Diaspis quercus Moghaddam, 2021

Moghaddam, Masumeh, 2021, Three new species of armoured scale insect (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha Diaspididae) from Iran, Zootaxa 4991 (2), pp. 371-379 : 374-376

Diaspis quercus Moghaddam sp. n.

( Fig. 2 )

Field characters: Adult female appearance in life is not recorded.

Material examined. Holotype, adult female, IRAN, left label: 2224 / Chahar-Mahal & / Bakhtiari: Lordegan / Mishan / 9.vii.2010 / Alt. 1977 m. / N31˚20′06.1″ / E51˚14′30.5″; right label: Holotype / Diaspis quercus sp. n. / on Quercus sp. / ( Fagaceae ) / coll. M. Moghaddam (HMIM). Paratype: IRAN, 1 adult female mounted singly on a slide with same collection data on left label as holotype slide; right label: Paratype / Diaspis quercus sp. n. (HMIM).

Slide-mounted adult female ( Fig. 2 ), n = 2. Body broadly oval (1.15–1.18 mm long and 0.80–0.83 mm wide). Cuticle membranous, except for parts of pygidium. Antennae each with 1 long, strong seta. Each anterior spiracle with 5 associated trilocular disc pores; posterior spiracles without associated disc pores. Thoracic tubercles absent. Pygidium with 5 pairs of lobes. Median lobes (L 1) forming a deep notch at margin, divergent, each with inner margin longer than outer margin; median lobes apparently without setae, and separated by space 1.6 times width of median lobe, without yoke. Second lobes (L 2) well developed, bilobed and slightly divergent; inner lobules (L 2a) rounded at apex and larger than L 1; outer lobules (L 2b) much smaller but conspicuous and almost conical. Third lobes (L 3) bilobed, L 3a and L 3b both well developed. Fourth lobes (L 4) almost flat, each formed of 3 low, sclerotised prominences. Fifth lobes (L 5) inconspicuous, almost flat but sclerotized. Anal opening situated 6 times length of anal opening from base of median lobes, anal opening 14 µm long (the anal opening not visible in the second specimen). Gland spines each spiniform and swollen at base, numbering 7 pairs on each side; gland pines present in pairs between L 1 & L 2, L 2 & L 3 and L 3 & L 4, and 1 gland spine present on segment V.

Dorsum. Marginal macroducts on pygidium numbering 6 pairs, with 1 between L 1 & L 2; 2 on segment VI; 2 on segment V, and 1 on segment IV. Submarginal macroducts same size as marginal macroducts, numbering 4 on segment V, 3 on segment IV, and 1 on segment III; absent from segments VII and VIII, and from between median lobes. Small submarginal and submedian ducts present on abdominal segments IV – VI; also present on abdominal segments I‒ II. Thoracic margins with a few marginal small ducts.

Venter. Perivulvar pores present in 5 groups: with 4–10 in anterior median group; 17–20 in each antero-lateral group; and 11–14 in each postero-lateral group. Microducts filiform, present on pygidium, prepygidial segments and thorax, and near anterior and posterior spiracles. Duct tubercles absent from venter.

Comments. Diaspis quercus sp. n. is close to D. syriaca Lindinger in having: (i) median lobes (L 1) forming a deep notch at apex of pygidium; (ii) dorsal submarginal ducts on abdominal segments II–V present in groups; and (iii) gland spines on segments V–VII spinelike, with simple tips. It differs from D. syriaca as follows (character states on D. syriaca in brackets): (i) dorsal median duct absent from between median lobes (present), (ii) dorsal submarginal and submedian ducts on abdominal segment III forming a continuous group (ducts in two distinct groups); (iii) dorsal submedian ducts absent from metathorax and abdominal segments I and II (ducts present); and (iv) anal opening often situated near centre of pygidium (opening situated at about apical 1/5th of pygidium).

Etymology. The species name is based on the host-plant genus name, Quercus, and is a noun in apposition.

Figures

FIGURE 2. Adult female of Diaspis quercus Moghaddam sp. n.