Poliaspis attenuata Brimblecombe

Hardy, Nate & Henderson, Rosa C., 2011, Revision of Poliaspis (Hemiptera, Coccoidea, Diaspididae), with descriptions of 8 new species from Australia, ZooKeys 137, pp. 1-40 : 6

Poliaspis attenuata Brimblecombe Fig. 3

Poliaspis attenuata Brimblecombe 1959: 401-403

Material examined.

Paratype: QLD. 1 adult female: Yarraman [-26.84, 151.98], ex Croton insularis , 1.9.1948, A Brimblecombe (QDPI).

Description, n=1.

Slide-mounted paratype female 1644 μm long, body outline linear, abdominal lobes weakly produced. Pygidium with 2 pairs of lobes; median lobes divergent, longer than wide, connected medially by narrow sclerotic strap, each lobe with dentate apex; margin between lobes incised; second lobe bi-lobed, medial lobule with basal sclerosis. Gland spines 18-37 μm long, ca. 2 × length of median lobes, 1 gland spine on margin of each pygidial segment; pair of setae present between median lobes. Dorsal ducts smaller than marginal ducts; present in rows; 2 submedial ducts present on segment 6; 4 submarginal and 5-6 submedial ducts on segment 5. Perivulvar pores: 4 posteromedial, 9-10 posterolateral, 17-18 posterior, 6 anteromedial, and 3-4 anterolateral. Trilocular pores in cluster of ca. 2 near anterior spiracle; absent from posterior spiracle. Microducts scattered on dorsal surface of head, plus medial and submarginal areas of anterior abdominal segments. Antenna with 1 fleshy setae.

Comments.

Adult females of Poliaspis attenuata are most similar to those of Poliaspis elongata Brimblecombe. Both have elongate, linear bodies. Poliaspis attenuata females can be distinguished on the basis of the longer-than wide, divergent median lobes (wider than long in Poliaspis elongata , with rounded apices).