Porphyrophora Brandt

Zheng, Xinyi & Wu, San’An, 2024, A review of the Margarodidae sensu stricto (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha) in China, with descriptions of three new species, Zootaxa 5506 (4), pp. 451-500 : 476-477

Genus Porphyrophora Brandt in Brandt & Ratzeburg, 1833

Coccionella Hahnemann, 1793: 193 , junior synonym.

Porphyrophora Brandt in Brandt & Ratzeburg, 1833: 355.

Coccionella Ben-Dov, 2005: 83 , subsequent use; regarded as nomen oblitum.

Porphyrophora Ben-Dov, 2005: 83 . subsequent use; regarded as nomen protectum.

Type species: Porphyrophora frischii Brandt, 1883 (= Coccus polonicus Linnaeus, 1758: 456 ).

Generic diagnosis

Adult female: In life, body egg-shaped, hairy, violet-red; legs well developed, foreleg fossorial; living underground. In microscope slide mount, derm membranous, with a granular pattern; body covered by long hair-like setae and a few small setae. Antennae stout and more-or-less conical, each 7–18 segmented, sometimes apical segment with a pseudosegment; most segments naked, except apical segment with a group of flagellate setae and sensory setae; sensillum placodeum present on segment IV containing a group of sensilla. Eyes present, with surrounding cuticle reticulate or smooth. Mouthparts absent. Thoracic spiracles each with a strong apodeme; peritreme circular, containing 4–22 spiracular disc-pores; each spiracle with 2–12 perispiracular sensilla situated laterad to peritreme. Abdominal spiracles numbering 2 pairs or absent. Foreleg fossorial, coxa with a triangular lateral plate; trochanter with 10–20 campaniform sensilla on each surface; femur large and strong, with many short setae laterally and a group of long setae ventrally; tibia short; tarsus fused with claw, and with a group of campaniform pores dorsally; claw enlarged and heavily sclerotized. Middle and hind legs each similar in structure to foreleg but small. Anal opening simple. Multilocular disc-pores each with 1–3 concentric rings or a slight spiral of loculi; posterior disc-pores slightly larger than anterior ones. Microducts each small, with sclerotized circular pore and inner ductule long and filamentous.

Comments: Adult females of Porphyrophora can be distinguished from those of other genera of hypogeal margarodids by the following characters: (i) abdominal spiracles numbering 2 pairs or absent; (ii) thoracic spiracles each with multilocular disc-pores in atrium but abdominal spiracles without any pores; (iii) foreleg claw simple, without a heel; (iv) antennae each 7–18 segmented, more-or-less conical, usually naked except apical segment; (v) spines absent; and (vi) eyespots present.

In China, five species of Porphyrophora have been recorded, all inhabiting the northern regions: Nei Monggol Autonomous Region, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region and Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. The host plants belong to Fabaceae , Poaceae , Primulaceae and Boraginaceae . Porphyrophora ningxiana Yang is a pest of licorice root ( Glycyrrhiza uralensis ).