Hadzibejliaspis ferenci Pellizzari

Pellizzari, Giuseppina, 2013, Three new species in the subfamily Eriopeltinae Šulc from Italy (Hemiptera, Coccoidea, Coccidae) with comments on the genus Lecanopsis, Zootaxa 3635 (2), pp. 101-116 : 103-106

Hadzibejliaspis ferenci Pellizzari sp. n.

( Fig. 1 )

Type material. Holotype: adult female, Italy, Abruzzo region, Parco Nazionale, Villetta Barrea, Val Fondillo (AQ), 1100m asl, 7.v.1989, leg. S. Marotta, slide C. Paratypes: 5 adult females, same data as holotype, slides n. A,B,D,E,F; 1 adult female, Parco Nazionale, pass between Villetta Barrea and Scanno, 1100m asl, leg. A.Tranfaglia, slide n. 24 (no collecting date); 1 adult female, Parco Nazionale, Passo Godi, 24.v.2000, leg. Fontana & Malagnini, slide n. 984; 1 adult female and 2 first instars, Calabria region, Pollino, Piani di Ruggio, 1550m a.s.l., 26.vi.1998, leg. Fontana, slides n. 855/1–3; 1 adult female and 2 first instars, La Sila, M. Sorbella, 1730m asl, 23.vi.1999, leg. Fontana & Malagnini, slides n. 905/1–3; 5 adult females, Molise region, Valle Fiorita (IS), 23.v.2000, 1400m asl, leg. Fontana & Malagnini, slides 978/1–7.

Adult female

Living specimens: oval, pink-yellowish, partly enclosed in a white, waxy, sub-spherical egg-sac.

Mounted specimens: body oval, 3.3 mm (2.8–4) long, 2.2 mm (1.8–2.8) wide.

Venter: derm membranous, dermal spinules present medially on thoracic and abdominal segments. Antennae 8 segmented; in some specimens one antenna 8-segmented, other 7-segmented; length of segments in µm: I 40 (42–40); II 30,5 (32–30); III 46 (50–40); IV 36 (30–42); V 30 (24–36); VI 23 (20–28); VII 22 (20–26) and VIII 32. Scape and segment II each with 2 setae, III and IV without setae, V with 2 or 3 flagellate setae, VI with 1 fleshy seta, VII with 1 fleshy setae + 1 hair-like seta, and VIII with 3 fleshy setae + 5 or 6 hair-like setae. Legs well developed, narrow ( Table 1: c). Tibio-tarsal sclerosis present. Measurements of hind leg: coxa 98 (90–100) µm long; trochanter + femur 198 (190–200) µm; tibia 162 (150–170) µm long and 29 µm wide (length to width ratio 5.5:1); tarsus bent, with a clear indentation on its dorsal margin, 99 (90–110) µm long; claw without a denticle; claw digitules longer than claw, slightly broadened apically, tarsal digitules longer than claw, thin and with a small apical swelling. Spiracles with peritreme 38 (34–48) µm wide; peritreme cavity 45 (40–50) µm wide, each cavity with 8-16 multilocular disc pores, each with 7 or 8 loculi ( Table 1: a). Spiracular disc pores, each 6 or 7 µm wide with 5–9 loculi (usually 7 or 8), forming a loose group anterolateral to each spiracle, with 20 (10–27) pores near each anterior spiracle and 10 (5–19) pores near each posterior spiracle. Simple pores scattered. Pregenital disc pores mostly with 7 or 8 loculi, each 7.5–8.5 µm wide, numerous around genital opening, becoming progressively less numerous across preceding abdominal segments. Tubular ducts of two sizes: large tubular ducts 32 (24–35) µm long, 8 µm (6–9) wide, with a thin inner ductule 19 µm long and small terminal gland; small ducts 24 µm (16–28) long, 4 µm (3–5) wide, inner ductule not seen; larger tubular ducts more frequent than small ones, numerous on venter and thorax, less frequent on head; many large tubular ducts with characteristic elongate ridges along at least part of their inner surface. Body setae very small, about 7–8 µm long, scattered; with one pair of interantennal setae, 50–60 µm long; with one pair of pregenital setae present medially on last 4 or 5 abdominal sternites, each 50–64 µm long. Other body setae very small, about 8–10 µm long, scattered.

Dorsum: derm membranous, with segmentation apparent on thorax and abdomen. Eyespots present near margin, small, 28 µm wide. Preopercular pores without a dark rim, small, mostly 5 (4–6) µm wide, forming a sparse, irregular band 4–5 pores wide (maximum) from anal plates to metathoracic segment. Tubular ducts same shape and size as on venter, larger ducts scarce on head, most numerous on thorax and abdomen; smaller ducts, sparse, most frequent on anal lobes. Body setae short, about 6 µm long, sparse. Marginal setae bent, each about 9 µm long on thorax and abdomen, but those on anal lobes and head apex up to 16–20 µm. Anal ring with 6 setae, each about 100 µm long. Anal plates subtriangular, with three apical or subapical setae.

First instar (crawler) ( Fig. 2 )

Living specimens: body yellowish, elongate oval and flattened. Legs and antennae well developed.

Mounted specimens: body oval 460 (405–525) µm long and 210 (200–225) µm wide. Eyes situated dorsomarginally.

Venter: antennae 6 segmented, 96 (93–104) µm long, third segment slightly longer than others. With 1 pair of interantennal setae and 1 trilocular pore near scape of each antenna. Legs subequal, well developed. Tarsal digitules clearly longer than claw digitules. Loop of mouth stylets 225 µm long, reaching abdominal segment IV. Spiracles small, each with two spiracular disc pores in peritreme cavity; spiracular disc pores with 5–9 loculi, forming a group of 5–7 pores between each anterior spiracle and body margin and a group of 3–8 pores between each posterior spiracle and body margin. Minute hair-like setae distributed in a submarginal row around body and in two medial and submedial longitudinal rows on abdomen.

Margin: anal lobes well developed, each with an apical seta 200 µm long. Marginal setae minaret-like, with 5 on either margin of head (3 or 4 anterior to each eye-spot and 1 posterior to each eyespot), plus 3 on margin of thorax and 8 or 9 on either margin of abdomen. Minaret-like setae on head and thorax smaller than those on abdomen.

Dorsum: with 1 pair of short dorsal setae medially on each thoracic segment. Small simple pores present, forming a submarginal and a submedial longitudinal row on thorax and abdomen and with 1 or 2 pores also on head. Anal ring round, with pores and 6 short setae. Normal anal plates absent.

Etymology. The species is named in honour of Dr. Ferenc Kozár (Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Plant Protection Institute, Budapest, Hungary), eminent coccidologist and generous friend.

Host plant. Specimens on slides n. 855, 905, 978, 984 collected near roots of unknown plants under stones; slides A-F collected near roots of unknown plants, and slide n. 24 off roots of “ Gramineae (= Poaceae ) or Fabaceae ”.

Distribution. Italy (Abruzzo, Molise, Calabria regions). All specimens were collected at 1000 to 1500 m asl.

Comments. The adult females of H. ferenci differ from those of H. stipae in having (characters of H. stipae in brackets): (i) 8–16 spiracular disc pores within each peritreme cavity (3 or 4); (ii) spiracular disc pores also forming a group of about 20 pores near each anterior spiracular opening (1 or 2), and (iii) each tubular duct slightly sclerotised along about 1/3 of length (2/3). The first-instar of H. ferenci is of the Lecanopsis type, with minaret-like setae on body margin.

H. ferenci is assigned to the genus Hadzibejliaspis because of the presence of: (i) 5 pairs of pregenital setae, (ii) hind tibia with length/width ratio greater than 5:1, (iii) large tubular ducts, in part with ridges, and (iv) spiracles opening into a small peritreme cavity with few inner disc pores.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Hadzibejliaspis ferenci n. sp., adult female.

FIGURE 2. Hadzibejliaspis ferenci n. sp., first instar nymph.