Apiococcus Hempel

Hodgson, Chris & Miller, Dug, 2010, A Review of the Eriococcid Genera (Hemiptera: Sternorrhyncha: Coccoidea) of South America 2459, Zootaxa 2459 (1), pp. 1-101 : 14

Apiococcus Hempel

Apiococcus Hempel 1900: 401 . Type species Apiococcus gregarius Hempel 1900: 402–403 .

Generic diagnosis. Adult female ( Fig. 5 ). Globular; derm entirely membranous. Dorsum. Derm with areolations. Setae of 2 types: large, roundly conical setae in segmental rows, and narrower setae on posterior abdominal segments. Macrotubular ducts absent. Microtubular ducts appearing bilocular, frequent throughout. Loculate pores each with mainly 5 loculi, present in bands across posterior abdominal segments and in a large group on head. Anal lobes barely developed, each with a group of setae; also with an elongate invagination or pouch with internal loculate pores possibly associated with each anal lobe; median plate absent. Anal ring apparently represented by a membranous opening. Margin. Not defined. Venter. More lateral setae as on dorsum but other setae rather hairlike. Macrotubular ducts absent. Microtubular ducts as on dorsum, throughout but sparse in places. Loculate pores similar to those on dorsum, in bands across abdomen and less frequent elsewhere. Cruciform pores absent. Antennae 1 segmented. Frontal lobes and antennal tubercles absent. Labium with unknown number of segments. Legs entirely absent. Vulva not detected.

Known only from Myrtaceae .

Comment. Apiococcus currently contains 4 species ( A. asperatus Hempel , A. globosus Hempel , A. gregarius , and A. singularis Hempel ) all currently known only from Brazil. We have examined specimens of all but A. globosus . Apiococcus differs from all other eriococcid genera in having 2 elongate invaginations near the anal area which contain many loculate pores. It also is rotund, has distinctively cupolate-shaped setae, lacks legs, has 1-segmented antennae, and forms a test on the host.

Figures

FIGURE 5. Apiococcus gregarius Hempel. Adult female, where A = variously-shaped dorsal setae; B = dorsal microtubular duct; C = dorsal loculate pore; D = area of derm showing position of microtubular ducts and loculate pores; F = view of anal area, showing position of inner pouches; J = ventral setae; L = ventral loculate pore; P = spiracle; V = antenna, and X = anal pouch with sunken loculate pores.