Ovaticoccus adoxus (Ferris)

Miller, Douglass R. & Stocks, Ian C., 2022, New genera and species of felt scales (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Eriococcidae), with descriptions of new species and immature instars of described species, Zootaxa 5221 (1), pp. 1-213 : 90-96

Ovaticoccus adoxus (Ferris)

(Color plate 2)

Gymnococcus adoxus Ferris 1955: 180 .

Ovaticoccus adoxus (Ferris) ; Boratynski 1958: 173–175 (change of combination).

Specimens examined: UNITED STATES: Arizona: Cochino Co.: Winoa , VIII-8-1966, on grass, D.R. Miller (2 ad. ♀♀ on 2 slides) UCD, USNM ; Cochise Co., Willcox , IX-4-1981, on grass, J.E. Lauck and D.R. Miller (1 ad. ♀) UCD . Colorado: Mesa Co.: 24 mi. E. Grand Junction , IX-19-1967, on Sporobolus cryptantha, H.L. McKenzie (4 ad. ♀♀ on 2 slides) UCD ; Powers Co.: 20 mi. S. Lamar , VI-30-1970, on grass, D.R. Miller (1 ad. ♀ on 1 slide) UCD . New Mexico: Bernalillo Co.: 3 mi. W. Albuquerque , VIII-7-1966, on grass, D.R. Miller (2 ad. ♀♀ on 1 slide) UCD ; Luna Co : 20 mi. W. Las Cruces, VIII-4-1966, on grass, D.R. Miller (1 ad. ♀, 1 second-instar ♀ on 1 slide) UCD ; Quay Co.: 5 mi. W. Tucumcari , VII-2-1970, on grass, D.R. Miller (3 ad. ♀♀ on 1 slide) UCD ; San Juan Co.: 8 mi. N. Chaco Canyon National Monument , VIII-13-1981, on Sporobolus sp. ?, J.F. Miller and D.R. Miller (1 second-instar ♀, 4 first-instar nymphs on 3 slides) UCD . Texas: El Paso Co.: mesa at El Paso,?-?-1921, on undetermined grass, G.F. Ferris (4 ad. ♀♀ on 2 slides) UCD ; El Paso , VII-?-1921, on grass, G.F. Ferris (1 ad. ♀, 1 second-instar ♀ on 1 slide, paralectotype) UCD ; Moore Co.: Dumas , VII-1-1970, on grass, D.R. Miller (4 ad. ♀♀ on 2 slides) UCD ; Oldham Co.: 5 mi. W. Vega , VII-5-1970, on grass, D.R. Miller (3 ad. ♀♀ on 2 slides) UCD .

The adult female of this species was described by Ferris (1955) and Miller and McKenzie (1967), and the adult male was described in detail by Hodgson (2020). Information from those papers is not repeated here. The only mention of immature instars was by Ferris (1955), indicating that they have enlarged setae.

Etymology: The species epithet “ adoxus ” is formed from the Greek word “ adoxos” meaning “obscure” or “insignificant” and probably refers to the obscure habitat of this species.

Second-instar female ( Figs 45 and 46 )

Description: Slide-mounted specimens 1.0– 1.3 mm long, 0.7–0.8 mm wide. Body elongate, without protruding anal lobes. Anal-lobe areas each dorsally with 0–1 enlarged seta, 1 or 2 short flagellate setae, 1 or 2 cruciform pores; ventrally with 2 or 3 flagellate setae including suranal seta and anal-lobe seta, 0 or 1 5-locular pores.

COLOR PLATE 2. Ovaticoccus adoxus ( Ferris 1955) , with grass-blade sheath pulled open to expose insects, note red adult females without ovisac and adult females with ovisac and eggs. USA: New Mexico: Bernalillo Co.: 3 mi. W. Albuquerque, VIII- 7-1966, on grass, D.R. Miller .

Dorsum with flagellate setae arranged in 3 pairs of longitudinal lines (medial, mediolateral and lateral); each medial line with 1 seta on each side of segment, each mediolateral and lateral line with 1 or 2 setae on each side of segment, dorsal setae shorter than those on venter. Enlarged setae variable in number and distribution, of 1 size: normally present in single irregular longitudinal line along body margin, rarely with 1 or 2 setae in mediolateral areas; largest seta 7–8 μm long; enlarged setae conical, laterally with nearly straight sides, with blunt apex; setal base thin; not in dermal pockets; segment IV with 10–12 setae, including 2 or 3 enlarged setae and 8–10 flagellate setae; segment IV with combined total of 2 or 3 enlarged setae dorsally and ventrally. Macrotubular ducts absent. Microtubular ducts each approximately 6 μm long, with area farthest from dermal orifice sclerotized and divided into 2 parts, apical portion rounded or bilobular, ¼ or ½ length of remaining sclerotized portion; total sclerotized area same length as, or longer than, unsclerotized area; dermal orifice weakly sclerotized, without protruding tube. Microtubular ducts in small numbers along body margin. Multilocular pores of 1–3 kinds: 5-locular pores most numerous, scattered over entire surface; 3-locular pores and 6-locular pores rare. Cruciform pores restricted to cluster on segment VIII and occasionally VII. Microtrichia absent.

Anal ring apical, circular, with 2 small weakly sclerotized lateral plates, without cells and with little or no sclerotization, with 3 short setae on each side of ring, each shorter than diameter of ring; anal tube without sclerotization, anal orifice weakly sclerotized; with anal flap.

Venter with longest flagellate seta on segment II about 15 μm long, on segment VII 18–20 μm long; anal-lobe seta 70–80 μm long. Enlarged setae absent. Macrotubular ducts absent. Microtubular ducts present or absent on head and thorax, present along margin and submargin of abdomen. Multilocular pores of 2–4 kinds: 5-locular pores most abundant, present along body margin; 6- and 7-locular pores in reduced numbers, most abundant near spiracles; 3- locular pores present or absent. Cruciform pores usually absent, rarely present on head. Legs with hind coxae each with 2 or 3 indistinct pores; each femur with 4 setae, including 1 proximally and 3 distally; each tibia with 4 setae, without middle seta; hind tibia/tarsus 0.9. Antennae each 6-segmented, about 140 μm long. Frontal lobes absent. Preantennal pore present. Microtrichia from thorax to segment VIII, absent from coxae.

Notes: The description is based on three specimens from three localities. The second-instar female of Ov. adoxus is similar to the second-instar of Ov. haigi in having a very reduced anal ring, conical enlarged setae each with straight margins and a blunt apex, four setae on each femur, and occurring on grasses. They differ in having (character states in brackets are those of Ov. adoxus ): cruciform pores present along body margin (restricted to cluster on segment VIII, rarely also on VII).

First-instar nymph ( Fig. 47 )

Description: Slide-mounted specimens 0.6–1.0 mm long, 0.2–0.5 mm wide. Body elongate oval, without protruding anal lobes. Anal-lobe areas each dorsally with 1 or 2 short flagellate setae; ventrally with 2 or 3 flagellate setae including suranal seta and anal-lobe seta, 0 or 1 5-locular pore.

Dorsum with flagellate setae arranged in 2 pairs of longitudinal lines (medial and mediolateral). Enlarged setae in lateral longitudinal line from head to segment VII, 1 specimen with 1 mediolateral seta on segment VII, some setae replaced by flagellate setae on thoracic segments; largest setae 5–6 μm long; enlarged setae conical, laterally with nearly straight sides, with blunt apex; setal base thin; not in dermal pockets; segment IV with 6 setae including 2 enlarged setae and 4 flagellate setae; segment IV with combined total of 2 enlarged setae dorsally and ventrally. Macrotubular ducts absent. Microtubular ducts each approximately 2 μm long, with area farthest from dermal orifice sclerotized and undivided; dermal orifice sclerotized; rare, present mediolaterally on segment VIII, sometimes with 1 adjacent to middle and hind legs near enlarged setae. Multilocular pores absent. Cruciform pore usually present near 2 enlarged setae on mesothorax. Microtrichia absent.

Anal ring apical, circular, essentially unsclerotized, incomplete, divided posteriorly and anteriorly, with 1 cell at base of most setae; with 3 setae on each side of ring, each longer or same length as greatest diameter of ring; anal tube and anal orifice unsclerotized; without anal flap.

Venter with longest flagellate seta on segment II 9–15 μm long, on segment VII 15–17 μm long; anal-lobe seta 89–105 μm long. Enlarged setae, macrotubular ducts and microtubular ducts absent. Multilocular pores present near base of antenna, laterad to labium, adjacent to each spiracle, and in mediolateral longitudinal line on each side of segments II to VII, of 2 or 3 kinds: 5-locular pores abundant on head and abdomen; 7- and 8-locular pores present near spiracles; 5-locular pores most abundant. Cruciform pores absent. Legs without pores; each femur with 4 setae, 1 proximally and 3 distally; each tibia with 4 setae, without middle seta; hind tibia/tarsus 0.8–0.9. Antennae each 6- segmented, 130–131 μm long. Frontal lobes absent. Preantennal pore inconspicuous. Microtrichia present in medial area of metathorax and abdomen, absent from coxae.

Notes: The description is based on four specimens from one locality. The first-instar nymph of Ov. adoxus is unique in having a nearly complete lateral longitudinal line of enlarged setae from the head to segment VII, and lacking enlarged setae elsewhere except for one or two sometimes present posteromedially on segment VII.

Figures

FIGURE 45. Ovaticoccus adoxus (Ferris 1955), second-instar female. #1 (few enlarged setae), 20 miles W. Las Cruces, Luna Co., New Mexico, USA, August 4, 1966, on grass, D.R. Miller. A=enlarged seta; C=7-locular pore; D=5-locular pore; E=3- locular pore; F=microtubular duct; H=cruciform pore; I=anal ring; J=antenna; L=claw; Q=dorsal surface of coxa.

FIGURE 46. Ovaticoccus adoxus (Ferris 1955), second-instar female. #2 (complete lateral longitudinal line of enlarged setae), 8 miles N. Chaco Canyon National Monument, New Mexico, USA., August 13, 1981, on Sporobolus sp.?, J.F. Miller and D.R. Miller. A=enlarged seta; B=slightly enlarged seta; D=5-locular pore; F=microtubular duct; H=cruciform pore; I=anal ring; L=claw; N=flagellate seta; Q=dorsal surface of coxa.

FIGURE 47. Ovaticoccus adoxus (Ferris 1955), first-instar nymph. 8 miles N. Chaco Canyon National Monument, New Mexico, USA., August 13, 1981, on Sporobolus sp.?, J.F. Miller and D.R. Miller. A=enlarged seta; B=slightly enlarged seta; C=7-locular pore; D=5-locular pore; F=microtubular duct; H=cruciform pore; I=anal ring; L=claw; N=flagellate seta.