Paralecanium leei Hodgson

Chris J. Hodgson & Douglas J. Williams, 2018, Revision of the soft scale genus Paralecanium (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Coccidae) with the introduction of three new genera and twenty new species, Zootaxa 4443 (1), pp. 1-162 : 151-156

Paralecanium leei Hodgson spec. n.

Material examined. Paratypes: CHINA, HONG KONG, Tai Tong, Yuen Long, on upper leaf surface of Neottopteris nidus [ Aspleniaceae ], 29.iii.2011, C.L. Lee ( BMNH): 3 second-instar males, 1 second/third-instar female, 7 first-instar nymphs (mostly fg). China, Hong Kong, Tai Tam Country Park, on Gnetum luofuense [ Gnetaceae ], 24.ii.2010, C.S.K. Lau ( BMNH): 2 second/third-instar females + 3 second-instar males (fg).

First-instar nymph ( Fig. 64 )

Note. Described mainly from three of the best-cleared specimens off Neottopteris nitidus .

Slide-mounted specimen. Body broadly oval. Length 475–508 µm, width 270–290 µm.

Dorsum. Derm membranous. Dorsal setae absent. Dorsal simple pores not detected but with a pair of trilocular pores present anteriorly on head. Dorsal microducts present in submarginal and submedial lines, although distribution unclear, probably with at least 10 microducts in each submarginal line, and each submedial line with at least 1 duct in each of meso- and metathorax. Anal plates each with 2 short setae on inner margin, another short seta on posterolateral margin and a long apical seta, 45–50 µm long; length of plates 45–50 µm, width of both plates combined 40–43 µm. Anal fold with 1 pair of small setae along anterior margin plus 1 seta posteriorly on each lateral margin. Anal ring with 3 pairs of setae.

Margin. Marginal ornamentation absent. Marginal setae finely spinose, each 3–5 µm long; with about 16 anteriorly between anterior stigmatic clefts, each side with 3 or 4 between stigmatic clefts and 8 along abdominal margin. Stigmatic clefts quite broad and deep, each with a sclerotised inner margin and 2 or 3 short, blunt, parallelsided stigmatic spines, median spine much the longer; length of median spines each 15–23 µm, each lateral spine very narrow, 5–7 µm long, arising much nearer margin (more posterior lateral spine sometimes apparently missing but often hidden under median spine). Eyespots located on margin on dorsum, each about 7 µm wide.

Venter. Derm membranous. Multilocular disc-pores absent. Spiracular disc-pores small, each mostly with 4 or 5 loculi, present in a narrow band between margin and each spiracle, with 4–6 pores in each band. Ventral microducts very small, only detected between pro- and mesocoxae. Ventral setae: with 1 pair of interantennal setae; 1 pair of long setae on abdominal segment VII, plus pairs of shorter setae medially on segments V and VI; 1 fairly long seta associated with each mesocoxa; and with a line of 7 short submedial setae between anal area and each spiracle; submarginal setae few, with 1 on each side between stigmatic clefts. Antennae each 6 segmented; total length 145–158 µm; segments IV and V each with a setose seta. Clypeolabral shield 75–80 µm long. Spiracles: width of each peritreme 7 µm. Legs well developed; dimensions of hind leg (µm): coxa 40–42, trochanter + femur 60–65, tibia 36–38 (with obscure spinules), tarsus 31–33; claw about 8–9; prothoracic leg with a long, capitate digitule and a fine setose digitule; meso- and metathoracic legs each with 2 digitules, slightly offset, 1 much thicker than other, each subequal in length to claw digitules; claw digitules dissimilar, with 1 broader than other; claw with a shallow denticle. Setal distribution: coxa 5; trochanter 1, quite long; femur 1; tibia 2 and tarsus 3.

Comments. The only other first-instar nymphs of Paralecanium seen during this study were those of P. ovatum ; they were in very poor condition but did appear to be very similar to those of P. leei . For a comparison with first-instar nymphs of Discochiton and other Paralecaniini, see under the general discussion on immature stages on p. 156 below.

Second/third-instar female nymph of Paralecanium leei ( Fig. 65 )

Note. Described from 1 young specimen of P. leei spec. n. off Neottopteris and a pharate specimen off Gnetum .

Slide-mounted specimen. Body broadest across abdomen, rounded at both ends, somewhat asymmetrical. Length 1.45–1.75 mm, width 0.9–1.35 mm.

Dorsum. Derm membranous, without areolations. Marginal radial lines, stigmatic bands and clear areas absent. Dorsal setae and dorsal tubular ducts absent and dorsal pores not detected. Anal plates each with a sharp bend in outer margin and slightly longer than wide; each plate with 3 or 4 small setae near apex plus another near inner margin medially on 1 specimen; without small pores; length of each plate 100 µm, combined width 73–76 µm. Anal fold with 1 pair of small setae along anterior margin plus 1 seta anteriorly on each lateral margin and another posteriorly. Anal ring with 3 pairs of setae.

Margin. Marginal ornamentation present as shallow corrugations on youngest specimen. Marginal setae either finely spinose, slightly fimbriate or slightly bent and capitate, each 8–11 µm long; with about 50 between anterior stigmatic clefts, each side with 13–18 between clefts, and 33–38 along abdominal margin. Stigmatic clefts narrow but quite shallow, each with a sclerotised inner margin and 3 short, blunt, parallel-sided stigmatic spines, often subequal in length; length of median spines each 21–25 µm, each lateral spine 15–23 µm long. Eyespots each more or less round, located away from margin on dorsum, each 13 µm wide.

Venter. Derm membranous. Multilocular disc-pores absent. Spiracular disc-pores small, each mostly with 4 or 5 loculi, present in a narrow band between margin and each spiracle, with 13–15 in each anterior band and 9–14 in each posterior band. Ventral microducts very small, distribution uncertain but with a group around labium. Ventral setae: with 2 pairs of interantennal setae; 1 pair of long setae on abdominal segment VII, plus pairs of shorter setae medially on segments V and VI; 1 small seta associated with each coxa; a line of 7 short submedial setae present between anal area and each spiracle; submarginal setae frequent, each side with 3 between stigmatic clefts. Antennae each 6 segmented; total length 157–175 µm; segments IV and V each with 1 setose seta. Clypeolabral shield 100–105 µm long. Spiracles: width of each peritreme 16–18 µm. Legs well developed; dimensions of hind leg (µm): coxa 58, trochanter + femur 85–88, tibia 50–52, tarsus 53; claw about 8; tarsal digitules not offset, subequal in length to claw digitules; claw digitules dissimilar, with 1 broader than other; claw without a denticle. Setal distribution: coxa 5; trochanter 1, quite long; femur 1; tibia 2 and tarsus 3.

Comments. This instar of P. leei is clearly the preadult stage, as one of the specimens was pharate. The single specimen of a second/third-instar female of P. ovatum (see Table 5 below) is significantly smaller than those of the other three species, with fewer marginal setae etc, suggesting that it might be a second-instar nymph whereas those of the other species might be third-instar nymphs. As adult female Paralecanium species tend to be smaller than those of Discochiton , it is to be expected that their nymphs would be smaller overall than those of Discochiton , as noted here.

For a comparison with other second/third-instar females of other Paralecaniini, see under the general discussion on immature stages on p. 156 below.

Second-instar male nymph of Paralecanium leei ( Fig. 66 )

Note. Described from 2 specimens P. leei spec. n. off Neottopteris and 3 specimens off Gnetum .

Slide-mounted specimen. Body broadly oval. Length 1.1–1.5 mm, width 0.8–1.1 mm.

Dorsum. Derm membranous, without areolations. Marginal radial lines, stigmatic bands and clear areas absent. Dorsal setae absent. Dorsal pores absent apart from 1 pair of small pores present just anterolaterally to anal plates. Dorsal tubular ducts of 2 sizes: (i) large ducts, each with outer ductule about 36 µm long, in a sparse line submarginally, with 21–24 ducts between anterior stigmatic clefts, each side with 1–4 ducts between clefts and 2 or

3 on abdomen, and (ii) much smaller ducts, each with outer ductule about 10 µm long, as follows: submedial lines extending from each anal plate to about dorsad to each scape, with 15–18 ducts in each line, plus lines extending radially to the margin, each with 1–6 (usually 4–6) ducts, with 1 radial line on head, 1 extending towards each stigmatic cleft and 4 on each side of abdomen. Anal plates each with a sharp bend in outer margin and slightly longer than wide; each plate with 3 or 4 small setae near apex plus another near inner margin more medially on 1 specimen; without small pores; length of plates 75–85 µm, combined width 60–63 µm. Anal fold with 1 pair of small setae along anterior margin plus 1 seta anteriorly on each lateral margin and another posteriorly. Anal ring with 3 pairs of setae.

Margin. Marginal ornamentation absent. Marginal setae finely spinose, each 8–9 µm long; with 19–22 setae between anterior stigmatic clefts, each side with 7–9 between stigmatic clefts and 14–22 along abdominal margin. Stigmatic clefts narrow but quite shallow, each with a sclerotised inner margin and 3 short, blunt, parallel-sided stigmatic spines; median spine just longest; length of median spines each 21–30 µm, each lateral spine 13–23 µm long. Eyespots each more or less round, located away from margin on dorsum; each 13 µm wide.

Venter. Derm membranous. Multilocular disc-pores absent. Spiracular disc-pores small, each mostly with 4 or 5 loculi, present in a narrow band between margin and each spiracle, with 7–14 pores in each band. Ventral microducts very small, distribution uncertain. Ventral setae: with 2 pairs of interantennal setae; 1 pair of long setae on abdominal segment VII, plus pairs of shorter setae medially on segments V and VI; with 1 or 2 small setae associated with each pro- and mesocoxa and a pair of longer setae associated with each metacoxa; with a line of 7 short submedial setae between anal area and each spiracle; submarginal setae sparse. Antennae each 6 segmented; total length 150–185 µm; segments IV and V each with 1 setose seta. Clypeolabral shield 90–95 µm long. Spiracles: width of each peritreme 11–15 µm. Legs well developed; dimensions of hind leg (µm): coxa 50–53, trochanter + femur 70–78, tibia + tarsus 85–93; claw about 8–9; tarsal digitules offset, subequal in length to claw digitules; claw digitules dissimilar, 1 clearly broader than other; claw without a denticle. Setal distribution: coxa 4; trochanter 1, quite long; femur 1; tibia 2 and tarsus 3.

Comments. There is rather little variation in the data ( Table 6) for these three species. For a comparison with second-instar male nymphs of other Paralecaniini, see under the general discussion on immature stages below.

Figures

FIGURE 64. Paralecanium leei Hodgson, spec. n., first-instar nymph.

FIGURE 65. Paralecanium leei Hodgson, spec. n., second/third-instar female.

FIGURE 66. Paralecanium leei Hodgson, spec. n., second-instar male.