Carpochloroides mexicanus Ferris, 1957

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 : 59-60

Carpochloroides mexicanus Ferris

Carpochloroides mexicanus Ferris 1957: 84 .

Type material: From the syntypes, we have chosen and marked as lectotype an adult female; the right label reads “ Carpochloroides / mexicanus / Type / Eugenia / acapulcensis / Chivela, Mexico / G.F. Ferris 1926 / STANFORD UNIVERSITY / NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM”; left label “ Carpochloroides / mexicanus / (Ferris) / 1 ad. ♀ / 1 parasite larva” and gives a map of their position ( UCD); label on back of slide “ Carpochloroides / mexicanus Ferris / LECTOTYPE / Parasite larva / UCD.” In addition, there are 9 paralectotypes, some of which were used by Ferris for the line drawing; others were used for the original description of the gall and were mounted after the original description.

Specimens examined: MEXICO: Oaxaca: Chivela , III-?-1926, on Eugenia acapulcensis, G.F. Ferris (1 ad. ♀ lectotype, 4 ad. ♀♀ paralectotypes mounted by Ferris on 3 slides, 5 ad. ♀♀ paralectotypes mounted at USDA on 4 slides) UCD (5 slides), USNM (3 slides) .

Etymology: The species epithet “ mexicanus ” is named in honor of the country where the species was collected.

Field features: Carpochloroides mexicanus was found in galls that contained not only this species but also numerous specimens of Carpo. eugeniae . For a detailed description of the gall, see “Field notes” of the latter species, above. In the original description of Carpo. mexicanus, Ferris (1957: 84) described it in the field as follows: “Forming gall on the small twigs of the host, these galls involving the petioles of several leaves, almost globular and attaining a length of as much as two cm. There must be some opening to this gall but this is extremely obscure.” It seems likely that Carpo. mexicanus is not the species that induces the galls.

Adult female ( Fig. 30 )

Description: Slide-mounted specimens, 1.1–1.6 mm long, 0.9–1.4 mm wide. Body rotund, without protruding anal lobes. Anal-lobe areas each dorsally with 2 or 3 short flagellate setae, 0–3 macrotubular ducts; ventrally each with 2 or 3 flagellate setae, including elongate anal-lobe seta, 0–2 macrotubular ducts.

Dorsum with flagellate setae slightly longer than ventral setae, each about 7 μm long, not arranged in pattern. Enlarged setae absent. Macrotubular ducts unusually elongate, apical sclerotized cup unusually flat, abundant over entire surface. Microtubular ducts absent. Multilocular pores all 5-locular, lightly scattered over surface except absent from posterior abdominal segments. Cruciform pores absent. Microtrichia absent.

Anal ring reduced, circular, weakly sclerotized, without pores or setae; anal tube without sclerotization, dermal orifice sclerotized. Without anal flap.

Venter with flagellate setae noticeably short, about 5 μm long; anal-lobe setae 25–38 μm long, setae apically acute. Enlarged setae absent. Macrotubular ducts of same size and shape as on dorsum, scattered over entire surface. Microtubular ducts absent. Multilocular pores of same kind and distribution as on dorsum except with small cluster near each spiracle. Cruciform pores absent. Legs absent. Antennae each unsegmented, about 18 μm long, with 4 or 5 sensory setae and 0–2 short flagellate setae. Labium 2- or 3-segmented. Clypeolabral shield with large anterior lobes. Frontal lobes, preantennal pores and microtrichia absent.

Notes: The description is based on ten specimens from one locality. The adult female of Carpo. mexicanus keys to Carpochloroides in the generic key presented by Hodgson et al. (2004) but differs as indicated in the “Notes” section of the genus given above. Specimens of this species are in poor condition, making description and illustration difficult at best. Details of the labium were difficult to discern; the proximal segment may not be as distinct as illustrated.

Figures

FIGURE 30. Carpochloroides mexicanus Ferris 1957, adult female, Chivela, Oaxaca, Mexico, February?, 1925, on Eugenia acapulcensis, G.F. Ferris. D=5-locular pore; G=macrotubular duct; I=anal ring; J=antenna; N=flagellate seta.