Montanococcus graemei Henderson, 2007, sp. nov.
Creators: name: Henderson, Rosa C.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2007
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Hemiptera
Eriococcidae
Montanococcus
Montanococcus graemei

description: Montanococcus graemei sp. nov.
(Figs 4–10)
Live appearance: (Figs 4–6) Young females and nymphs salmon-pink with darker anal lobes. Habitat under basal sheaths of Schoenus pauciflorus (Cyperaceae), a sedge tussock, growing in penalpine flushes with moving water. Young females with a long, thick, wax filament protruding from the anal ring (Figs 4, 5), which is thought to act as a wick for drawing honeydew away from the body and into the moving water surrounding the host plant. Older females covered with a brown, crusty sac. Nymphs tend to be closely grouped together but separated by their individual cushions of soft wax (Fig. 6). Adult female, 2nd-instar female and male, and 1st-instar nymphs were available life stages.
Description of adult female, measurements taken from 10 specimens (Fig. 7).
Body elongate-oval, 0.7–1.57 mm wide, 1.63–3 mm long; derm membranous except for anal lobes. Eye-spots present on margin about level of antennal scape. Marginal setae 15–135 μm long; in groups of 2–3 long setae plus 1 shorter seta on each abdominal segment, reducing to 1 long seta plus a short seta in a line each side to head. Antennae 6-segmented, 170–230 μm long; fleshy setae: 1 each on segments IV and V, 3 on VI; flagellate setae: 3 plus 1 short seta on segment I, 3 each on II, III and V, 6 on VI. Labium 80–95 μm long, with 4 pairs of setae discernable. Anal lobes massive, strongly sclerotised, with lobules on inner margins and apex; width at base 230–300 μm, width at mid lobule (LD1) 155–225 μm, width at posterior lobule (LD2) 85– 120 μm, length 200–275 μm; anal lobe setae lengths (μm): LD1 17.5–27.5, LD 2 18–40, LD3 15–27.5, LV1 57.5–87.5, additional ventral seta LV2 21.5–50, apical seta terminal 113–150; suranal seta 50–80 μm long. Anal ring ventral at base of anal lobes, with about 5 rows of cells and with 8 broad, sword-shaped anal ring setae tapering abruptly to sharp point, each 12.5–20 μm wide at setal base, 87.5–137.5 μm long. Legs well developed; metathoracic coxa not larger than coxae of other legs, coxa and femur with translucent pores; metathoracic leg lengths (μm): coxa 120–160, trochanter + femur 150–200, tibia 70–90, tarsus 85–105, claw 30– 35, without a denticle. Tarsal and claw digitules normal and subequal.
Dorsum. Dorsal setae spinose, of 2 distinct sizes: large setae 35–75 μm long, short stout setae 7.5–20 μm long; distributed in transverse rows of 4 long setae with a variable number of short setae; short setae most numerous per row on thorax. Macrotubular ducts 31–40 μm long, distributed in transverse bands with the dorsal setae, and in a broad submarginal band, except absent medially from abdominal segment VII and with few medially on segment VI. Microtubular ducts 10–15 μm long, distribution scattered over dorsum, less numerous than macrotubular ducts, not closely associated with setal bases near margin. Venter. Submedian abdominal setae flagellate, 7.5–45 μm long; with a submarginal abdominal line of spinose setae, largest 45–87.5 μm long on last segment, decreasing in size towards thorax, where each 10–55 μm long, and with several smaller setae in proximity of each submarginal seta. Macrotubular ducts absent. Microtubular ducts as for dorsum, with about 2 per segment submarginally each side. Ventral disc-pores wide-rimmed, 7-locular, 4–5 μm wide, with a slightly raised centre; distributed in a discrete, sinuous, submedian band varying from 1–10 pores wide, from level of each antennal scape to approx. mid-ventral surface of each anal lobe; disc pore band forming a more closely spaced group by each spiracle; also with numerous disc pores scattered near mouthparts, with about 20 disc pores in a transverse medial line between posterior spiracles, and with a few near each mesocoxa. Vulva a wide slit with sclerotised margins, between segments VI and VII. Mesothoracic spiracle length 45–75 μm, width across peritreme 20–27.5 μm; metathoracic spiracle length 47.5–70 μm, width across peritreme 22.5–27.5 μm. With broad submedian bands of microtrichia on all abdominal and thoracic segments.
Comments. Diagnostic features of the adult female M. graemei are: (i) ventral band of 7-locular disc pores extending from antenna to anal lobe on each side of body (absent on frontal head); (ii) the 8 exceptionally broad, sword-shaped anal ring setae, 12.5–20 μm wide at setal base (these setae only moderately wide and sword-shaped on M. petrobius, and flagellate on M. thriaticus); (iii) anal ring with about 5 rows of pores (1 – 2 rows in M. petrobius and M. thriaticus), and (iv) distinct dorsal submedian bands each composed of 4 long setae, numerous short setae, long macrotubular ducts, and a few microtubular ducts.
Description of 2nd-instar female, measurements taken from 10 specimens (Fig. 8).
Body elongate-oval, 0.44–0.59 mm wide, 0.86–1.25 mm long; derm membranous except for anal lobes. Eyespots present. Marginal setae 10–110 μm long, in groups of 2 long setae plus 1 shorter seta on each abdominal segment, reducing to 1 long seta plus a short seta in a line each side to head. Antennae 6-segmented, 120–155 μm long; fleshy setae: 1 each on segments IV and V, 3 on VI; flagellate setae: 3 plus 1 short setae on segment I, 3 each on II, III and V, and 6 on VI. Labium 60–80 μm long with 4 pairs of setae discernable. Anal lobes very wide at base, thick, with lobules on inner margins and apex; strongly sclerotised; width at base 125–180 μm, width at posterior lobule (LD2) 60–90 μm, length 120–170 μm; anal lobe setae lengths (μm): LD1 12.5–15, LD2 12.5–20, LD3 12.5-17.5, LV1 37.5–57.5, apical seta terminal 90–120; suranal seta 32.5–55 μm long. Anal ring ventral at base of anal lobes, with about 2 or 3 rows of cells and 6 broad, swordshaped, anal ring setae, tapering abruptly to sharp point, 7.5 μm wide at setal base, 75–80 μm long. Legs well developed; metathoracic coxa not larger than coxae of other legs, metathoracic leg lengths (μm): coxa 75– 100, trochanter + femur 100–120, tibia 45–50, tarsus 65–70, claw 25–30; claw without a denticle. Tarsal and claw digitules normal and subequal.
Dorsum. Dorsal setae spinose, of 2 distinct sizes: large setae 25–45 μm long, short stout setae 5–12.5 μm long; distributed in rows of 4 long setae with 2–9 short setae. Macrotubular ducts absent. Microtubular ducts 8–10 μm long, a few present submedially on abdomen and submarginally around body. Venter. Submedian abdominal setae flagellate, 10–22.5 μm long; with a submarginal abdominal line of spinose setae, largest 15– 65 μm long on most posterior segment, decreasing in size towards thorax. Macrotubular ducts absent. Microtubular ducts as for dorsum, with about 2 per segment submarginally on each side. Ventral disc pores as for adult female, 4–5 μm wide, distributed in a discrete, sinuous submedian band varying from 1–6 pores wide, from level of each antennal scape to approx. one third mid-ventral surface of each anal lobe; disc pore band extending laterally by each spiracle to form a closely spaced group there. Mesothoracic spiracle length 35–45 μm, width across peritreme 12.5 μm; metathoracic spiracle length 37.5–45 μm, width across peritreme 12.5 μm. With broad submedian bands of microtrichia on all abdominal and thoracic segments.
Comments. Diagnostic features of the 2nd-instar female of M. graemei are: (i) macrotubular ducts absent (present in adult female and 2nd-instar male), and (ii) ventral disc pore band extending from antennae to approx. one third ventral surface of anal lobes as on 2nd-instar male (interrupted in 1st-instar nymph).
Description of 2nd-instar male, measurements taken from 2 good specimens and 2 poor specimens (Fig. 9).
Body elongate-oval, 0.55–0.58 mm wide, 1.13–1.2 mm long; derm membranous except for anal lobes. Eyespots present. Marginal setae 10–85 μm long, in groups of 2 long setae plus 1 shorter seta on each abdominal segment, reducing to 1 long seta plus a short seta in a line each side to head. Antennae 6-segmented, 155–165 μm long; fleshy setae: 1 each on segments IV and V, 4 on VI; flagellate setae: 3 plus 1 short setae on segment I, 3 each on II, III and V, and 6 on VI. Labium about 65 μm long, with 4 pairs of setae discernable. Anal lobes very wide at base, thick, with lobules on inner margins and apex; strongly sclerotised; width at base 160–170 μm, width at posterior lobule (LD2) 70–80 μm, length 150–160 μm; anal lobe setae lengths (μm): LD1 12.5–15, LD2 15–17.5, LD3 17.5–20, LV1 46.5–62.5, apical seta terminal 90–95; suranal seta 62.5–70 μm long. Anal ring ventral, at base of anal lobes; with about 2 or 3 rows of cells and with 6 broad, sword-shaped anal ring setae, 7.5 μm wide at setal base. Legs well developed; metathoracic coxa not larger than coxae of other legs, metathoracic leg lengths (μm): coxa 115–120, trochanter + femur 140–145, tibia 60–65, tarsus 75–80, claw 25; claw without a denticle. Tarsal and claw digitules normal and subequal.
Dorsum. Dorsal setae spinose, of 2 distinct sizes: large setae 42.5–65 μm long, short stout setae 7.5–12.5 μm long; distributed in rows of 4 long setae with 2–9 short setae. Macrotubular ducts 13–16 μm long, shorter than on adult female; distributed submedially in intersegmental rows with dorsal setae, and in a submarginal band. Microtubular ducts 9–11 μm long; with a few submedially on abdomen and submarginally around body. Venter. Submedian abdominal setae flagellate, 15–40 μm long; with a submarginal abdominal line of spinose setae, largest on most posterior segment 30–62.5 μm long, decreasing in size towards thorax. Macrotubular ducts absent. Microtubular ducts as for dorsum, with about 1 per segment submarginally and 1 on each side of head. Ventral disc pores as for female, 4–5 μm wide; distributed in a discrete, sinuous submedian band varying from 1–6 pores wide, from level of each antennal scape to approx. one third mid-ventral surface of each anal lobe; disc pore band forming a more closely spaced group by each spiracle. Mesothoracic spiracle: length 35–40 μm, width across peritreme 12.5 μm; metathoracic spiracle: length 42.5–45 μm, width across peritreme 12.5–15 μm. With broad submedian bands of microtrichia on all abdominal and thoracic segments.
Comments. Diagnostic features of the 2nd-instar male M. graemei are: (i) presence of large tubular ducts with a short lumen almost half length of ducts on adult female, but length of inner ductule and width of ducts not much different from those of adult female, and (ii) dorsal and ventral long setae noticeably longer than on 2nd-instar female nymph, relative lengths on male nymph / female nymph: dorsal setae 42–65 μm / 25–45 μm; ventral setae 15–40 μm / 10–22.5 μm.
Description of 1st-instar nymph, measurements taken from 3 good specimens (Fig. 10).
Body elongate-oval, 0.39–0.43 mm wide, 0.74–0.78 mm long; derm membranous except for anal lobes. Eyespots present on margin at about level of antennal scape. Marginal setae 20–65 μm long, in groups of 2 long setae on each abdominal segment, reducing to 1 long seta in a line each side to head, setae; short marginal setae generally absent. Antennae 6-segmented, 105–110 μm long; fleshy setae: 1 each on segments IV and V, 3 on VI; flagellate setae: 3 on segment I, 2 on II, 3 each on III and V, 4 on VI. Labium 45–65 μm long, with 3 pairs of setae discernable. Anal lobes very wide at base, thick, sclerotised, width at base 85–95 μm, length 70–85 μm; anal lobe setae lengths (μm): LD1 10–12.5, LD2 17.5–20, LD3 10–12.5, LV1 40–45, apical seta long, terminal 120–137.5; suranal seta 27.5–30 μm long. Anal ring with about 2 rows of cells, ventral at base of anal lobes, with 6 relatively broad anal ring setae, 7.5 μm wide at setal base. Legs well developed; metathoracic coxa not larger than coxae of other legs, metathoracic leg lengths (μm): coxa 30–35, trochanter + femur 85–90, tibia 35, tarsus 45–50, claw 20; claw without a denticle. Tarsal and claw digitules normal and subequal.
Dorsum. Dorsal setae of one size, spinose, 20–30 μm long; distributed in 4 longitudinal lines. Macrotubular ducts absent. Microtubular ducts 10–11 μm long, in 2 submedial lines and a submarginal line around body with ducts opening on margin. Venter. Submedian abdominal setae flagellate, 7.5–25 μm long; with a submarginal abdominal line of spinose setae, 30–62.5 μm long; largest on most posterior segment, decreasing in size towards thorax. Macro- and microtubular ducts absent. Ventral disc-pores as for female, 4–5 μm wide, distributed in a discrete, sinuous submedian band varying from 1–3 pores wide, from level of each mesocoxa to approx. one quarter mid-ventral surface of each anal lobe, with a group near each anterior spiracle, and 1 or 2 on each side of labium and also a few near each mesocoxa. Mesothoracic spiracle length 17.5–22.5 μm, width across peritreme 7.5 μm; metathoracic spiracle length 20 μm, width across peritreme 7.5 μm. With broad submedian bands of microtrichia on all abdominal and thoracic segments.
Comments. Diagnostic features of the 1st-instar nymph of M. graemei are: (i) the very large sclerotised anal lobes, an unusual feature for 1st-instar nymphs but typical for the genus (compare M. petrobius 1st-instar nymph); (ii) 2 long marginal setae on each abdominal segment (1 long seta on M. petrobius); (iii) submedian lines of dorsal microtubular ducts on each side of body (M. petrobius has only about 1 submedian microtubular duct on each side on thorax), and (iv) a short band of ventral disc pores extend anteriorly from the anterior spiracle and a few present near mouthparts (M. petrobius with none near mouthparts).
Type material. Holotype female: NEW ZEALAND, NN, Lake Sylvester, 1350 m, road from hut to lake, 11 Jan 2005, GL & RC Henderson, Schoenus pauciflorus stems at base, #05-033a: 1/1 young F.
Paratypes: as for holotype, #05-033b–d: 4/3 young FF (1 infested with fungal hyphae), 3ff, 1 m, 1 1stinstar; as previous except 1310 m, near site of old Bushline Hut, #05-032a–b: 2/2FF (fully grown, under brown crusty sacs).
Other material examined: as for type material except 1300 m, bushline SE of DoC [Department of Conservation] hut, #05-005 a–k: 11/7FF, 10ff, 3 mm, 2 1st-instar nymphs. Lake Sylvester, 1325 m, 14 Feb 1973, JA de Boer, No 987: 5/4FF (2 split dorso-ventrally), 2ff, 1 m. Mt Domett, 1250 m, 30 Nov 1971, G Kuschel, mats 71/178, #79-145a: 2/3FF. BR, Mt Robert, 1830 m, 12 Oct 1969, GW Ramsay, Berlese sample, No 576: 1/ 1F.
Etymology. The specific epithet graemei is for my husband Graeme Henderson for his invaluable scale hunting skills among the penalpine wetlands at Lake Sylvester.
description: Published as part of Henderson, Rosa C., 2007, Three new genera and six new species of felt scales (Hemiptera: Coccoidea: Eriococcidae) from mountain habitats in New Zealand, pp. 1-29 in Zootaxa 1449 on pages 13-21, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.176204