Paraputo blackmani ­­Joshi

Joshi, Sunil, Amarendra, B., Mendonce, Viyolla Pavana & Sushil, S. N., 2024, -- A- - new- - species- - of- - Paraputo- - Laing- - 1929 -- (Hemiptera: -- Coccomorpha: -- Pseudococcidae) -- from- - India, Zootaxa 5443 (4), pp. 567-579 : 569-578

Paraputo blackmani ­­Joshi ,­­sp.­­n.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:54A66CE5-7612-4061-835E-FFC5F596332B

Type­­material.­­ Holotype ­­ adult ♀ mounted on a slide together with 4 paratypes: INDIA / Karnataka / Bengaluru Rural / Butea monosperma / (Lam.) Taub /, 26.VII.2023 / V. Srinivas leg., / [ ICAR / NBAIR /PSEUDO / Paraputo /260723- 01]; holotype marked by encircling with permanent marker (Fig. 1B).

Paratypes ­­that­­were­­measured:­­ 9 ♀♀, same data as holotype, with 4 on the same slide as the holotype and the remaining 5 mounted on a second slide [ ICAR / NBAIR /PSEUDO/ Paraputo /260723-02-10]; 8 ♀♀ INDIA, Karnataka, Tubagere, Bengaluru Rural district, Butea monosperma , 03.VIII.2023, V. Srinivas leg., [ ICAR / NBAIR /PSEUDO/ Paraputo /030823-11-18] all mounted together on one slide; 10 ♀♀ INDIA, Karnataka, Tubagere, Bengaluru Rural district, Butea monosperma , 18.VIII.2023, K. Harish leg., [ ICAR / NBAIR /PSEUDO/ Paraputo /180823-19-28], with 4 ♀♀ on one slide and 6 ♀♀ on a second slide.

A total of 28 adult females (1 holotype and 27 paratypes), mounted on 5 slides, were measured.

Paratypes ­­not­­measured: 26 ♀♀ mounted on 5 slides; same data as holotype except for collection dates ; 25.VII.2023 [ ICAR / NBAIR /PSEUDO / Paraputo /250723-29-41], 13 specimens mounted on 3 slides ; 3.VIII.2023 [ ICAR / NBAIR /PSEUDO / Paraputo /030823-42-48], 7 specimens mounted on 1 slide; and 18.VIII.2023 [ ICAR / NBAIR /PSEUDO / Paraputo /180823-49-54], 6 specimens mounted on 1 slide .

Description­­of­­adult­­female­­

Live­­appearance. In the field population, some adult females were white and remained so even after preservation in 70% ethanol (Fig. 1A). These females did not show any morphological differences after mounting. Other live adult females were peach coloured even when preserved in 70% ethanol (Fig. 1A). Body oval or rotund, ventral surface flat but dorsal surface semicircular in profile; legs and antennae yellowish brown, translucent; nymphs peach-pink, lightly dusted with wax (Fig. 2C); body of adult female covered by flocculent white mealy wax, without bare areas on dorsum; intersegmental areas without mealy wax; segmental lines visible only for posterior abdominal segments; very short lateral wax filaments present on abdominal segments, pair on last abdominal segment a little longer and curved; wax filaments absent from anterior abdominal segments, thorax and head (Fig. 2D). As females became rotund with age, wax cover on mid-dorsal area lost and females looked bare peach. Ovisac absent; eggs not seen, perhaps ovoviviparous.

Slide-mounted­­specimens.­­ Measurements based on all 28 type specimens. Body of adult female broadly oval to almost circular, membranous (Fig. 3A); largest specimen 2.15–3.75 mm long and 1.98–3.38 mm wide (holotype 2.75 mm long, 2.13 mm wide). Eyespots each 35–40 (40) µm in diameter, not associated with discoidal pores. Antennae each normally 7 segmented (holotype with one antenna 6 segmented and other 7 segmented) (Fig. 3B), total antenna length about 370–395 (395) µm; apical segment 98–100 (100) µm long and 23–25 (25) µm wide. Labium 3 segmented, 70–75 (70) µm wide at base and 140–180 (140) µm long, noticeably longer than clypeolabral shield, which is about 80–90 (85) µm long. Mesothoracic spiracles each 45–50 (45) µm long including apodeme, and 37–42 (40) wide across peritreme; metathoracic spiracles each 120–142 (140) µm long including apodeme, and 85–100 (100) µm wide across peritreme. Anal lobes well developed in some specimens but moderately or poorly developed in others, ventral surface of each lobe bearing stout apical seta about 135–150 (150) µm long (Fig. 3C). Legs well developed, very stout; measurements (in µm): hind trochanter + femur about 310–330 (330) long, hind tibia + tarsus 240–250 (245) long; hind tibia 170–180 (180) long and hind tarsus 90–100 (100); claw stout, about 47–50 (48) long. Tarsal digitules on each leg capitate, 55–60 (58) µm long; claw digitules capitate, 33–40 µm long; claw without a denticle (Fig. 3D). Ratio of lengths of hind tibia + tarsus to hind trochanter + femur about 0.75–0.77. Ratio of lengths of hind tibia to tarsus about 1.80. Hind femur 93–95 (94) µm wide, almost twice as wide as hind tibia, which is 40–45 (45) µm wide. Hind coxa (200–210 (200) µm wide, moderately enlarged compared to other coxae [prothoracic coxa 155–160 (160) µm wide, and mesothoracic coxa 145–150 (150) µm wide]. A total of 40–120 translucent pores present on anterior and 20–60 on posterior surfaces of hind coxa (Fig. 3E), translucent pores absent from hind tibia and hind tarsus. Hind trochanter with longest seta 120–130 (128) µm long. Circulus present between abdominal segments III and IV roughly rectangular in shape, 152–160 (158) µm wide, notched laterally and divided by intersegmental line. Trilocular pores triangular in appearance, with boomerang-shaped locules (Fig. 3F). Both pairs of ostioles well developed; anterior ostioles 100–125 (120) µm wide, each lip with 10–12 setae and 40–50 trilocular pores; posterior ostiole 52–60 (58) µm wide, each lip with 12–14 setae and 42–55 trilocular pores; both ostioles open, with height of opening 40–60 μm. Anal ring 85–110 (100) μm long and 75–85 (82) μm wide, situated at a distance of 25–35 (32) μm from apex of abdomen (Fig. 3C); anal ring bearing 6 setae, each 125–170 (170) μm long. Number of discernible cerarii 7 pairs, each with clear aggregation of conical setae, trilocular pores and lightly sclerotized derm. Anal lobe cerarii of adult female (C 18) each containing 2 conical setae, each about 22–25 (25) μm long and 8–10 (10) μm wide at base, 2 or 3 auxiliary setae and a group of trilocular pores, all situated on a lightly sclerotised area (Fig. 3G). Some auxiliary setae 25–30 μm long, longer than conical setae. Penultimate (C 17) and antepenultimate (C 16) cerarii each containing 5‒7 conical setae but no auxiliary setae (Fig. 3 H & I); remaining 4 abdominal cerarii similar to C 16 and C 17. Cerarii on thorax and head never recognizable as on abdomen, occasionally with 2 or 3 conical or slender setae, usually present in frontal (C 1) and ocular (C 3) positions, with sparsely arranged trilocular pores (Fig. 3J & K) and hence these could not be referred to as typical cerarii; these anterior cerarii present in 6 out of 28 specimens examined. Other specimens with a single elongate or normal seta in each of these positions.

Dorsum with thick, stiff setae, each with a flagellate tip (Fig. 3L), of variable size, fairly numerous on abdominal and head areas: smaller setae each 12–14 (14) μm long, medium setae each 22–30 (25) μm long, and longer setae mostly each 35–40 (40) μm long; even longer setae, each 45–55 (52) μm long, present dorsally just anterior to clypeolabral shield at a location overlying space between antennal bases. Trilocular pores numerous, evenly distributed, each about 3.0–3.8 (3.8) µm wide. Discoidal pores, each as wide as a trilocular pore, scattered (Fig. 3M). Oral collar tubular ducts and multilocular pores absent.

Venter with flagellate setae (Fig. 3N), mostly each 25–87 µm long. Ventral setae on head, just anterior to mouthparts, each about 75 µm long, whereas median areas of thorax and abdomen with setae each 25‒67 μm long. Long setae, each measuring 62–87 µm long, present in group on abdominal segments VII and VIII in submedial areas; setae of same size joining groups on median area. Similar long setae also found on abdominal segment posterior to vulva, in median area, and in groups on posterior 5 abdominal segments. Cisanal setae stout at base (Fig. 3C), each about 112 –162 µm long; obanal setae (Fig. 3C) each about 67–87 µm long; both these setae often displaced to dorsum between anal ring and apex of abdomen. Multilocular disc-pores (Fig. 3O) each 5.7–7.9 µm in diameter, with 10 loculi, present posterior to vulva and medially in single or double rows at posterior edges of abdominal segments V ‒VII; few also present on anterior edge of abdominal segment VII. Trilocular pores same size and structure as those on dorsum but less numerous, evenly distributed. Discoidal pores same as those on dorsum, scattered. Oral collar tubular ducts of 2 slightly different sizes present (Fig. 3P), both types almost as wide as trilocular pore: shorter type 6.6–7.0 µm long and 3.3–3.5 µm wide, and longer type 7.5–9.5 µm long and 3.57–3.62 µm wide; longer type present submarginally on abdominal segments VI and VII; shorter type mixed with longer type (but in lesser numbers) across middle of abdominal segments V and VI, shorter type also present posterior to vulva and between anal lobes. Multilocular pores and oral collar tubular ducts absent from thorax and head.

Comments.­­ Paraputo blackmani is similar to P. mazoensis (Hall) in having seven cerarii, only a few conical setae (2 or 3) on each anal lobe cerarius and in having a similar distribution of ventral oral collar tubular ducts. Paraputo blackmani can be distinguished from P. mazoensis (characters of P. mazoensis given in the parentheses) in having (i) seven-segmented antennae (8-segmented antennae); (ii) translucent pores only on hind coxae (translucent pores on hind coxae and tibiae); (iii) anal lobe cerarii each with 2 conical setae (with 3 conical setae); (iv) penultimate cerarii each with six conical setae (with 9 conical setae); (v) anterior most cerarii with 3 conical setae (with 5 or fewer conical setae); (vi) multilocular pores present medially as far forward as abdominal segment V (as far forward as segment VI); and (vii) ventral surface of each anal lobe cerarius faintly sclerotized (with faint anal lobe bar).

Like the adult female, the third-instar female (non-type material) also possesses only 7 discernible cerarii.

The species of Paraputo can be categorized into three groups based on their characters as follows: (i) species with 17 or 18 pairs of cerarii, (ii) species with cerarii merged into a continuous marginal band and hence not recognizable, and (iii) species with fewer than 17 pairs of cerarii. Paraputo blackmani possesses fewer than 17 cerarii and possesses only two conical setae in each anal lobe cerarius - characters that are shared by several other species of Paraputo ; we have therefore compared it with all those species with similar characters, in tabular form (see Tables 1 and 2).

Etymology.­­ The species is named after the late Dr Roger Blackman, an eminent aphidologist, in recognition of his outstanding contributions and achievements in aphidology and the guidance he provided to the first author; the name is masculine genitive singular, meaning “of Blackman”.

Biological­­ notes.­­ A single flame-of-the-forest ( Butea monosperma ) tree was found to be infested with the mealybug; it was on the border of a field adjacent to a lake (Fig. 2A). Infestation of the mealybug was found in the furrow around a pit left where a branch had been torn off the trunk; the mealybugs were feeding on the exposed cambium tissue (Fig. 2B). Butea monosperma is native to tropical and sub-tropical parts of South and Southeast Asia and is used for timber, resin, fodder, medicine, and in lac and dye production.

No.­­pairs­­ of­­cerarii

Species No.­­ conical­­ setae­­in­­ anal­­lobe­­ cerarius No.­­ antennal­­ segs Multilocular­­ discpore­­distribution Tubular­­ducts­­(no.­­ types­­and­­distribution) Additional­­ differences­­ from­­ P. blackmani­­ Reference P. myrmecophilus 4 7–8 6 In vulvar region only 2 types, mixed on posterior abd. segs, amongst multilocular disc-pores in mid-region and on margins and submargins Dorsal setae small and curved, spine-like Mamet (1951) P. phoradendri 6–7 11–19 7 or 8 On abd. segs VIII & IX 2 intergrading sizes; in clusters near cerarii on abd. segs V or VI‒IX; also medially on segs VIII, VII & sometimes VI, and in cluster near each frontal cerarius Anal ring ca. 1x its diameter from body apex, surrounded by many setae. Dorsal discoidal pores of 2 intergrading sizes, scattered; large pores in medial clusters on abd. segs VII & VIII Miller & McKenzie (1973) P. szemaoensis 5–7 Many 6–7 Forming rows and bands across 5 posterior abdominal segs 1 type, around vulva amongst multilocular disc-pores Anal ring at least 2x its length from abdominal apex; ring bearing multiple setae Danzig & GavrilovZimin (2015) P. taquarae Continuous band on posterior abd. segs only Many 7 Abdomen only, many, in median rows, around vulva and on seg. VI. Trilocular pores abundant 1 type, across abd. segs VI & VII, few; also around margins of posterior abd. segs Cerarii in almost continuous band of numerous conical setae Williams & Granara de Willink P. villosus 9–14 1–8 8 Around vulva and mid-region of abd. segs as far forward as seg. V, 0‒2 on seg. IV 1 type, in groups on submargins of abd. segs V‒VII Anal lobe venter with irregular sclerotized patch but no anal lobe bar

(1992)

De Lotto (1969)

In the alcohol-preserved adult females, the different body colours observed were probably due to different stages of embryonic development in the eggs within the parent’s body, with the early stages appearing white and the later stages appearing pink (Fig. 1A).

Paraputo blackmani was found in association with numerous ants belonging to the genus Nylanderia Emery ( Hymenoptera : Formicidae ) (Fig. 2E); such association with ants is common in many species of Paraputo . Despite the presence of ants, larvae of Spalgis epius (Westwood) ( Lepidoptera : Lycaenidae ) were found preying upon the mealybugs (Fig. 2F).