Ovaticoccus densus (Miller) Miller & Stocks, 2022

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 : 113-118

Ovaticoccus densus (Miller) comb. n.

Cornoculus densus Miller in Miller and McKenzie 1967: 487–489.

The justification for treating Cornoculus as a junior synonym of Ovaticoccus , leading to this new species combination, is provided in the “Notes” section that follows the generic description above. The adult female and second-instar female (as “second or third-instar”) of this species were described by Miller and McKenzie (1967). We do not provide a redescription of the adult female, but provide more information about the second-instar female.

Etymology: The species epithet “ densus ” is formed from the Latin word “ densus ” meaning “dense” or “compact” and refers to the unusual concentration of macrotubular ducts on the lateral areas of the abdomen.

Second-instar female ( Figs 57 and 58 )

Description: Slide-mounted specimens 1.9–2.4 mm long, 0.8–1.2 mm wide. Body elongate oval, without protruding anal lobes. Anal-lobe areas each dorsally with 2 flagellate setae, 1 or 2 enlarged seta, 1 or 2 microtubular ducts; each ventrally with 2–4 flagellate setae including suranal seta, anal-lobe seta and 0–1 enlarged seta, with 0–1 cruciform pore.

Dorsum with flagellate setae scattered over entire surface in medial and mediolateral areas, also marginally on head and anterior thorax, usually short and curved. Enlarged setae restricted to lateral areas from head to segment VII or VIII; setae dome-shaped, often set in pocket in derm, with 40–54 setae on each side of body; largest seta about 12–15 μm long; segment IV with 16 or 17 setae including 5–8 enlarged setae and 9–11 flagellate setae; segment IV with combined total of 8 enlarged setae dorsally and ventrally.Macrotubular ducts absent. Microtubular ducts 7–8 μm long, with area farthest from dermal orifice sclerotized and divided into 2 parts, apical portion rounded, ¼ or ½ length of remaining sclerotized portion; total sclerotized area much longer than unsclerotized area; dermal orifice large, heavily sclerotized, without protruding tube. Microtubular ducts scattered laterally from prothorax or mesothorax to segment VIII. Multilocular pores absent on 1 specimen, or present on metathorax to segment II; pores of 3 kinds: 3- locular pores and 4-locular pores uncommon, 5-locular pores most abundant. Cruciform pores variable, restricted to mediolateral areas of posterior segments in some specimens, present medially and mediolaterally on others. Without microtrichia.

Anal ring ventral, oval, tongue-like structure fusing anterior end of ring forming complete structure, non-cellular or with weakly indicated pores near bases of setae, with 2 or 3 indefinite setae on each side of ring, each shorter than diameter of ring; extra seta anterior to ring sometimes attached to ring with noticeable sclerotization. Anal tube sclerotized, anal opening sclerotized, with anal flap.

Venter with longest flagellate seta on segment II 38–47 μm long, on segment VII 30–38 μm long; anal-lobe setae 120–132 μm long. Enlarged setae along body margin from head to segment VIII, sometimes absent from head and anterior thorax, in 2 pairs of longitudinal lines on lateral and sublateral areas, sublateral setae slightly smaller. Macrotubular ducts absent. Microtubular ducts present along body margin, associated with enlarged setae. Multilocular pores scattered in medial, mediolateral, and lateral areas of head, thorax, and segments II to V, of 3 kinds: 5-locular pores most abundant, 4-locular pores and 7-locular pores rare. Cruciform pores near body margin on segments IV to VIII. Legs with 1–5 indefinite pores on dorsal surface of hind coxa; each femur with 5 setae including 2 proximal setae and 3 distal setae; each tibia with 5 setae, with 1 seta in middle; hind tibia/tarsus 0.8–0.9. Antennae each 6-segmented, 187–188 μm long. Frontal lobes absent. Preantennal pores present. Microtrichia from mesothorax to segment VIII, also on mesothoracic and metathoracic coxae.

Notes: This description is based on three specimens from two localities. Second-instar females of Ov. densus are most similar to the second-instar female of Ov. davesmithi in having dome-shaped enlarged setae restricted to the body margin, multilocular pores predominantly with five loculi, and each femur with five setae. They differ as follows (character states in brackets are of Ov. densus ): each tibia with four setae, without a seta in the middle (with five setae, with a seta in the middle); with one or two multilocular pores on each side of the anterior abdominal segments (in rows of more than 10 multilocular pores on each side of the anterior abdominal segments).

First-instar nymph ( Fig. 59 )

Description: Slide-mounted specimen 1.2 mm long, 0.7 mm wide. Body elongate or broadly oval, without protruding anal lobes. Anal-lobe areas each dorsally with 2 or 3 flagellate setae; each lobe ventrally with 1 enlarged seta and 3 flagellate setae including suranal seta and elongate anal-lobe seta.

Dorsum with flagellate setae arranged in 3 pairs of loose longitudinal lines on head and thorax (medial, mediolateral and lateral), in 2 pairs of lines on abdomen (medial and mediolateral) all about same size, shorter than those on venter. Enlarged setae in 1 pair of longitudinal lines on abdomen (lateral), with 1 seta on each side of each body segment from segment III to VII, with 1 enlarged seta medially on segment VII. Enlarged setae dome-shaped, with width about same size or wider than length, of 1 size; largest seta 7 μm long, without definite apex, and narrow setal base; segment IV with 6 setae, including 4 flagellate setae and 2 enlarged setae; segment IV with combined total of 4 enlarged setae dorsally and ventrally. Macrotubular ducts absent. Microtubular ducts each about 6 μm long, with area farthest from dermal orifice sclerotized and divided into 2 parts, apical portion rounded or rectangular, about half size of remaining sclerotized portion; sclerotized area at least 2 times longer than unsclerotized area; dermal orifice heavily sclerotized, sometimes with inconspicuous protruding tube. Microtubular ducts from mesothorax to segment VII. Multilocular pores absent. With 1 cruciform pore on each side of body marginally on segment VI. Microtrichia in medial areas from metathorax to abdominal segment VIII.

Anal ring ventral, circular, complete, with few or no cells, with 3 setae on each side of ring, each about same length as greatest diameter of ring; additional pair of setae associated with, but not attached to, ring. Orifice of anal tube heavily sclerotized, with anal flap.

Venter with flagellate setae on segment II about 15 μm long, on segment VII 26 μm long; elongate anal-lobe seta 110 μm long. With 1 enlarged seta on lateral margin of each side of each body segment from head to segment VII, extra seta on mesothorax. Microtubular ducts absent. Multilocular pores with 1 mesad to each leg, and 1 associated with each spiracle, absent elsewhere, multilocular pores of 2 kinds: 7-locular pores associated with spiracles; 5- locular pores associated with each leg, 5-locular pores most numerous. Cruciform pores absent. Legs without pores; each femur with 5 setae, including 2 proximal and 3 distal; each tibia with 5 setae including 1 in middle; hind tibia/tarsus 0.8. Antennae each 6-segmented, about 138 μm long. Frontal lobes absent. With preantennal pore. Microtrichia in medial and mediolateral areas of abdomen.

Notes: The description is based on one specimen from one locality. The first-instar nymph of Ov. densus is most similar to the first-instar nymph of Ov. davesmithi in having dome-shaped enlarged setae restricted to the body margin, and each femur with five setae. They differ as follows (character states in brackets are of Ov. densus ): each tibia with four setae, without a seta in the middle (with five setae, with a seta in the middle); with a few multilocular pores on venter of abdomen (absent from abdomen).

Figures

FIGURE 57. Ovaticoccus densus (Miller 1967), second-instar female, #1 (more dorsal enlarged setae). Seeley, Imperial Co., California, USA, March 25, 1965, on Hilaria rigida, R.A. Flock and L. Pineda. A=enlarged seta; D=5-locular pore; F=microtubular duct; H=cruciform pore; I=anal ring; J=antenna; L=claw; N=flagellate seta; Q=dorsal surface of coxa.

FIGURE 58. Ovaticoccus densus (Miller 1967), second-instar female, #2 (fewer dorsal enlarged setae). 2 miles E. Yuma, Yuma Co., Arizona, USA, July 29, 1966, on Distichlis sp., 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; L=claw; Q=dorsal surface of coxa.

FIGURE 59. Ovaticoccus densus (Miller 1967), first-instar nymph, 2 miles E. Yuma, Yuma Co., Arizona, USA, July 29, 1966, on Distichlis sp., 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; N=flagellate seta.