Spiroporococcus yuccae (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 : 188

Spiroporococcus yuccae (Ferris)

Fonscolombia yuccae Ferris 1919: 18 .

Pseudochermes yuccae (Ferris) ; Lindinger 1933b: 32 (change of combination).

Gymnococcus yuccae (Ferris) ; Ferris 1955: 190 (change of combination).

Ovaticoccus yuccae (Ferris) ; Boratynski 1958: 174 (change of combination).

Spiroporococcus yuccae (Ferris) ; Miller and McKenzie 1967: 533-535 (change of combination).

Material examined: not previously published: Arizona: Pima Co.: Santa Rita Range, 30 mi. S. Tucson, XII-?-1978, on Digitaria californica, E. Hoffman (1 ad. ♀ on 1 slide) CDFA .

Since this species was described in Fonscolombia in 1919, it has been moved to four other genera, but has been in Spiroporococcus since the work of Miller and McKenzie (1967). The adult female of this species was described by Ferris (1919, 1955) and by Miller and McKenzie (1967). Information from these papers is not repeated here. A “nymphal female” (= second-instar female) was described by Miller and McKenzie (1967) but is redescribed and illustrated in more detail here.

Etymology: The species epithet “ yuccae ” is based on the scientific name of the host plant of this species.

Second-instar female ( Fig. 97 )

Description: Slide-mounted specimens 1.1–1.2 mm long, 0.6 mm wide. Body broadly oval, with protruding anal lobes. Anal-lobe areas each dorsally with 2 or 3 flagellate setae, with 1 or 2 enlarged setae, 0 or 1 microtubular ducts; ventrally each with 3 flagellate setae including elongate anal-lobe seta.

Dorsum with flagellate setae arranged in 2 pairs of longitudinal lines (medial and mediolateral). Enlarged setae in 3 pairs of longitudinal lines (medial, mediolateral and lateral) from head to segment VII, with 1 pair of enlarged setae lateral on segment VIII, some enlarged setae replaced by flagellate setae on head and prothorax. Largest setae about 12 μm long; enlarged setae conical, laterally with nearly straight sides, with rounded apex; setal base thin; not in dermal pockets; segment IV with 9 or 10 setae including 5 or 6 enlarged setae and 4 flagellate setae; segment IV with combined total of 6 enlarged setae dorsally and ventrally. Macrotubular ducts absent. Microtubular ducts each approximately 5 μm long, with area farthest from dermal orifice sclerotized and divided into 2 parts, apical portion rounded, normally smaller than remaining sclerotized portion; total sclerotized area same length as unsclerotized area; dermal orifice unsclerotized, with inconspicuous tube projecting from orifice; microtubular ducts scattered over entire surface, associated with enlarged setae. Multilocular pores rare, usually with 1 or 2 on segment VIII. Cruciform pores and microtrichia absent.

Anal ring dorsal or marginal, complete, with narrow bridge between lateral plates, with few inconspicuous pores; with 3 setae on each side of ring, each shorter than greatest diameter of ring; without extra seta on each side of ring; anal tube and anal opening unsclerotized; with anal flap.

Venter with longest flagellate seta on segment II 12–15 μm long, on segment VII 12–20 μm long; anal-lobe seta about 102 μm long. Enlarged setae absent. Multilocular pores abundant over entire surface, concentrated in false atrium of each spiracle; of 2 kinds: 5-locular pores most abundant; 9-locular pores rare near spiracles, sometimes absent. Cruciform pores laterally from head or thorax to segments V or VI, sometimes less abundant. Legs with hind coxae with inconspicuous pores; each femur with 5 setae, 2 proximal and 3 distal; each tibia with 5 setae, with 1 in middle; hind tibia/tarsus 0.7–0.8. Antennae each 6-segmented, 150–157 μm long. Frontal lobes absent. Preantennal pore present. Microtrichia from mesothorax to segment VIII, also on mesothoracic and metathoracic coxae.

Notes: The description is based on six specimens from two localities. The second-instar female of S. yuccae is similar to the only other known second-instar female of a species of Spiroporococcus , i.e., S. braggi , in having a concentration of multilocular pores in the false atrium of the thoracic spiracles. Spiroporococcus braggi differs as follows (character states of S. yuccae are given in brackets): with a combined total of 10 enlarged setae on segment IV on dorsum and venter (with combined total of six).

We also have examined two second-instar females and two wingless adult males from Fabens, Texas on Atriplex sp. , July 1921 collected by G.F. Ferris, that are tentatively determined as this species, but they are in such poor condition that it is difficult to be certain about their identity.

Figures

FIGURE 97. Spiroporococcus yuccae (Ferris 1919), second-instar female, El Paso, El Paso Co., Texas, USA, July?, 1921, on Agave lophantha var. poselgeri (=lecheguilla), G.F. Ferris. A=enlarged seta; D=5-locular pore; F=microtubular duct; H=cruciform pore; I=anal ring; N=flagellate seta; Q=dorsal surface of coxa; Y=spiracle.