Melissoaspis fisheri Ben

Ben-Dov, Yair, 2010, On new taxa and some described armoured scale insects (Hemiptera: Diaspididae) living in the galleries of the ant Melissotarsus insularis Santschi (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Madagascar, Zootaxa 2368, pp. 49-58 : 51-52

Melissoaspis fisheri Ben -Dov n. sp.

( Fig. 1)

Adult female: as in generic diagnosis, but body circular-oval; 0.7 – 0.8 mm long, 0.5 – 0.6 mm wide. Pygidium with a pair of median lobes, and a pair of second lobes, each about half as long as median lobe; median lobes separated from each other, without intervening plates. Segmental setae on pygidial margin each 14–35 μm long. Without pygidial marginal scleroses. Without perivulvar pores. Dorsum of abdominal segments VIII, VII and VI with a reticulated pattern of dark and bright areas which are disposed perpendicularly to pygidial margin. Anal opening oval, about 10 μm long, 5 μm wide; separated from pygidial apex at a distance about twice its longer axis. Vulva placed at a level about twice that of anal opening. Anterior and posterior spiracles without perispiracular pores. Antennal tubercle situated submarginally, with one hair. Microducts, of 1-barred type, each about 20 μm long, 2 μm in diameter; on venter disposed submarginally from pygidium up to level with posterior spiracle. Dorsal intersegmental line between segments IV and III present as a continuous, dark, sclerotised line.

Etymology. The species epithet bears the name of Dr. Brian L. Fisher, Department of Entomology, California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, California, U.S.A., who collected the material in Madagascar and forwarded it for this study.

Type material. Holotype female (C-3619:12), MADAGASCAR, Toliara Province Forêt de Mite, 20.7 km 29° WNW Tongobory, elevation 75m, 23°31'27"S 44°7'17"E, collected from galleries of Melissotarsus insularis Santschi , on undetermined host plant, 27.ii.2002, BLF5916, C-3619. Paratype females: 10 adult females with same data as holotype.