Ovaticoccus maryfoleybensonae Miller and 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 : 139-140

Ovaticoccus maryfoleybensonae Miller and Stocks sp. n.

Type material: Adult female holotype (specimen on right side of slide of 3 specimens) with right label “Ovaticocccus / maryfoleybensonae / Miller & / Stocks / Holotype / Paratypes; with a map of the position of the holotype and the two paratypes.” Left label “Dactylopiinae / on Muhlenbergia / Elk Point , S. Dakota / C.N. Ainslie, Coll. / 2-25.18 / Rec’d 1932 in / G.N. Ainslie Collection / Webster #11824;” label on back of slide “ Ovaticoccus / maryfoleybensonae / Miller & Stocks / HOLOTYPE / USNM / South Dakota.” The holotype is in USNM. Paratypes: UNITED STATES: South Dakota: Union Co.: Elk Point, IX-2-1925, on Muhlenbergia sp. , C.N. Ainslie (1 ad. ♀ holotype, 6 ad. ♀♀ paratypes, 37 first-instar nymph paratypes on 5 slides), UCD (1 slide), USNM (4 slides) .

Etymology: This species is named in honor of the late Mary Foley Benson who was a talented artist and scientific illustrator. In the study of scale insects, she is best known for her watercolor paintings of mealybugs in the field and her line drawings of slide-mounted specimens in McKenzie (1967). The jacket on this publication is a bright, colorful collage of the ornate images of the mealybugs of California. Early in her career she illustrated many scale insects for the publications of Louise Russell and Harold Morrison and contributed several images for the 1952 Agriculture Yearbook. Her artwork depicting plants, insects, and insect life histories has been displayed in several art galleries in the western USA. The watercolor pictures of Acanthococcus araucariae , Ovaticoccus adoxus and O. salviae included in this publication were presented to the first author in 1966. She also is known for being one of the first women to fly in the Army Air Corps during World War II.

Field features: Probably occurring in leaf blade sheaths.

Adult female ( Fig. 71 )

Description: Holotype, slide mounted, 4.8 mm long, 1.4 mm wide (paratypes 3.8–4.4 mm long, 1.4–1.5 mm wide). Body elongate, without protruding anal lobes. Anal-lobe areas each dorsally with 3 setae and cluster of more than 10 multilocular pores; ventrally each with 3 setae including suranal seta and anal-lobe seta and cluster of more than 10 multilocular pores.

Dorsum with flagellate setae apically acute, shorter than those on venter, becoming progressively shorter anteriorly, not arranged in longitudinal lines, flagellate. Enlarged setae absent; segment IV with 20 setae (paratypes with 18–22). Macrotubular ducts scattered over entire surface, less numerous than on venter, in small numbers on segments V–VII. Microtubular ducts approximately 5 μm long, with area farthest from dermal orifice sclerotized and divided into 2 parts, apical portion rounded, slightly shorter than remaining sclerotized portion; dermal orifice inconspicuous and lightly sclerotized, without protruding tube. Microtubular ducts in small numbers on posterior 3 abdominal segments and on head. Multilocular pores over entire surface, of 4 kinds: 9-locular pores more numerous than 6-locular pores and 5-locular pores, less abundant than 7-locular pores; 6-locular pores and 5-locular pores rare. Cruciform pores abundant, most numerous on lateral margins excluding segment VIII. Microtrichia absent.

Anal ring ventral, incomplete, divided posteriorly, cellular, with 3 setae on each side of ring, each approximately ½ length of greatest diameter of ring; with additional pair of setae associated with ring but not attached; anal tube sclerotized; anal opening sclerotized; without anal flap.

Venter with longest flagellate seta on segment II 30 μm long (paratype 22–28 μm), on segment VII 32 μm long (paratypes 30–35μm); anal-lobe seta 182 μm long (paratypes 155–185 μm). Enlarged setae absent. Macrotubular ducts same size as on dorsum, present over entire surface. Microtubular ducts near lateral margins of thorax and abdomen. Multilocular pores most abundant posteriorly, of same kinds as on dorsum. Cruciform pores from head to segment VI; most abundant near lateral margins of anterior abdominal segments. Legs with hind coxae with 13 and 18 pores dorsally, ventrally with 0 and 1 (paratypes dorsally with 12–22, ventrally without pores); each femur with 5 setae including 2 proximal setae and 3 distal; each tibia with 4 setae, without middle seta; hind tibia/tarsus 0.8 (paratypes 0.7–0.9). Antennae each 7-segmented (paratypes 6- or 7-segmented), 205 and 200 μm long (paratypes 185–200 μm). Frontal lobes absent. Preantennal pore absent. Microtrichia absent from derm, present on all coxae.

Notes: This description is based on seven specimens from one locality.The adult female of Ov. maryfoleybensonae is most similar to the adult female of Ov. davesmithi in having dorsal and ventral multilocular pores and cruciform pores, the multilocular pores predominantly with more than five loculi, and by having five setae on each femur including two proximal setae.They differ by having (character states in brackets are those of Ov. maryfoleybensonae ): enlarged setae present near body margin (absent); anal ring complete (incomplete).

First-instar nymph ( Fig. 72 )

Description: Slide-mounted specimens 0.5–0.6 mm long, 0.2–0.3 mm wide.Body elongate oval, with protruding anal lobes. Anal-lobe areas dorsally each with 3 flagellate setae, 0 or 1 microtubular ducts; ventrally each with 3 flagellate setae including suranal seta and anal-lobe seta.

Dorsum with flagellate setae arranged in 3 pairs of longitudinal lines (medial, mediolateral and lateral); longitudinal lines replaced by enlarged setae on posterior segments, usually medial line ends on segment VI, mediolateral line ends on segment V, lateral line ends on segment III, some specimens with 1 or 2 more or less. Enlarged setae in 3 pairs of longitudinal lines on abdomen (medial, mediolateral and lateral) replacing flagellate lines posteriorly; largest setae about 8 μm long; enlarged setae nipple shaped, laterally with curved sides, with rounded apices; setal base thin; not in dermal pocket; with 6 setae on segment IV, including 2 enlarged setae and 4 flagellate setae; segment IV with combined total of 2 enlarged setae on dorsum and venter. Macrotubular ducts absent. Microtubular ducts approximately 4 μm long, with area farthest from dermal orifice sclerotized and divided into 2 parts, apical portion rounded or truncate depending on angle, about same length as remaining sclerotized portion; dermal orifice sclerotized; in lateral areas of abdomen, uncommon on head and thorax. Multilocular pores absent. Cruciform pores in lateral areas of thorax. Microtrichia from mesothorax to segment VIII.

Anal ring ventral or marginal, semicircular, incomplete, divided anteriorly, cellular, with 3 setae on each side of ring, each same length as or longer than greatest diameter of ring; with additional pair of setae associated with anal ring; anal tube weakly sclerotized, anal opening sclerotized, without anal flap.

Venter with longest flagellate seta on segment II 10–17 μm long, on segment VII 18–27 μm long; anal-lobe seta 120–172 μm long. Enlarged setae absent. Macrotubular ducts and microtubular ducts absent. Multilocular pores abundant, in submarginal row from head to segment VIII, with 2 associated with each spiracle, of at least 5 kinds: 5-locular pores uncommon, 7-locular pores most abundant, 9-locular pores, 10-locular pores, and 11-locular pores often present. Cruciform pores absent. Legs without pores; each femur with 5 setae including 2 proximally and 3 distally; each tibia with 4 setae, without middle seta; hind tibia/tarsus 0.8–0.9. Antennae each 6-segmented, 128–138μm long. Frontal lobes absent. Preantennal pore present. Microtrichia in medial area of mesothorax to segment VIII, absent from coxae.

Notes: This description is based on 37 specimens from one locality. The first-instar nymph of Ov. maryfoleybensonae is most similar to the first-instar nymph of Ov. peruvianus in lacking dorsal multilocular pores, having a few dorsal cruciform pores on the thorax, and having dorsal microtubular ducts. They differ by having (character states in brackets are those of Ov. maryfoleybensonae ): multilocular pores predominantly with five loculi (more than five); with one multilocular pore associated with each spiracle (two); mediolateral and lateral lines of enlarged setae present from head to segment VII (present on abdomen only).

Figures

FIGURE 71. Ovaticoccus maryfoleybensonae sp. n., adult female, Elk Point, Union Co., South Dakota, USA, September 2, 1925, on Muhlenbergia sp., C.N. Ainslie. C=7-locular pore; D=5-locular pore; F=microtubular duct; G=macrotubular duct; H=cruciform pore; I=anal ring; J=antenna; K=dorsal surface of coxa; L=claw; N=flagellate seta; S=6-locular pore; T=pore with>7 loculi.

FIGURE 72. Ovaticoccus maryfoleybensonae sp. n., first-instar nymph, Elk Point, Union Co., South Dakota, USA, September 2, 1925, on Muhlenbergia sp., C.N. Ainslie. A=enlarged seta; C=7-locular pore; D=5-locular pore; F=microtubular duct (shown in two views); H=cruciform pore; I=anal ring; N=flagellate seta; T=pore with>7 loculi.