Paratypes. Same as holotype. 11 adult females on 11 slides ( ANIC, BMNH, NMV, USNM). Java, Ujung Kulon, Pulau Peucang 6°45'S 105°11'E, 15.ix.1984, 21.ix.1984, on Calophyllum inophyllum 144-4, 144-9, 4 adult females, 1 second-instar nymph on 6 slides ( BMNH, NMV, USNM). Java, Ujung Kulon, Cikalappabeurren, Ciramea track, 6°47'S 105°14'E, 20.ix.1984, on Barringtonia nudica ( NMV) 1 adult female on 1 slide ( BMNH), 1.ix.1984. Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, 8.i.1931, on “Tembrusu”, no. 7725, 1 adult female on 1 slide ( BMNH).

Notes. This species is similar to Aulacaspis bambusae (Green) especially in the distribution of the dorsal ducts. Contrasting characters for Aulacaspis bambusae are given in parentheses. Aulacaspis thorntoni differs from A. bambusae by having prepygidial body margin converging towards apex of pygidium (parallel sided), median lobes nearly parallel (divergent), margin of segment II weakly produced (strongly produced). This species is also similar to Aulacaspis tubercularis but differs by lacking a distinct peribuccal sclerosis and having more dorsal macroducts (see Takagi & De Faveri (2009) for an illustration of A. tubercularis ).

Etymology. This species is named in honour of the late Ian Thornton, one of the organizers of the expeditions to Krakatau.

Figures

FIGURE 2. Aulacaspis thorntoni Williams and Miller. A. Adult female, B. Pygidium, C. Median lobes, D. Anterior spiracle, E. Posterior spiracle.