Uroleucon (Lambersius) loxdalei Mehrparvar & Rakhshani & Rokni & Kanturski 2022, sp. nov.
Creators: name: Mehrparvar, Mohsen
name: Rakhshani, Ehsan
name: Rokni, Moein
name: Kanturski, Mariusz
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2022
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Hemiptera
Aphididae
Uroleucon
Uroleucon loxdalei

description: Uroleucon (Lambersius) loxdalei sp. nov.
(Figs. 1–5, Table 1)
Material examined. Seventy one apterous viviparous females, 19 alate viviparous females, 22 apterous oviparae, and three alate males were examined.
Holotype: Apterous viviparous female, IRAN, Kerman province, Lalehzar, 29°29′17″N, 56°48′49″E, alt. 3010 m a.s.l., 3 Nov. 2006, M. Mehrparvar leg., on Launaea acanthodes, ARG 00366, KGUT.
Paratypes: 3 apterous viviparous females, same data as the holotype; 10 oviparous females, same data as the holotype; 1 alate male, same data as the holotype; 5 apterous viviparous females and 1 alate viviparous female, Kerman province, Dehbala, 30°19′26″N, 57°13′02″E, alt. 1997 m, a.s.l., 2 Jun. 2006, M. Mehrparvar leg., on Launaea acanthodes, ARG 00367, KGUT; 5 apterous viviparous females, 2 oviparous females and 2 alate males, Kerman province, Mes-e-Sarcheshmeh, 29°59′46″N, 55°51′20″E, alt. 2563 m a.s.l., 13 Oct. 2020, M. Mehrparvar leg., on Launaea acanthodes, ARG 00370, KGUT; 6 apterous viviparous females, Kerman province, Mes-e-Sarcheshmeh, 30°03′45″N, 55°54′20″E, alt. 2305 m a.s.l., 13 Oct. 2020, M. Mehrparvar leg., on Launaea acanthodes, ARG 00371, KGUT; 5 apterous viviparous females, Kerman province, Mes-e-Sarcheshmeh, 30°01′01″N, 55°53′26″E, alt. 2461 m a.s.l., 13 Oct. 2020, M. Mehrparvar leg., on Launaea acanthodes, ARG 00372, KGUT; 1 apterous viviparous females, Kerman province, bondar-e-Chatrood, 30°37′45″N, 57°01′18″E, alt. 2246 m a.s.l., 20 Oct. 2006, M. Mehrparvar leg., on Launaea acanthodes,ARG 00374, KGUT; 9 apterous viviparous females and 10 alate viviparous females, Kerman province, Khabr, 29°00′08″N, 56°38′06″E, alt. 1959 m a.s.l., 23 Aug. 2007, M. Mehrparvar leg., on Launaea acanthodes, ARG 00378, KGUT and DZUS; 5 apterous viviparous females and 2 alate viviparous females, Kerman province, Zeydabad, 29°39′15″N, 55°32′33″E, alt. 1758 m a.s.l., 6 Oct. 2006, M. Mehrparvar leg., on Launaea acanthodes, ARG 00368, KGUT; 9 apterous viviparous females, Kerman province, Sekonj, 29°55′28″N, 57°28′04″E, alt. 2352 m a.s.l., 6 Oct. 2006, M. Mehrparvar leg., on Launaea acanthodes, ARG 00369, KGUT; 5 apterous viviparous females, Kerman province, Bondar, 30°37′35″N, 57°00′29″E, alt. 2067 m a.s.l., 20 Oct. 2006, M. Mehrparvar leg., on Launaea acanthodes, ARG 00373, KGUT; 8 apterous viviparous females and 2 oviparous females, Kerman province, Bondar-e-Chatrood, 30°38′12″N, 57°01′41″E, alt. 2294 m a.s.l., 20 Oct. 2006, M. Mehrparvar leg., on Launaea acanthodes, ARG 00375, KGUT; 4 apterous viviparous females and 1 alate viviparous female, Kerman province, Bondar-e-Chatrood, 30°37′27″N, 57°02′36″E, alt. 2349 m a.s.l., 20 Oct. 2006, M. Mehrparvar leg., on Launaea acanthodes, ARG 00376, DZUS; 8 oviparous females, Kerman province, Dehbala, 20 Nov. 2006, M. Mehrparvar leg., on Launaea acanthodes, ARG 00377, KGUT; 5 apterous viviparous females and 5 alate viviparous females, Kerman province, Mahan, 30°02′50″N, 57°14′47″E, alt. 1929 m a.s.l., 29 Jun. 2014, M. Mehrparvar leg., on Launaea acanthodes, ARG 00379, KGUT.
Diagnosis. The new species, Uroleucon loxdalei sp. nov., is characterized by the colour of the SIPH, which are brown with pale basal section, having 3–3–3 setae on the first tarsal segments, relatively short PT, pale cauda and poorly developed or pale sclerites and scleroites on the abdomen. The newly designated species is most similar to U. bielawskii (Szelegiewicz), but there are several differences (in apterous viviparous females) as follows:
• number of secondary rhinaria on ANTIII: 7–19(27) distributed on 48–60% of the basal part in the new species, while 42–69 distributed on the whole length in U. bielawskii;
• URS/2HT: 0.82–1.0 in the new species, while 0.77–0.87 in U. bielawskii;
• PT/ANTVIb: 2.39–3.24 in the new species, while 3.35–4.33 in U. bielawskii;
• B. D. of SIPH is thinner than B. D. cauda in the new species, while it is thicker in U. bielawskii;
• Body length is 2.10–2.86 mm in the new species, while 2.9–3.38 mm in U. bielawskii;
• ANTI & II are dark brown and brown respectively in the new species, while both are light brown in U. bielawskii;
• The number of accessory hairs on URS is 8–11 in the new species, while 10–12 in U. bielawskii (see Table 2) (Szelegiewicz 1962).
Description
Apterous viviparous females (n=71): Colour of living specimens: Body dark red to dark brown, not covered with wax powder. Colour of mounted specimens (Fig. 2): Body mainly pale. Head, ANTII, URS, SIPH (except basal part) and genital plate brown. ANTI, the end of ANTIII–V, ANTVI, distal part of tibiae and tarsus are dark brown. Coxa, trochanter and majority of femora pale brown, Cauda pale.
Morphological characters: Body oval; head smooth; antennal tubercles well-developed with diverging inner sides; median frontal tubercle not developed (Fig. 2e). ANT as long as or shorter than body length; antennal setae blunt and shorter than B.D. ANTIII. ANTIII bearing 7–19(27) rounded or slightly oval secondary rhinaria with welldeveloped sclerotized rings on their edges distributed on 48–60% of the basal part of segment (Fig. 2b); primary rhinarium ciliate. PT 2.39–3.24 X ANTVIb and 0.57–0.81 X ANTIII. Other antennal ratios: ANTIII/ANTIV: 1.23– 1.58, ANTVI/ANTIII: 0.78–1.09, ANTV/ANTIII: 0.49–0.62, ANTIV/ANTIII: 0.63–0.82, PT/ANTIV: 0.78–1.17, PT/ANTV: 1.0–1.49.ANTVIb 1.0–1.33 times longer than URS. Rostrum relatively short and pass mesosternum (Fig. 2a); URS blunt (Fig. 2f), 0.82–1.0 X 2HT with secondary setae. Body with fine blunt setae; dorsum membranous; marginal and siphuncular sclerites not visible (Fig. 2j); dorsal setae on thorax and ABDTVI–VIII placed on dark scleroites (Fig. 2j). SIPH tapering and slightly wider at base (Fig. 2i), with polygonal reticulation on 24–36% of the distal length, 1.76–2.35 times longer than cauda and 0.17–0.26 X body length. Ratios of SIPH to some various body parts are as follows: SIPH/ANTIII: 0.86–1.12, SIPH/PT: 1.19–1.83, SIPH/URS: 3.40–5.80. 2HT 1.0–1.21 times URS. Cauda relatively long, finger-shaped with narrow tip (Fig 2g), 1.93–2.67 X URS and 0.43–0.57 X SIPH. First tarsal segment with 3–3–3 setae. Other biometric data are presented in Table 1.
Alate viviparous females (based on 19 specimens): Colour of living specimens: Body dark red to dark brown not covered with wax powder. Colour of mounted specimens (Fig. 3a): ANTV & VI dark brown. ANTIII & IV (except basal part which is paler), thorax and tarsus brown. Head and genital plate are pale brown. Femur and tibia pale except for the distal part which is dark brown. Wing vein pale. Otherwise the same with apterous viviparous females.
Morphological characters: Body spindle-shaped; head smooth; antennal tubercles well-developed (Fig. 3e); ANT shorter than body length; antennal setae blunt and shorter than B.D. ANTIII. Antennal ratios: ANTIII/ANTIV: 1.22–1.57, ANTVI/ANTIII: 0.89–1.09, ANTV/ANTIII: 0.51–0.67, ANTIV/ANTIII: 0.64–0.82, PT/ANTIII: 0.66– 0.82, PT/ANTVIb: 2.75–3.0, PT/ANTIV: 0.91–1.29, PT/ANTV: 1.12–1.41. ANTIII bearing 22–38 secondary rhinaria distributed on the whole length (Fig. 3b). URS blunt (Fig. 3f), 0.82–1.0 times 2HT. ANTVIb 1.07–1.29 X URS. First tarsal segments with 3–3–3 setae. Dorsum membranous; SIPH tubular, wider at base with polygonal reticulation on 27–36% of the distal length (Fig. 3h). Ratios of SIPH to some particular body parts are as follows: SIPH/Body length: 0.18–0.22, SIPH/Cauda: 1.97–2.16, SIPH/ANTIII: 0.92–1.03, SIPH/PT: 1.13–1.44, SIPH/URS: 3.64–4.79. 2HT 1.0–1.21 times URS. Cauda finger-shaped (Fig. 3g), 1.79–2.29 times URS and 0.46–0.51 times shorter than SIPH. Further biometric data are presented in Table 1.
Oviparous females (based on 22 specimens): Colour of living specimens: similar in appearance to apterous viviparous females. Colour of mounted specimens: ANTV & VI and genital plate dark brown. Hind tibia brown. ANTIII & IV pale brown except tips which are dark brown. Fore and mid tibiae pale brown with dark brown distal part. Otherwise the same with apterous viviparous females.
Morphological characters: Body oval but wider than apterous viviparous females (Fig. 4a). Compared to apterous vivipara, legs are relatively shorter. Antennal tubercles well developed (Fig. 4e). ANT shorter than body length. Secondary rhinaria distributed on basal 48–68% of the ANTIII (Fig. 4b). Some antennal ratios are as follows: ANTIII/ANTIV: 1.30–1.69, ANTVI/ANTIII: 0.88–1.06, ANTV/ANTIII: 0.51–0.63, ANTIV/ANTIII: 0.59–0.77, PT/ANTIII: 0.62–0.77, PT/ANTVIb: 2.41–2.85, PT/ANTIV: 0.88–1.20, PT/ANTV: 1.14–1.32. ANTVIb 1.07–1.23 X URS. URS 0.81–0.97 times longer than 2HT. Ratios of SIPH to some particular body parts are as follows: SIPH/Body length: 0.16–0.22, SIPH/Cauda: 1.77–2.04, SIPH/ANTIII: 0.77–1.02, SIPH/PT: 1.12–1.44, SIPH/URS: 3.20–4.36. 2HT 1.03–1.23 times URS. SIPH with polygonal reticulation on 23–33% of the distal length (Fig. 4i). Cauda finger-shaped (Fig. 4g) 1.80–2.36 times longer than URS and 0.49–0.57 times shorter than SIPH. Hind tibiae bearing more than 100 pseudosensoria in various sizes which are distributed on basal half and this part is swollen distinctly (Fig. 4j). Otherwise like apterous viviparous females. Biometric data are given in Table 1.
Alate males (based on 3 specimens examined): Colour of living specimens: similar in appearance to alate viviparous females. Colour of mounted specimens (Fig. 5a): Body mainly membranous. Head and ANTII brown (Fig. 5e); ANTI, ANTIII–VI (except for the basal part of ANTIII which is paler), thorax, URS, tarsus and penis dark brown (Fig. 5); dorsal abdominal segments with brown marginal and pleural sclerites (Fig. 5a). Otherwise like apterous viviparous females.
Morphological characters: Body elongate spindle-shaped; head smooth; antennal tubercles slightly developed (Fig. 5e). ANT as long as or longer than body length. ANTIII–V bearing rounded or slightly oval secondary rhinaria with well-developed sclerotized rings on their edges which distributed on whole length of ANTIII, 70–87% of the distal part of the ANTIV, 59–62% of the distal part of the ANTIV (Figs. 5 b-d). Antennal ratios are: PT/ANTVIb: 2.53–2.87; PT/ANTIII: 0.74; ANTIII/ANTIV: 1.21–1.33, ANTVI/ANTIII: 1.0–1.03, ANTV/ANTIII: 0.59, ANTIV/ ANTIII: 0.75–0.83, PT/ANTIV: 0.90–0.91, PT/ANTV: 1.26. ANTVIb 1.0–1.21 X URS. First tarsal segments with 3–3–3 setae. URS 0.88–1.0 times 2HT. Rostrum reaching metasternum (Fig. 5a). SIPH tubular with polygonal reticulation on 30–34% of the distal length (Fig. 5i). Ratios of SIPH to some body parts are as follows: SIPH/Body length: 0.11–0.14, SIPH/Cauda: 1.65–1.78, SIPH/ANTIII: 0.43–0.57, SIPH/PT: 0.74–0.77, SIPH/URS: 2.13–2.36. 2HT 1.0–1.13 times URS. Cauda long triangular with wide basal half and distinctly narrower distal half which bearing the caudal setae (Fig. 5f), 1.20–1.36 X URS and 0.56–0.61 times shorter than SIPH. Other biometric data are presented in Table 1.
The Blackman and Eastop (2021) key to apterous viviparous females of aphids on Launaea is here modified to accommodate the new species as below, respecting terminology, abbreviations and expressions.
1 ANT PT/BASE 1.0-1.4. SIPH short, black, about as long as cauda which is bluntly triangular and bears 12-20 hairs........................................................................................ Protaphis pseudocardui
- ANT PT/BASE more than 1.8 and other characters not in that combination....................................... 2
2 SIPH dark, with reticulation consisting of numerous small cells and extending over distal 0.16-0.43 of length............ 3
- SIPH pale or if dark then without distal polygonal reticulation................................................. .. 7
3 Basal part of SIPH pale........................................................... Uroleucon loxdalei sp. nov.
- Basal part of SIPH dark............................................................................... .. 4
4 Dorsal hairs not arising from small dark scleroites............................................. Uroleucon sonchi
- All or most of dorsal hairs arising from small dark scleroites................................................... 5
5 Crescent-shaped antesiphuncular sclerites present. R IV+V 0.84-1.08 × HT II. ….............. Uroleucon hypochoeridis
- Antesiphuncular sclerites absent or indistinct. R IV+V 0.91-1.43 × HT II........................................ .. 6
6 HT II rather long and thin, 6 or more × longer than its maximum thickness and 0.9-1.1 × R IV+V..................................................................................................... Uroleucon pseudambrosiae
- HT II less than 5 × its maximum thickness and 0.70-0.85 × R IV+V............................ Uroleucon ambrosiae
7 ANT tubercles well developed with smooth, broadly divergent inner faces. ANT III with 1-3 rhinaria near base. ANT III 0.8-1.0 × SIPH, which are long, pale and tapering/cylindrical on distal part, without any polygonal reticulation.. Acyrthosiphon ilka
- Aphids without that combination of characters. ..................................... go to key to polyphagous aphids
Etymology. The new species is named to honour Prof. Hugh D. Loxdale in recognition of his many pioneering contributions to aphidology, especially in molecular genetics and molecular ecology.
Host plant and biology. This aphid lives in sparse colonies on shoots of Launaea acanthodes (Asteraceae) (Fig. 1) which is distributed from north Africa to central Asia. Since all species of Uroleucon are monoecious and in this study sexual morphs have been collected on L. acanthodes in autumn, it therefore can be concluded that this new species has no host alternation and hence is a monoecious, holocyclic species. This aphid is not attended by ants.
description: Published as part of Mehrparvar, Mohsen, Rakhshani, Ehsan, Rokni, Moein & Kanturski, Mariusz, 2022, A new species of the aphid genus Uroleucon Mordvilko, 1914 (Hemiptera Sternorrhyncha: Aphididae) on Launaea acanthodes from Iran, pp. 369-379 in Zootaxa 5183 (1) on pages 370-378, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5183.1.27, http://zenodo.org/record/7070293