Acanthococcus pennyae Miller and Stocks 2022, sp. n.
Creators: name: Miller, Douglass R.
name: Stocks, Ian C.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2022
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Hemiptera
Eriococcidae
Acanthococcus
Acanthococcus pennyae

description: Acanthococcus pennyae Miller and Stocks sp. n.
Eriococcus sp. “CA1” Cook and Gullan 2004: 445, 447 (informal designation).
Specimens examined: Adult female holotype (single specimen on slide) with right label “ Acanthococcus / pennyae / Miller & Stocks / Holotype;” left label “ Glamis, Imperial / Co., CALIFORNIA / 18-V-1969 / ex. Olneya tesota / Coll. D. Dyer / OR69E22-45;” label on back of slide “ Acanthococcus / pennyae Miller & Stocks / CDFA / HOLOTYPE / Glamis 69.” Holotype is in CDFA. Paratypes: UNITED STATES: Arizona: Maricopa Co.: Mesa, II-28-1925, on Olneya tesota, P.T. Vorhies (4 first-instar nymph paratypes on 1 slide) UCD (1 slide). California: Imperial Co.: Glamis, V-18-1969, on O. tesota, D. Dyer (1 ad. ♀ holotype, 13 ad. ♀♀, 8 first-instar nymphs and 1 second-instar ♁ on 23 slides) ANIC (1 slide), NHM (3 slides), CDFA (9 slides), FSCA (2 slides), MNHN (1 slide), UCD (2 slides), UNAM (1 slide), USNM (4 slides); Glamis, IV-16-1970, on O. tesota, R.A. Flock and R.F. Wilkey (4 ad. ♀♀, 2 second-instar ♁♁ and 22 first-instar nymphs on 4 slides) CDFA (3 slides), UCD (1 slide); Winterhaven, VI-29-1972, on O. tesota, Davis and Paddock (4 ad. ♀ ♀ on 4 slides): CDFA (2 slides), UCD (1 slide), USNM (1 slide).
Etymology: This species is named in honor of Penny Gullan (ANIC) who has made many amazing contributions to the field of coccidology and entomology. The species was chosen because Penny and the first author (DRM) independently became aware of its unusual habit of inducing galls on its host. There is only one other species of Acanthococcus in the USA that induces galls, namely Ac. gallicolus. We had planned to describe the species together, but Penny returned to her homeland in Australia and DRM was slow in making it a priority.
Field features: Occurring in leaf roll galls on the host, which is commonly called desert ironwood or palo fierro, and is the only species in the genus Olneya (Fabacaeae).
Adult female (Fig. 15)
Description: Holotype, slide-mounted specimen 1.8 mm long, 0.9 mm wide (paratypes 1.6–2.6 mm long, 0.9–1.7 mm wide). Body pear-shaped, with strongly protruding anal lobes. Anal lobes each dorsally with 3 weakly capitate enlarged setae, anteromedial seta shortest, remaining setae about equal, with 1 microtubular duct; each lobe ventrally with 3 flagellate setae including anal-lobe seta and 2 5-locular pores.
Dorsum without flagellate setae. Enlarged setae not arranged in longitudinal lines; in transverse rows from head to segment VII; enlarged setae of 1 variable size: largest seta 45 μm long (paratypes 40–50 μm); smallest seta 18 μm long (paratypes 15–19 μm); present in medial and mediolateral areas, becoming increasingly smaller anteriorly; enlarged setae straight, posterior setae each with slightly capitate apex, remaining setae each with acute apex; setal rings thin; segment IV with 37 enlarged setae (paratypes with 37–44). Macrotubular ducts of 2 kinds: larger size in areas with enlarged setae; smaller size restricted to lateral regions of anterior abdominal segments. Microtubular ducts approximately 6 μm long (paratypes 5–6 μm), with area farthest from dermal orifice sclerotized and divided into 2 parts, apical portion rounded or bilobed, about ½ length of remaining sclerotized portion; total sclerotized area either same length as, or longer than, unsclerotized area; dermal orifice unsclerotized or slightly sclerotized. Multilocular pores of 2 kinds: 5-locular pores most abundant, scattered over entire surface; 3-locular pores most common along anterior margins of anterior abdominal segments and on head and thorax. Cruciform pores uncommon along body margin of head and thorax. Microtrichia on segments IV to VIII.
Anal ring apical, with 4 setae on each side of ring, suranal setae flagellate. Anal tube without sclerotization.
Venter with longest seta on segment II 55 μm long (paratypes 52–68), on segment VII 52 μm long (paratypes 42–58 μm); longest anal-lobe seta 105 μm long (paratypes 87–117 μm). Enlarged setae absent. Macrotubular ducts scattered over entire surface except on head. Microtubular ducts absent. Multilocular pores of 2 kinds: 5-locular pores most abundant, present over entire surface except on medial areas of thorax; 3-locular pores in small numbers over surface, most abundant on thorax and head. Cruciform pores along body margin from head to anterior abdominal segments. Small pores on derm anterior to hind coxae. Legs with hind coxae unusually large, dorsally with 40 pores (paratypes with 45–67), ventrally with 33 (paratypes with 26–50); each femur with 5 setae, each hind femur with 11 pores dorsally (paratypes with 3–12), 6 pores ventrally (paratypes with 2–9), each tibia with 4 setae, without seta in middle of tibia, without pores; hind tibia/tarsus 0.8 (paratypes 0.6–0.8). Antennae each 6- or 7-segmented, 175 μm long (paratypes 170–200 μm). Frontal lobe absent. Preantennal pore present. Microtrichia on mesothorax to segment VIII; also present on all coxae.
Notes: The description is based on 22 specimens from three localities. The adult female of Ac. pennyae is distinct when compared with other members of the genus by having: unusually large hind coxae; a few small pores on the derm anterior of the hind coxa; multilocular pores on the dorsum; enlarged setae restricted to the dorsum; and microtubular ducts absent from the venter.
This species was sequenced by Lyn Cook based on specimens from Olneya in California, and was included in the phylogenetic analysis presented in Cook and Gullan (2004). It was labeled informally as Eriococcus sp. “CA1” in Table 1 and Fig. 1 of that publication and has GenBank accession numbers for 18S (AY795537) and for COII (AY791958).
Second-instar male (Fig. 16)
Description: Slide-mounted specimen 0.9 mm long, 0.5 mm wide. Body pear-shaped, with protruding anal lobes.Anal lobes apically acute; each lobe dorsally with 3 apically acute enlarged setae, approximately equal in size, with 1 or 2 microtubular ducts; each lobe ventrally with 3 or 4 flagellate setae including suranal seta and anal-lobe seta.
Dorsum without flagellate setae. Enlarged setae with weak indication of 3 pairs of longitudinal lines of slightly larger setae (medial, mediolateral and sublateral), enlarged setae present over entire surface, of 1 variable size: largest seta about 30 μm long; enlarged setae elongate, straight or slightly curved, with acute apices; with 10 enlarged setae on segment IV. Macrotubular ducts of 1 size, abundant over entire surface. Multilocular pores abundant over entire surface, of 2 kinds: 5-locular pores most numerous anteriorly and posteriorly, 3-locular pores most abundant on thorax and anterior abdominal segments. Microtubular ducts each about 5 μm long, with area farthest from dermal orifice sclerotized and divided into 2 parts, apical portion rounded; sclerotized area slightly longer than unsclerotized area; dermal orifice weakly sclerotized; microtubular ducts scattered over entire surface. Cruciform pores absent. Microtrichia present on abdomen.
Anal ring dorsal, with 3 setae on each side of ring, suranal setae flagellate. Anal tube unsclerotized.
Venter with longest seta on segment II about 42 μm long; longest on segment VII about 42 μm; longest anallobe seta 155–188 μm long. Slightly enlarged flagellate setae on sublateral areas of anterior abdominal segments. Macrotubular ducts of 2 kinds: larger size same size as on dorsum, most numerous on abdomen; smaller size on thorax and head. Multilocular pores of 2 kinds: 5-locular pores and 3-locular pores in approximately equal numbers. Microtubular ducts and cruciform pores absent. Legs without pores; each femur with 5 setae; each tibia with 4 setae, without seta in middle of tibia; hind tibia/tarsus 0.8. Antennae each 7-segmented, about 142 μm long. Frontal lobe absent. Preantennal pore present. Microtrichia present on prothorax to segment VIII; also present on all coxae.
Notes: This description is based on three specimens from one locality. The second-instar males of Ac. pennyae are unique in having dorsal multilocular pores and five setae on each femur. For a comparison of the second-instar males of Ac. pennyae and Ac. hoyi see the “Notes” section of the latter.
First-instar nymph (Fig. 17)
Description: Slide-mounted specimens 0.5–0.6 mm long, 0.3–0.4 mm wide. Body pear-shaped, with protruding anal lobes. Anal lobes apically acute; each lobe dorsally with 3 apically acute enlarged setae, either all setae equal in size or posteromedial longest and anteromedial shortest; microtubular ducts absent; each lobe ventrally with 3 flagellate setae including suranal seta and anal-lobe seta.
Dorsum without flagellate setae. Enlarged setae present over entire surface, fewer present along margins of anterior abdominal segments and on thorax, forming transverse rows from head to segment VII; enlarged setae of 2 sizes: larger setae variable, on segments II or III to VII forming 3 pairs of longitudinal lines (medial, mediolateral and lateral), enlarged setae on head, thorax, and segments I and II more abundant and without conspicuous longitudinal pattern; smaller-sized setae in single longitudinal line along body margin, decreasing in size posteriorly: largest enlarged setae each about 28 μm long; largest small-sized setae each about 10 μm long; large setae each elongate, straight or slightly curved, with acute apices, small setae each short, conical, straight with acute apices; segment IV with 6 setae. Microtubular ducts each about 4 μm long, with area farthest from dermal orifice sclerotized and divided into 2 parts, apical portion rounded; sclerotized area slightly longer than unsclerotized area; dermal orifice weakly sclerotized; microtubular ducts scattered over entire surface, forming 1 pair of longitudinal lines on abdomen (mediolateral) and 2 pairs of lines on thorax (mediolateral and lateral). Macrotubular ducts, cruciform pores, and multilocular pores absent. Microtubular ducts on segments I to VIII.
Anal ring apical, dorsal, or ventral, with 3 setae on each side of ring, suranal setae flagellate. Anal tube without sclerotization.
Venter with setae flagellate, longest seta on segment II approximately 12 μm long, on segment VII about 18 μm; longest anal-lobe seta 132–162 μm long. Enlarged setae absent. Macrotubular ducts and microtubular ducts absent. Multilocular pores fairly consistent, of 2 kinds: 3-locular pores most abundant, rarely with 5-locular pores near spiracles; head pore present; pore near anterior spiracles usually present; pore near posterior spiracle present or absent; pore present near metathoracic legs; pores present or absent on segments III to VII, with total of 5–7 pores on each side of body. Cruciform pores absent. Legs without pores; each femur with 5 setae; each tibia with 4 setae, without seta in middle of tibia; hind tibia/tarsus 0.7–0.8. Antennae each 6-segmented, 88–98 μm long. Frontal lobe absent. Preantennal pores present. Microtrichia present from mesothorax to segment VIII.
Notes: The description is based on 22 specimens from three localities. The first-instar nymphs of Ac. pennyae are similar to the first-instar nymphs of Ac. dubius (not illustrated or described here). They are similar by the arrangement of the dorsal enlarged setae, which are all about the same size and shape and are organized in three pairs of longitudinal lines on the abdomen. They can be separated as follows (character states in brackets are of Ac. pennyae): with five or six setae on each hind tibia including one or two in the middle (with 4 setae on each hind tibia, without seta in the middle).
description: Published as part of Miller, Douglass R. & Stocks, Ian C., 2022, New genera and species of felt scales (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Eriococcidae), with descriptions of new species and immature instars of described species, pp. 1-213 in Zootaxa 5221 (1) on pages 33-37, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5221.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/7441371