Coccus moorei Hodgson, 2021

Hodgson, Chris J., 2021, New genera, new species and new combinations for some African Coccomorpha (Hemiptera: Sternorrhyncha), Zootaxa 5020 (1), pp. 57-80 : 73-74

Coccus moorei Hodgson , spec. nov.

( Fig. 11 ).

Material studied: Holotype ♀: left label: NIGERIA / Ibadan , IITA [International Institute of Tropical Agriculture] / Fabaceous tree / Oct. 1986 / C.J. Hodgson; right label: Coccus / moorei / Hodgson / HOLOTYPE (1 slide containing 1 adult ♀, good). Deposited in NHMUK . Paratype ♀♀: data as for holotype (5 slides each containing 1 adult ♀, good). Deposited in NHMUK .

Adult female: Appearance in life not recorded. Slide-mounted adult female broadly oval, dorsum very slightly sclerotised, 1.4‒1.9 mm long, 1.2‒1.4 mm at widest point. Anal cleft about 1/5 th body length, with a strong sclerotization around anterior margin of anal plates. Stigmatic clefts absent. Eggs present.

Dorsum: derm very slightly sclerotised with sparse areolations, becoming heavily sclerotised at maturity; also with 2 areas on either side near margin anterior to anterior stigmatic area, each with a group of small pale areas. Dorsal setae long and setose, with a flagellate apex, 16‒33 µm long, set in a quite tall, parallel-sided basal socket, about 3.0 µm high; sparse throughout. Dorsal microducts not definitely detected but possibly present in each areolation. Preopercular pores small and convex, each about 2.0‒2.5 µm wide in an areolation; present in a longitudinal band extending from anal plates to at least mesothorax, band narrowest near anal plates, each band with about 10‒26 pores. Submarginal tubercles and dorsal tubular ducts absent. Anal plates quadrate, together slightly broader than long, length 108‒120 µm, combined width 123‒140 µm; each plate with a (possibly) fimbriate discal seta and 2 setose setae near apex. Anal cleft setae: 2 pairs of rather long setae along anterior margin, each 50‒70 µm long, plus an occasional smaller seta; with 2 pairs of short setae on each lateral margin. Anal ring possibly with 4 pairs of setae, each about 65 µm.

Margin: marginal setae mostly quite long, robust and strongly fimbriate, each 20‒40 µm long, in a deep socket about 5 µm deep but a few setae rather shorter and perhaps not fimbriate; with 22‒24 setae anteriorly between anterior stigmatic areas, 4‒6 on each side between stigmatic areas and 11‒17 on each side of abdomen; longest setae on anal lobes. Stigmatic clefts absent. Each stigmatic area with 3 stigmatic spines, median much the longer, curved, blunt, often broadening slightly towards apex, each 30‒42 µm long; each lateral spine more pointed, each 10‒18 µm long; all stigmatic spines with a differently structured socket to marginal setae. Eyespot not detected.

Venter: membranous. Multilocular disc-pores with those posteriorly in abdomen mostly each with 10 loculi but some with fewer loculi on thorax; very few; distributed as follows: with 1‒5 on either side of segment VII, and then 0 or 1 pore in each of abdominal segments VI ‒II, in a line; 1 specimen with a pore mesad of metacoxa; also with 1‒5 pores in a line anterior and mesad to each posterior spiracle; mutilocular pores absent more anteriorly. Spiracular disc pores mostly each with 5 loculi, present in a line about 1 pore wide, with 14‒21 pores in each band. Preantennal pore absent. Ventral microducts most abundant marginally, becoming scarce or absent medially. Ventral tubular ducts absent. Ventral setae: with 3 pairs of long preanal setae, longest nearly 80 µm long; with 3 pairs of inter-antennal setae; with 2 setae associated with each procoxa and with 1 near each meso- and metacoxa; with 4‒8 submarginal setae between stigmatic areas; other ventral setae very sparse. Spiracles: anterior peritremes each 30‒40 µm wide, posterior peritremes each 35‒45 µm wide; each spiracle in more mature specimens with a very obvious oval sclerotised bar medially. Antennae well developed, each 7-segmented, 250‒280 µm long; setal distribution typical of Coccidae but with some setae exceptionally long, each proximal fleshy seta on apical segment 30‒33 µm long (almost as long as apical segment) and each distal fleshy seta 20‒30 µm long. Legs well developed, each with a tibio-tarsal articulatory sclerosis; lengths of metathoracic leg segments (µm): coxa 85‒100; trochanter + femur 135‒155; tibia 90‒108; tarsus 51‒65; claw 18‒20; each tarsus with long digitules and each claw with 2 broad digitules.

Specific name derivation: The species is named after Humphrey Moore, who was my biology master at school and encouraged me to become an entomologist. I am extremely grateful as I have had a wonderful and exciting life.

Comments: Compared with other species in this genus, Coccus moorei spec. nov. appears to be unique in having long, flagellate dorsal setae. It also has the following unique combination of characters: (i) quadrate anal plates, each with a discal seta; (ii) anal sclerotization present; (iii) strong, fimbriate marginal setae; (iv) absence of stigmatic clefts; (v) absence of dorsal and ventral tubular ducts; (vi) absence of submarginal tubercles; (vii) preopercular pores present but sparse, in a broad band extending anteriorly onto at least mesothorax; (viii) multilocular disc pores few, mainly in two lines extending from anal area to thorax; (ix) spiracles with a distinct sclerotised bar; (x) antennae seven segmented; (xi) fleshy setae on apical segment of antennae unusually long; (xii) legs well developed, with a tibio-tarsal articulation; and (xiii) claw with a small but distinct denticle.

Figures

FIGURE 11. Coccus moorei Hodgson, spec. nov. Adult female.