Eriococcus christopherus Foldi & Kozár, 2007

Foldi, Imre & Kozár, Ferenc, 2007, New species and new records of Eriococcus (Hemiptera, Coccoidea, Eriococcidae) from South America, Zootaxa 1573 (1), pp. 51-64 : 53-54

Eriococcus christopherus Foldi & Kozár sp. nov.

Type material. Holotype, adult female: Brazil, Rio Grande do Sul, Itaimbézinho, Parc National de Asparados, on Eugenia jaboticaba (Myrtaceae) , 16-XI-1985, I. Foldi coll., (N° 10388–4) in MNHN.

Paratypes. Data as for holotype, 5 adult females: 4 (N° 10388–1, 2, 5, 6) in MNHN and one (N° 10388- 3) in PPI.

ADULT FEMALE ( Fig. 1 ) described from 6 specimens.

Mounted female. Body outline elongate oval, 2.3–2.5 mm long, 1.2–1.3 mm wide. Antenna 7 segmented, each 220–250 µm long; segment lengths (µm): I 35–45, II 27–30, III 50, IV 35–40, V 20, VI 20–23, VII 30– 35; antennal segments with few setae, each 15–29 µm long; segment III almost parallel-sided, without setae; apical segment with one seta 47–55 µm long, and three sensory falcate setae each 20–29 µm. Frontal lobes well developed, about as long as width of scape. Eyes near margin on venter.

Venter. Labium 3-segmented, 115 µm long; basal segment very small, bearing 2 pairs of setae; middle segment large, with one pair of setae, and apical segment bearing 4 pairs of setae. Legs well developed, with large translucent pores on each metathoracic coxa and femur. Prothoracic legs (lengths in µm): coxa: 60–70, trochanter + femur 165–180, tibia 95–105, tarsus 90–95, claw 45. Mesothoracic legs (lengths in µm): coxa: 110–120 trochanter + femur 165–200, tibia 98–105, tarsus 106–115; tarsal digitules knobbed, each 49–55, claw 38–42; claw digitules each 38. Metathoracic legs (lengths in µm): coxa: 135–145, trochanter + femur 190–200, tibia 100–110, tarsus 115–120, tarsal digitules knobbed, each 50–60; claw 38–45; claw digitules each 55. Each trochanter with a long seta, 60–70 µm, 1 or 2 shorter setae, each 30–34 µm, and with two oval campaniform pores on each side as usual in all Eriococcus females. Each claw with a distinct denticle. Legs with few hair-like setae, each 24–30 µm long. Coxae with about 90–115 large translucent pores; femur with about 10–15 translucent pores dorsally at distal end.

Disc pores each 6 µm in diameter with 5 loculi, distributed in bands across all abdominal segments, and scattered on thorax and head; also frequent laterad to each spiracle. Each spiracle with peritreme 46–50 µm wide. Hair-like setae, each 15–55 µm long, scattered throughout, arranged segmentally on abdomen. Microtubular ducts absent. Macrotubular ducts each about 5 µm wide, variable in length, each 25–35 µm long, sparse on all segments. Cruciform pores few, present in a submarginal band from head posteriorly to about abdominal segment III. Anal lobes membranous, each about twice as long as broad, with 3 hair-like setae.

Margin. Marginal spinose setae similar to dorsal setae, each straight but smaller each 15–30 µm long, very few present as a sparse band anteriorly, becoming absent on abdominal segments VI–VIII.

Dorsum. Dorsal setae all spine-like, each spinose seta 45–60 µm long, varying in size and shape, sometimes slightly curved, each with a large basal socket. Dorsal spinose setae forming 2 longitudinal medial bands and 9 transverse bands. Macrotubular ducts similar to those on venter, sparse, present throughout. Microtubular ducts each 6 µm long, with a central septa but no sclerotised pore opening; scattered throughout. Disc pores absent. Anal ring with pores and with 8 hair-like setae, each 104–110 µm long. Anal lobes each with two spinose setae along inner margin, and one spinose seta on outer margin, similar in size to those on dorsum, plus a long apical seta 150–160 µm long. Median sclerotised plate absent.

Etymology. This species is named after Christopher Colombus.

Distribution and Host plants. Brazil, Rio Grande do Sul, Eugenia jaboticaba (Myrtaceae) .

Comment. E. christopherus differs from the other species of Eriococcus found in South America in the characteristic arrangement of the dorsal spinose setae in 2 longitudinal medial bands and 9 transverse rows.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Adult female Eriococcus christopherus Foldi & Kozár sp. nov. Where A = dorsal macrotubular duct; B = dorsal microtubular duct; C = spinose setae; D = anal lobes; E = 5-locular pore; F = ventral macrotubular duct; G = mesothoracic claw with denticle and digitules; H = cruciform pore; I = short ventral seta; J = antenna.