Stictococcus sjostedti Cockerell & Cockerell

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 : 18-20

Stictococcus sjostedti Cockerell & Cockerell

( Fig. 8 )

Stictococcus sjostedti Cockerell [T.D.A.] & Cockerell [W.P.] in Cockerell, 1903: 64.

Stictococcus sjostedti Cockerell, Richard, 1971: 591, 1976: 667 ; Miller et al., 2005: 544.

Description. Body of adult female on microscope slide, broadly oval to rotund, 1.65–3.30 mm long, 1.45– 3.00 mm wide, membranous at first, mature specimens heavily sclerotized. Antennae 180–200 µm long, 5- segmented, first segment widest, others tapering. Legs well developed, hind trochanter + femur 175–215 µm long, hind tibia + tarsus 180–195 µm long. Ratio of lengths of hind tibia + tarsus to trochanter + femur 0.92– 1.03. Ratio of lengths of hind tibia to tarsus 0.85–1.00. Claw 30–35 µm long, stout at base then curving sharply to blunt tip, with one slender clubbed digitule longer than claw plus one widely expanded digitule. Outer tarsal digitules long and clubbed, distal inner digitules widely expanded distally, situated near middle of tarsus. Labium 2-segmented, 120–125 µm long, about 140 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 115–140 µm long, 90–125 µm wide. Metathoracic spiracles 110–140 µm long, 90–110 µm wide; oval area surrounding each opening with numerous papilla-like structures. Vulva conspicuous, about 700 µm wide. Anus situated near mid-dorsum; anterior plate bearing 4 slender anterior flagellate setae; posterior plate usually with 4 setae near posterior margin; both plates plus 2 lateral elongate sclerotized areas surrounded by heavily-sclerotized oval rim, about 250 µm long, 215 µm wide, with small posterior extension. A pair of saddle-shaped apodemes opening posterior to rim. Eyes oval, each about 50 µm long.

Dorsal surface of body with a series of marginal barbed setae 95–115 µm long, all pointed, longest posterior marginal setae on apparent anal lobe area about 260 µm long, other posterior setae about 175 µm long. Submarginal setae shorter, barbed, spatulate distally, each about 60 µm long. Submedial and medial setae similar to submarginal setae, flattened distally, mostly about 120 µm long. Long submedial flagellate setae present, some on head about 440 µm long, others about 290 µm long. Medial flagellate setae surrounding anus, each about 290 µm long. Some thick dorsal setae present, each about 40–50 µm long. Minute slender flagellate setae also present, usually curved and fairly numerous, 20–25 µm long. A series of usually 24 submarginal depressions and usually 21 medial depressions present, all moderately sclerotized, each with distinct outer margin opening into a globe-like structure bearing marginal and inner rows of quinquelocular pores, each about 7.5 µm in diameter; inner polar area with a small number of discoidal pores associated with a minute tessellated area 35–50 µm long, 25–30 µm wide; sometimes structure of all pores difficult to discern. Globe-like structures in teneral specimens about 50 µm wide at anterior and posterior ends of submedial and medial series, others as large as 120 µm wide. Other dermal pores abundant, variously shaped, often in fairly well-defined circles around setal collars and more or less segmentally arranged on thorax and abdomen, becoming more scattered on head, comprising large bilocular oval pores, each about 7.5 µm long, 5 µm wide and trilocular pores about 7.5 µm wide. Small bilocular pores, each about 6 µm long, 3.8 µm wide, and discoidal pores, each about 7.5 µm in diameter, dome-shaped with outer sclerotized rim 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 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 quinquelocular pores in rows extending to 6 small sclerotized marginal clefts to join with a single marginal row from head to almost to apparent anal lobes. Thick-rimmed, oval bilocular pores, each about 7.5 µm long, 5 µm wide, or sometimes replaced by round trilocular pores, 7.5 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 15 µm long, 2 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 flat setae, each expanding distally to a lobulate apex, mostly about 40 µm wide, with 2–4 distal lobules, outer lobules longest. Sometimes, 1 or 2 setae next to marginal clefts replaced by blunt elongate setae. Other ventral setae, short, almost spine-like, 15–20 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 µm long. Long flagellate setae, each about 115 µm long, present around margins, and other occurring medially and submedially. Flagellate setae also situated around vulva, most on anterior edge 65–140 µm long, and others on posterior edge about 25 µm long.

Type data. Cameroons, W. Africa, Itoki, Feb., 1891; “Eskandi” and “Bonze”, Dr. Yngve Sjöstedt.

Material examined. Type material.– Lectotype adult female here designated, on a microscope slide, left specimen of 2 adult females, left label, Stictococcus sjostedti CKll. Co-Type Cameroons, W. Africa Sjöstedt Coll. From T.D.A. Cockerell Jan. 21 1903 ( USNM).

Paralectotypes, same data as holotype, 1 adult female on same slide as holotype ( USNM); one slide, right label [Cockerell’s handwriting], Stictococcus sjostedti . Cameroons W. Africa Dr Inga Sjostedt , 4 adult females ( USNM); one slide, same data, 7 first-instar males; one slide, same data, 5 first-instar females, 1 second-instar female; one slide same data, 5 first-instar males; one slide, 5 first-instar females; one slide (E.E. Green’s handwriting), similar data but also labelled ex coll. T.D.A. Cockerell (all USNM); one slide, similar data (E.E. Green’s handwriting), 2 adult females; one slide (R. Newstead’s handwriting: from E.E. Green), one adult female; one slide, similar data, 5 first-instar female nymphs, 6 first-instar male nymphs (all BMNH).

Cameroon, Victoria, on Theobroma cacao, 1904 ( BMNH): N’iana, on Elaeis sp. ( Arecaceae ), 19.vii.1941, F.D. Golding ( BMNH).

Ghana, Kumasi, on Theobroma cacao, B.M. Gerard ; no locality, on Musa paradisica (Musaceae) , x. 1941, G.S. Cotterell: on Theobroma cacao, G.S. Cotterell (all BMNH).

Nigeria, Agege, on pod of Theobroma cacao , 19.iv.1914, Lamborn ( BMNH); Cross River State, Bacoco, on Hyposelodephys violacea (Marantaceae) , 3.xi.1984 J.C. Reid ( BMNH); Ife-Ife, on Artocarpus altilis (Moraceae) , v.1969, J.T. Medler ( BMNH); intercepted at U.S.A., New York, on fruit of Cola sp., 23.iv.1986, Spall ( USNM).

Sierra Leone, intercepted at U.S.A., New York, on Cola acuminata , 31.viii.1972, J. Peterson ( USNM).

Comments. This species is easily distinguishable from all other species of Stictococcus in possessing dorsal pores all about the same size. In other known species, the marginal pores are noticeably larger that than the other dorsal pores.

Figures

FIGURE 8. Stictococcus sjostedti Cockerell & Cockerell, adult female.