Apezococcus idiastes 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 : 39-44

Apezococcus idiastes Ferris

Apezococcus idiastes Ferris 1955: 79 .

Type material: From the syntypes we have selected and marked as lectotype an adult female. The left label reads “T280 / Apezococcus idiastes n. sp. / On Aristida / TYPE / Pecos R., near Sheffield, / Ferris, 1921 G.F.F.” UCD. There are 2 specimens on the slide, the specimen on the left when viewed with the naked eye is the lectotype .

Specimens examined: UNITED STATES: Arizona: northeast Arizona,?-?-1940, on undetermined grass, G.F. Ferris (8 ad. ♀♀ and possibly 1 first-instar nymph on 4 slides) UCD; Coconino Co.: near House Rock, VII-25- 1940, on Sporobolus sp. , G.F. Ferris (2 ad. ♀♀ paralectotypes on 1 slide) UCD; House Rock Valley, IX-?-1945, on undetermined grass, Stafanovich (2 ad. ♀♀ on 1 slide) UCD; near Flagstaff, near Sunset Crater,?-?-1940, on Bouteloua sp. , G.F. Ferris (3 ad. ♀♀ on 2 slides) UCD. Colorado: Weld Co.: Nunn Pawnee Grassland, VII-22-1970, host unknown, R. Kumar (3 adult ♀♀ and 5 first-instar nymphs on 2 slides) USNM. South Dakota: Custer County: Custer State Park, V-08-1967, on B. hirsuta (= Chondrosum hirsutum ), M. Kosztarab (1 ad. ♀ on 1 slide) USNM; Pennington Co.: Wasta, VII-12-1970, on grass, D.R. Miller (1 adult ♀ and 1 first-instar nymph on 2 slides) USNM. Texas: El Paso Co.: Mt. Franklin, VI-?-1921, on grass, G.F. Ferris (9 ad. ♀ ♀ paralectotypes, 5 first-instar nymphs paralectotypes on 11 slides) UCD; Maverick Co.: 35 mi. W. Eagle Pass,?-?-1921, on grass, G.F. Ferris (2 ad. ♀♀ paralectotypes on 2 slides) UCD; Pecos Co.: Pecos River, near Sheffield, VI-?-1921, on Aristida sp. , G.F. Ferris (1 ad. ♀ lectotype and 4 ad. ♀♀ paralectotypes on 5 slides) UCD; Pecos River, near Sheffield,?-?-1921, on Stipa sp. , G.F. Ferris (5 ad. ♀♀, 1 second-instar ♀ on 4 slides) CDFA, UCD.

Etymology: We are uncertain of the derivation of the species epithet “ idiastes .” We suspect that it is from the Greek word “ idios ” meaning “distinct” and refers to the distinct characteristics of this unusual species.

Field features: According to Ferris (1955: 79) “Occurring at the base of the culms under leaf sheaths, almost bare of secretion.”

Adult female ( Fig. 18 )

Description: Slide-mounted specimens, 0.9–2.5 mm long, 0.7–2.4 mm wide. Body oval to rotund, without protruding anal lobes. Anal-lobe areas each dorsally with 0 or 1 enlarged seta and 1 short flagellate seta; each ventrally with 2 or 3 flagellate setae and 0 or 1 cruciform pores.

Dorsum with flagellate setae restricted to posterior 2 or 3 abdominal segments, each about 10 μm long. Enlarged setae not arranged in longitudinal pattern, scattered over surface on head to segment VII; of 1 variable size, largest seta about 7 μm long; enlarged setae dome-shaped or nipple-shaped, normally with short apical projection, sometimes without projection; setal base robust, sometimes as large as seta itself; newly molted adult females with enlarged setae each partially recessed in dermal pocket, with truncate apices, and moderately thick setal rings; segment IV with 18–25 setae. Macrotubular ducts absent. Microtubular ducts about 5 μm long, with area farthest from dermal orifice sclerotized and divided into 2 parts, apical portion truncate, slightly smaller than remaining sclerotized portion; total sclerotized area same length as unsclerotized area; dermal orifice normally unsclerotized, rarely with weak sclerotization, without projection. Microtubular ducts abundant over entire surface. Multilocular pores absent. Cruciform pores on posterior thorax and abdomen, rarely with 1 or 2 on head and anterior thorax. Microtrichia absent.

Anal ring ventral or dorsal, circular, incomplete, with a few cells and no setae, without anal flap. Anal tube sclerotized.

Venter with flagellate setae slightly more robust than on normal eriococcid, setae on segment II 10–15 μm long, on segment VII 12–21 μm; anal-lobe seta 30–50 μm long; medial setae apically slightly swollen or acute. Enlarged setae about same size as smaller dorsal enlarged setae; lateral setae from head to segment VI or VII; medial setae variable, normally on head and most abdominal segments, absent from thorax; often difficult to distinguish from multilocular pores. Macrotubular ducts absent. Microtubular ducts in same areas as enlarged setae. Multilocular pores most abundant near spiracles, also in submedial line from head to segments III, IV, or V, with few pores near mouthparts; multilocular pores of 4‒ 7 types: 7-locular pores and 5-locular pores most abundant, 6-locular pores and 8-locular pores slightly less abundant, 9-locular pores, 4-locular pores, and 3-locular pores rare or absent. Cruciform pores absent from head, restricted to areas near metathoracic pore plates and spiracles, scattered over abdomen. Sclerotized bars on each side of vulva unusually conspicuous. Legs absent except for large pore plate on metathorax. Antennae abortive, each 2- or 3-segmented, 37–48 μm long. Thin sensory setae present on 1 or 2 segments. Frontal lobes and preantennal pore absent. Microtrichia present in medial areas of head to segment VIII.

Notes: The description is based on 37 specimens from nine localities. The adult female of Ap. idiastes is unique in having a pore plate posterior to the hind spiracle; enlarged setae scattered over dorsum and not arranged in longitudinal lines; and cruciform pores present on the dorsum and venter.

Second-instar female ( Fig. 19 )

Description: Slide-mounted specimens 0.8–0.9 mm long, 0.4–0.6 mm wide. Body oval to rotund, without protruding anal lobes. Anal-lobe areas each dorsally with 0 or 1 enlarged seta and 1 short flagellate seta; ventrally with 2–5 flagellate setae including anal-lobe seta.

Dorsum with flagellate seta about 7 μm long, restricted to posterior 1 or 2 abdominal segments. Enlarged setae in transverse rows on head to segment VII of 1 variable size: largest seta about 7 μm long. Enlarged setae of 2 sizes: larger size approximately 8 μm long, present in 2 pairs of longitudinal lines (mediolateral and lateral) on posterior thorax to segment VII, also near eye; smaller size about 6 μm long, scattered from head to segment VII, most abundant on thorax. Enlarged setae basically same shape as on adult female except setal bases smaller; segment IV with 8 setae. Microtubular ducts associated with enlarged setae. Cruciform pores rare, present on posterior thorax and anterior areas of abdomen. Microtrichia absent.

Anal ring dorsal, circular, incomplete, with few cells and no setae, without anal flap. Anal tube sclerotized.

Venter with longest flagellate seta on segment II 11μm long, on segment VII 13 μm; anal-lobe seta 38 μm long; medial setae apically acute. Enlarged setae of smaller size only, restricted to lateral margins. Microtubular ducts in lateral and sublateral areas. Multilocular pores present from head to anterior abdominal segments, most abundant near spiracles; multilocular pores of 4 or 5 types: 5-locular pores most abundant, 6-locular pores, 4-locular pores and 3-locular pores rare or absent. Cruciform pores scattered over thorax and abdomen. Sclerotized bars absent. Legs rudimentary, normally with 3 pairs. Antennae each 2-segmented, about 20 μm long. Frontal lobes and preantennal pore absent. Microtrichia present in medial areas of head to segment VIII.

Notes: The description is based on one specimen from at, or near, the type locality. The second-instar female of Ap. idiastes is unique in having: legs represented by sclerotized plates or unsclerotized projections; anal ring with setae absent; dome-shaped setae present on dorsum; cruciform pores on dorsum and venter.

First-instar nymph ( Fig. 20 )

Description: Slide-mounted specimen about 0.6 mm long, 0.3 mm wide. Body elongate, without protruding anal lobes. Anal-lobe area dorsally each with 1 flagellate seta and 1 enlarged seta; ventrally each with 2–4 flagellate setae including anal-lobe seta.

Dorsum with flagellate setae in single longitudinal line in medial area on each side of body, sometimes line incomplete or nearly absent. Enlarged setae of 1 size present in 2 pairs of longitudinal lines (mediolateral and lateral) on each side of body, in transverse rows from head to segment VII; largest seta about 7 μm long; enlarged setae dome-shaped with rounded apex; setal base medium; segment IV with 6 setae including 4 enlarged setae and 1 or 2 flagellate setae; segment IV with combined total of 4 enlarged setae on dorsum and venter. Macrotubular ducts, microtubular ducts, multilocular pores, and cruciform pores absent. Microtrichia absent.

Anal ring dorsal, semicircular, incomplete, divided anteriorly and posteriorly, with 2 or 3 inconspicuous setae on each side of ring, each shorter than diameter of ring, with 1 or 2 cells on each side of ring; additional pair of setae absent; anal tube sclerotized; anal orifice unsclerotized.

Venter with flagellate setae, longest seta on segment II broken, on segment VII about 17 μm; longest anallobe seta approximately 70 μm long. Enlarged setae absent. Macrotubular ducts and microtubular ducts absent. Multilocular pores with 2 on each side of head, and 1 near each spiracle, usually 5-locular pores. Cruciform pores present in sublateral areas of thorax. Legs without pores; each femur with 3 setae, without proximal seta; each tibia with 4 setae; hind tibia/tarsus 0.7. Antenna 6-segmented, about 120 μm long. Frontal lobes absent. Preantennal pore present. Microtrichia apparently absent.

Notes: The description is based on six specimens from two localities. The first-instar nymph of Ap. idiastes is most similar to the first-instar nymph of several species of Ovaticoccus in having dome-shaped enlarged setae, a reduced anal ring, and longitudinal lines of dorsal enlarged setae. Apezococcus idiastes is unique in having the following combination of character states: multilocular pores with five loculi; dome-shaped setae restricted to mediolateral and lateral lines; and each femur with three setae.

Figures

FIGURE 18. Apezococcus idiastes Ferris 1955, adult female, Pecos River, near Sheffield, Texas, USA., month?, day?, 1921, on Stipa sp., G.F. Ferris. A=enlarged seta; C=7-locular pore; D=5-locular pore; F=microtubular duct; H=cruciform pore; I=anal ring; J=antenna; S=6-locular pore; T=pore with>7 loculi.

FIGURE 19. Apezococcus idiastes Ferris 1955, second-instar female, Pecos River, near Sheffield, Texas, USA, month?, day?, 1921, on Stipa sp., G.F. Ferris. A=enlarged seta; D=5-locular pore; F=microtubular duct; H=cruciform pore; I=anal ring; J=antenna; S=6-locular pore; U=4-locular pore; V=leg remnant.

FIGURE 20. Apezococcus idiastes Ferris 1955, first-instar nymph, Mt. Franklin, El Paso Co., Texas, USA, June?, 1921, on grass, G.F. Ferris. A=enlarged seta; D=5-locular pore; H=cruciform pore; I=anal ring; L=claw.