Stictococcus formicarius Newstead

Williams, Douglas J., Matile-Ferrero, Danièle & Miller, Douglass R., 2010, A study of some species of the genus Stictococcus Cockerell (Hemiptera: Sternorrhyncha: Coccoidea: Stictococcidae), and a discussion on Stictococcus vayssierei Richard, a species injurious to cassava in Equatorial Africa with a description of a new species from Nigeria, Zootaxa 2527, pp. 1-27 : 11-14

Stictococcus formicarius Newstead

( Figs. 2, 5 )

Stictococcus formicarius Newstead, 1910: 19 ; Richard, 1976: 667; Miller et al., 2005: 541; Miller et al., 2007 (compact disk).

Description. Body of adult female on microscope slide, broadly oval to rotund, 1.5–3.0 mm long, 1.1–2.5 mm wide, membranous at first, mature specimens heavily sclerotized. Antennae 176–207 µm long, 5-segmented, first segment widest, others tapering. Legs well developed, hind trochanter + femur 165–204 µm long, hind tibia + tarsus 157–204 µm long. Ratio of lengths of hind tibia + tarsus to trochanter + femur 1.00–1.08. Ratio of lengths of hind tibia to tarsus 0.80–0.99. Claw 24–27 µm long, stout at base then curving sharply to blunt tip, with one slender clubbed digitule longer than claw and one widely expanded digitule. Tarsus with one long clubbed digitule conspicuously longer than claw digitule, and one widely expanded digitule situated near middle of tarsus. Labium 2-segmented, 126–133 µm long, 91–100 µm wide, shorter than clypeolabral shield; a sclerotized ridge-like structure present on each side of basal segment joining labium to clypeolabral shield. Mesothoracic spiracles 90–114 µm long, 66–81 µm wide. Metathoracic spiracles 90–111 µm long, 70–73 µm wide; oval area surrounding each opening with numerous papilla-like structures. Vulva conspicuous, about 290 µm wide. Anus situated near mid-dorsum; anterior plate bearing 6 slender anterior flagellate setae; posterior plate usually with 4 setae near posterior margin; both plates plus 2 narrow lateral sclerotized areas surrounded by heavily-sclerotized oval rim, 200–224 µm long, 151–195 µm wide, with small posterior extension. A pair of saddle-shaped apodemes opening posterior to rim. Eyes oval, each about 42–45 µm long.

Dorsal surface of body with a series of marginal barbed setae about 135 µm long, usually with several prongs on apex, longest posterior marginal setae on apparent anal lobe area about 124 µm long, other posterior setae about 100 µm long. Submarginal setae shorter, barbed, spatulate distally, each about 38 µm long. Submedial setae 22–60 µm long, medial setae about 70 µm long, flattened distally. Long smooth to slightly barbed setae along margin about 204 µm long, other flagellate setae absent except minute flagellate setae, 20–30 µm long. Flower-shaped setae expanding distally, with 3 to 4 points, about 20 µm wide, in marginal and submarginal areas. A series of usually 24 submarginal depressions present, 12–15 submedial depressions, and 12 medial depressions; teneral specimens with fewer noticeable depressions, all moderately sclerotized, depression opening varying from 60–120 µm wide, each with distinct outer margin opening into a globe-like structure bearing marginal and inner rows of quinquelocular pores, each about 8–11 µm in diameter; inner polar area with a small number of discoidal pores associated with a minute tessellated area 35–50 µm long. Other pores abundant, variously shaped, often in fairly well-defined circles around setal collars and more or less segmentally arranged on thorax and abdomen, more scattered on head, comprising large bilocular oval pores, each about 9 µm long, 7 µm wide, trilocular pores about 9–12 µm wide, sometimes with quadrilocular pores. Small bilocular pores, each about 7 µm long, 6 µm wide, and discoidal pores, each about 5–6 µm in diameter, dome-shaped with outer sclerotized rim, also present. A double to triple row of small quinquelocular pores, each about 5 µm in diameter, extending from apex of abdomen to area almost opposite vulva. A few similar pores also present on margin next to 5 or 6 minute sclerotized clefts.

Ventral surface with small quinquelocular pores about 5 µm in diameter, almost encircling vulva then curving posteriorly to midline in a double to triple row extending to apex of abdomen; other pores lateral of vulva present also in a wide submedial row forwards to metathoracic spiracles then almost reaching mesothoracic spiracles before extending to eyes. Others in rows extending to 5 or 6 small sclerotized marginal clefts to join with a single marginal row from head almost to apparent anal lobes. Thick-rimmed oval bilocular pores, each about 7 µm long, 6 µm wide, or sometimes replaced by round trilocular pores, 6 µm in diameter, sparsely distributed within areas demarked by quinquelocular pores, often more conspicuous on each side of rows of quinquelocular pores extending to marginal clefts. Minute tubular ducts, each at most 13 µm long, 3 µm wide at cup end and tapering slightly to opening, present across middle of segments and within area demarked by rows of quinquelocular pores. Marginal enlarged setae bullet shaped, 31–42 µm long, 12–15 µm wide at setal base, not expanding distally and not lobulate. Other ventral setae short, almost spine-like, 18–27 µm long, present in more or less single rows across abdominal segments and then mainly following margins of areas demarked by quinquelocular pores; most marginal setae similar but longer, each about 30–48 µm long. Apparently without long flagellate setae. Flagellate setae also situated around vulva, most on anterior edge 72–77 µm long, and others on posterior edge about 18–22 µm long.

Type data. “Trouvés dans les branches creuses de Barleria fistulosa Mast. , [ Acanthaceae ], cultivés par les fourmis Sina spininoda, Andre. Trouvés à Romée près de Stanleyville [Kisimbani], Haut Congo [ Democratic Republic of the Congo].” “No. 6” Coll. P. Hermann Kohl.

Material examined. Type material. Lectotype adult female here designated, on a microscope slide, left specimen of 2. Left label Romée nr. Stanleyville, Congo. Right label Stictococcus formicarius Newst. Parasitized Ƥ (Co-types), BM 1945, 121 ( BMNH).

Paralectotypes, same data as lectotype, adult female on same slide as lectotype. Romée, Stanleyville Haut Congo, Ex Coll. Kohl, 1909, No. 6, Types, BM1945, 121, Stictococcus formicarius Newst. Ƥ. In hollow stems of Barleria fistulosa . Associated with Sina, adult female in 6 pieces on 1 slide with 1 first-instar female nymph. Same data, 1 first-instar female nymph on 1 slide ( BMNH).

Other material. Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sasagao, on Theobroma cacao (Sterculiaceae) , 18.viii.1913, coll. J. Bequaert ( MNHN).

Central African Republic, Boukoko, reserve forestière de La Maboké, on Croton sp. ( Euphorbiaceae ), 28.viii.1970, D. Matile; Boukoko, on Croton mubongo , 28.iii.1966, coll. R. Pujol, on Croton mayumberensis, 1966 , R. Pujol, on same host, 5.ix.1968, M. Boulard, on Porterandia cladantha (Rubiaceae) , 30.iii.1966, R. Pujol, on Urera cameronensis (Malvaceae) , 5.ix.1968, M. Boulard (all MNHN).

Congo (Brazzaville), Dimonika, on Acalypha sp. ( Euphorbiaceae ), 13.xi.1975, D. Matile ( MNHN).

Gabon, Ikoy, Bandja, on Mimusops afrocana (Sapotaceae) , vii.1962, F. Brunck; Plantation de Libonga, on blossom of Coffea sp. ( Rubiaceae ), v.1938 (all MNHN).

“West Africa”, intercepted at U.S.A., St Louis, on unknown fruit, 20.vi.1989 ( USNM) (illustrated). Comments. The important distinguishing characters of this species are the combination of mainly bulletshaped setae around the ventral margins and flower-shaped dorsal setae.

Figures

FIGURE 5. Stictococcus formicarius Newstead, adult female.