Research Article |
Corresponding author: Scott A. Schneider ( scott.schneider@ars.usda.gov ) Academic editor: Roger Blackman
© 2020 Scott A. Schneider, Lucia E. Claps, Jiufeng Wei, Roxanna D. Normark, Benjamin B. Normark.
This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the CC0 Public Domain Dedication.
Citation:
Schneider SA, Claps LE, Wei J, Normark RD, Normark BB (2020) Five new species of Aspidiotini (Hemiptera, Diaspididae, Aspidiotinae) from Argentina, with a key to Argentine species. ZooKeys 948: 47-73. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.948.54618
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Five new species of armored scale insect from Argentina are described and illustrated based upon morphological and molecular evidence from adult females: Chortinaspis jujuyensis sp. nov., Clavaspis patagonensis sp. nov., Hemiberlesia ozolita sp. nov., Melanaspis lilloi sp. nov., and Melanaspis targionoides sp. nov. The genera Chortinaspis and Melanaspis are recorded for the first time from this country. An identification key to all recorded species from tribe Aspidiotini occurring in Argentina is provided.
armored scale insects, Chortinaspis, Clavaspis, Coccoidea, Coccomorpha, Hemiberlesia, Melanaspis, taxonomy
Armored scale insects are ubiquitous, highly invasive herbivores that often become pests on trees, shrubs, and ornamentals (
This article describes five new species of Aspidiotini from Argentina. Generic designations are made following morphology and the best available evidence from molecular studies (
Sixteen genera from tribe Aspidiotini are now recorded in Argentina (
Specimens were preserved in 100% ethanol and stored at -20 °C before being slide-mounted. Specimens were slide-mounted according to the joint DNA-morphology preparation protocol described in
Morphological terminology conforms to descriptions and illustrations provided by
Depositories are abbreviated as follows: IFML, Instituto Fundación Miguel Lillo, Tucumán, Argentina; USNM, United States National Museum, scale insect collection at Agricultural Research Service, Beltsville, Maryland, USA; UMEC, University of Massachusetts Entomology Collection, Amherst, Massachusetts, USA.
Holotype : Argentina • 1 adult female; Jujuy, Humahuaca, Ruta 9, entrada a Iruya; 22.997S, 65.369W; 12.II.2002; L. E. Claps, P. Zamudio, L. Díaz-Briz, and P. Cabrera leg.; IFML, L. E. Claps catalog #12-02, # 1089 (D0265G). Paratypes: Argentina • 2 adult females; same slide and data as holotype; IFML (D0265G) • 1 adult female; same data as holotype; IFML (D0265H) • 1 adult female; same data as holotype; IFML (D0265J) • 1 adult female; same data as holotype; IFML (D0265K) • 3 adult females; same data as holotype; UMEC (D0265I) • 1 adult female; same data as holotype; USNM (D0265L) • 1 adult female; same data as holotype; USNM (D0265M).
(N = 11). Adult female presumed to secrete scale cover, not pupillarial. Appearance in life not recorded. Slide-mounted adult female 730–1110 (holotype 860, median 860) μm long, 590–800 (holotype 680, median 680) μm wide; broadest near mesothorax and metathorax. Body outline nearly oval. Derm membranous except for pygidium. Antennae simple, each with one thick, flagellate seta; distance between antennae 120–150 (median 130) μm. Without disc pores near anterior or posterior spiracles. Lobes: Pygidium with 2 pairs of well-developed sclerotized lobes extending from pygidial margin. Median lobes (L1) prominent and broad, roughly rectangular in shape with ragged edges; each lobe with basal scleroses nearly equal in length to L1, broad basally and tapering anteriorly; L1 separated by interlobular space about 1/4 width of L1; second lobes (L2) about 1/2 width of L1, smoothly rounded apically, without notches, L3 and L4 absent. Paraphyses: Absent. Plates: 1 pair of simple plates between L1, with shallow bifurcations, not deeply fringed, slightly longer than L1; 2 plates present in first space between L1 and L2, the plate immediately anterior to L1 simple and roughly triangular, the other roughly rectangular and apically fringed, both longer than L1; 2 plates anterior to L2, variously fringed, ranging from simple to fimbriate; plates absent beyond setae marking position of L3. Ducts: Dorsal pygidial macroducts of 1-barred type, long and slender, duct filaments about 6–8 times as long as width of orifices; 1 macroduct between L1 (rarely absent), extending beyond posterior margin of anal opening, 40–51 (median 45) μm in length; 5–9 clustered macroducts arising from first space between L1 and L2, 14–27 on abdominal segment VI, in elongate cluster arising from second space and widening anteriorly; 18–38 ducts on abdominal segment V, in irregular, elongate cluster arising from third space and widening anteriorly; 38–66 (median 48.5) macroducts on each side of pygidium in total. Submarginal cluster of 4–17 (median 11) macroducts present on abdominal segment IV; few marginal macroducts present on each of abdominal segments I–III and metathorax. Dorsal submedial groups of microducts present on each of abdominal segments I–III. Small clusters of ventral submarginal microducts present on abdominal segments II–VI. Anal opening: Small and slightly oval, 11–17 (median 14) μm in diameter, positioned 2.2–3.3 (median 2.3) anal lengths from base of L1, located in posterior third of pygidium. Perivulvar pores: Absent.
Several DNA sequences of Chortinaspis jujuyensis sp. nov. have been published, including fragments of 4 loci. None are from the holotype or paratypes, but all are from specimens collected in the same collecting event with the same data. Specimen D0265A was ground to powder during DNA preparation. Specimens D0265E and D0265F are mounted on microscope slides but are in poor condition; they are identifiable as C. jujuyensis sp. nov. but were not suitable for reliable measurements and therefore were not designated as paratypes. The sequenced loci and corresponding GenBank accession numbers are: the large ribosomal subunit (28S; D0265A, DQ145314.2; D0265F, MH933984.1), elongation factor 1-alpha (EF-1α; D0265A, DQ145426.1; D0265E, MH915708.1; D0265F, MH915709.1), carbamoylphosphate synthetase (CAD; D0265E, MH915983.1; D0265F, MH915984.1), and cytochrome oxidase I and II (COI-II; D0265, GQ424990.1; D0265E, MH916219.1 & MH916391.1; D0265F, MH916220.1 & MH916392.1). The small ribosomal subunit (16S) sequences of the primary bacterial endosymbiont, Uzinura diaspidicola, of C. jujuyensis sp. nov. has also been published: GQ424853.1.
Specimens of C. jujuyensis sp. nov. have appeared in several published phylogenetic trees, and have been referred to variously as “Diaspidiotus sp undesc #2” (
Chortinaspis jujuyensis sp. nov. shares similarities with C. graminella (Cockerell) and C. frankliniana Ferris. The median lobes of C. jujuyensis sp. nov. are apically truncate or nearly rectangular in shape like those of C. graminella and have rough apical edges like those of C. frankliniana. But C. jujuyensis sp. nov. can be distinguished from both species by its narrow, smooth second lobes, in contrast to the broadly truncate and notched second lobes seen in the other two species. It differs from C. chortina (Ferris) in that it lacks any plates anterior to the position of the third lobes.
Not recorded.
The specific epithet is an adjective formed from the name Jujuy, the province in which it was found + the suffix -ensis, meaning of or from a place.
Argentina (Jujuy).
Holotype : Argentina • 1 adult female; Neuquén, PN Lanin, Pucará; 40.15S, 71.63W; 28.XI.2001; L. Claps and L. Díaz Briz leg.; IFML, L. E. Claps catalog # 16-01, #1090 (D0274E). Paratypes: Argentina • 1 adult female; same slide as holotype; IFML (D0274E) • 1 adult female; same data as holotype; UMEC (D0274B) • 1 adult female; same data as holotype; USNM (D0274A).
(N = 4). Adult female presumed to secrete scale cover, not pupillarial. Appearance in life not recorded. Slide-mounted adult female 850–1240 (holotype 1240) μm long, 780–1000 (holotype 1000) μm wide; broadest near mesothorax. Body outline turbinate. Derm membranous throughout at maturity except for light pygidial sclerotization. Antennae simple, each with one spine-like seta. Distance between antennae 150–185 μm. Without disc pores associated with anterior or posterior spiracles. Lobes: Only L1 well developed and sclerotized, slightly wider than long, inner margins parallel or slightly converging, with 0–1 medial notch and 1–2 lateral notches; median lobes separated by space 1/5 their width; L2 and L3 absent in typical form, one specimen with single poorly formed L2 present in type series. Paraphyses: With 1 pair of paraphysis-like pyriform sclerotizations between L1; interlobular spaces between L1 and L2 and between L2 and L3 each with 2 clavate paraphyses, inner paraphysis slightly larger than outer paraphysis of each pair; paraphyses arising from lateral angle of L1 only slightly swollen at anterior end and directed away from meson. Plates: Difficult to observe; apparently 1 or 2 present between L1 and L2, 2 present between L2 and L3, 0–3 beyond L3, all roughly rectangular with minor fringing at apex, about as long as L1. Ducts: Dorsal pygidial macroducts of 1-barred type; one macroduct present between median lobes with duct exceeding beyond posterior margin of anal opening; with 2–3 macroducts arising from first interlobular space; roughly single-file row of 7–8 macroducts arising from second interlobular space; 8–13 in marginal and submarginal areas of abdominal segment V, arising from third interlobular space. Few pre-pygidial macroducts on marginal line from mesothorax to abdominal segment III, 1–3 per segment on each side, shorter than pygidial macroducts; 1–2 submarginal macroducts present on each side of abdominal segment IV; small sets of 1–4 short submedial macroducts present on each side of abdominal segments I–IV. Ventral marginal or submarginal microducts present in small groups on each segment from prothorax to abdominal segment VI. Anal opening: Positioned in posterior third of pygidium, 12–14 μm in diameter, positioned about 2 anal lengths from base of L1. Perivulvar pores: Divided into 4 or sometimes 5 groups, 2–7 in each anterolateral, 3–4 in each posterolateral group, and 0–2 in anterior group; 12–21 pores in total.
DNA sequences of Clavaspis patagonensis sp. nov. have been published, all from one of the paratypes (D0274B): 28S, GenBank accession number KY218988.1; EF-1α, MH915713.1 and KY221285.1; COIII, MH916221.1 and KY220694.1; 16S of primary endosymbiont (Uzinura diaspidicola), KY220094.1.
A specimen from the type series (D0274B) has appeared in published molecular-phylogenetic analyses, designated as “Clavaspis undescr” (
The traditional morphology-based assignment for this species would be in the genus Diaspidiotus, but recent molecular-phylogenetic studies have shown that Diaspidiotus is radically non-monophyletic and that the true affinities of this species lie with the genus Clavaspis (
Adult females of C. patagonensis sp. nov. are nearly identical in appearance to C. covilleae (Ferris), but the species are separated on the phylogeny by several other members of Clavaspis. The two can be distinguished based on the shape of paraphyses arising from the lateral angles of median lobes and the distribution of macroducts. Clavaspis patagonensis sp. nov. has fairly narrow paraphyses and possesses one or two dorsal submarginal macroducts on abdominal segment IV. Clavaspis covilleae has broadly swollen paraphyses, typical of Clavaspis, and lacks any submarginal macroducts on abdominal segment IV. The new species could also be easily confused with Diaspidiotus osborni (Newell & Cockerell). In this case, C. patagonensis sp. nov. can be distinguished by possessing submarginal macroducts on IV, having more than one marginal macroduct on at least one pre-pygidial segment, lacking dorsal submarginal microducts on pre-pygidial segments, and having a prosoma that remains membranous in mature adult females. In contrast, D. osborni lacks submarginal macroducts on IV, typically has one marginal macroduct per pre-pygidial segment, has small groups of dorsal submarginal microducts on pre-pygidial segments, and the prosoma becomes sclerotized in mature adult females.
Embothrium coccineum J. R. Forst. & G. Forst. (Proteaceae)
The specific epithet is an adjective formed from the name Patagonia, the region in which it was found + the suffix -ensis, meaning of or from a place.
Argentina (Neuquén).
Holotype : Argentina • 1 adult female; Jujuy, Humahuaca, camino a Aparzo; 23.20S, 65.10W; 14.II.2002; L. E. Claps, P. Zamudio, L. Díaz-Briz, P. Cabrera leg.; IFML, L. E. Claps catalog #22-02, #1091 (D0288D). Paratypes: Argentina • 1 adult female; same slide and same data as holotype; IFML (D0288D) • 1 adult female; same data as holotype; USNM (D0288C) • 1 adult female; same data as holotype; USNM (D0288G) • 1 adult female; same data as holotype; UMEC (D0288F) • 1 adult female; same data as holotype; UMEC (D0288H) • 1 adult female; same data as holotype; UMEC (D0288I) • 1 adult female; same data as holotype; UMEC (D0288J).
(N = 8). Adult female presumed to secrete scale cover, not pupillarial. Appearance in life not recorded. Slide-mounted adult female 770–1050 (median 910, holotype 990) μm long, 660–810 (median 780, holotype 810) μm wide; broadest at mesothorax. Body outline nearly circular; derm of prosoma becoming slightly sclerotized at full maturity (body length > 1mm), otherwise derm membranous except for pygidium. Antennae simple, each with one spine-like seta; distance between antennae 120–180 (median 140) μm. Without disc pores near anterior or posterior spiracles. Lobes: Only L1 well developed, apically truncate, with one deep lateral notch; L2 and L3 represented by small unsclerotized points. Paraphyses: Interlobular spaces between L1 and L2 and between L2 and L3 each with 2 clavate paraphyses; first pair similar in length to L1 and second pair nearly 1/2 that length. Plates: All plates rather simple, roughly triangular in shape with minimal fringing, and shorter in length than L1. One, minute, simple pair between L1; 2 present between L1 and L2, each with 1–2 short lateral fringes; 3 present between L2 and L3, simple or with one lateral fringe; plates absent anterior of seta marking position of L3. Ducts: Dorsal pygidial macroducts of uniform size; 1 marginal macroduct present between median lobes, 30–37 (median 34) μm in length, surpassing posterior margin of anal opening; 3–5 (median 3.5) macroducts arising from space between L1 and L2 (abdominal segment VII), 10–16 (median 14) on abdominal segment VI, 13–24 (median 17) on abdominal segment V, with a total of 31–42 (median 34) dorsal macroducts on each side of pygidium. Clusters of pre-pygidial macroducts present on dorsal submargins, 11–17 (median 13) on each side of abdominal segment IV, 10–16 (median 12) on segment III, 8–11 (median 10) on segment II, fewer present up to mesothorax. Ventral microducts few; present on head and thorax in submarginal and submedial rows; present in submargins of abdominal segments I–VI. Anal opening: Oval, maximum diameter (length) 14–23 (median 20) μm, situated 20–31 (median 25) μm, approximately 3 anal lengths, anterior to base of L1. Perivulvar pores: Absent.
DNA sequences of several loci of Hemiberlesia ozolita sp. nov. have been published from one paratype (D0288C) and one other individual from the type series that was ground to powder during the preparation of DNA (D0288A): 28S, GenBank accession numbers MH933989.1 (D0288C) and KY218997.1 (D0288A); EF-1α, MH915719.1 (D0288C) and KY221290.1 (D0288A); COI-II, MH916225.1 and MH916397.1 (D0288C), GQ425001.1 (D0288A); 16S of primary endosymbiont (Uzinura diaspidicola), KY220099.1.
Specimens from the type series and their endosymbionts have appeared in several published phylogenetic trees, and have been referred to variously as “Diaspidiotus sp undesc #1” (
Hemiberlesia ozolita sp. nov. is most similar to H. nothofagi Williams, but H. ozolita sp. nov. is distinctive in having plates in the first space shorter than L1, 3 plates beyond L2, anal opening relatively small (< 25 μm in diameter), 31–42 macroducts on each side of the pygidium, and groups of ventral submarginal microducts running from the pygidium to the thorax. In contrast, H. nothofagi has plates in the first space exceeding L1 in length, 6–7 plates beyond L2, a large anal opening (30 μm in diameter), about 26 pygidial macroducts per side, and few microducts present on the venter, not arranged in submarginal groups on thoracic and pre-pygidial segments. The new species is also similar to H. rapax except it has a much smaller anal opening and the pre-pygidial macroducts are longer, about as long as the pygidial macroducts.
Hemiberlesia ozolita sp. nov. constitutes the sister-lineage of a clade that includes all other sampled Hemiberlesia species and Palinaspis sordidata, according to the phylogenetic estimate of
Not recorded.
The specific epithet is an adjective formed from the Greek terms ozotos, meaning branching, and litos, meaning simple, and is used to describe the distinctly simple pygidial plates of this species.
Argentina (Jujuy).
Holotype : Argentina • 1 adult female; Jujuy, 30 km N Humahuaca; 22.97S, 65.39W; 12.II.2002; L. E. Claps, P. Zamudio, L. Diaz-Briz, & P. Cabrera leg.; IFML, L. E. Claps catalog #5-02, #1092 (D0275L). Paratypes: Argentina • 3 adult females; same data as holotype; USNM (D0275H) • 1 adult female; same data as holotype; USNM (D0275G) • 1 adult female; same data as holotype; USNM (D0275K) • 4 adult females; same data as holotype; UMEC (D0275I) • 1 adult female; same data as holotype; UMEC (D0275M) • 4 adult females; same data as holotype; IFML (D0275J) • 1 adult female; Jujuy, Humahuaca, entrada a Iruya; 22.997S, 65.356W; 12.II.2002; L. E. Claps, P. Zamudio, L. Diaz-Briz, & P. Cabrera leg.; IFML, L. E. Claps catalog #15-02 (D0297C).
(N = 16). Adult female presumed to secrete scale cover, not pupillarial. Appearance in life not recorded. Slide-mounted adult female 930–1610 (median 1350, holotype 1610) μm long, 820–1350 (median 1160, holotype 1330) μm wide; broadest near mesothorax. Body outline turbinate. Derm membranous throughout at maturity except for pygidium, which has characteristic dorsal sclerotized areas; sclerotization of these areas unusually heavy, such that paraphyses and basal scleroses of lobes difficult to discern clearly on some specimens. Antennae, simple, each with 1 long seta, distance between antennae 200–330 μm (median 260). Without disc pores near spiracles. Lobes: With 4 pairs of well-developed pygidial lobes, L1–L3 apically rounded and L4 truncate or pointed, notches absent from lobes; L1 slightly wider than long, median lobes separated by narrow space 0.15 times width of L1, with basal sclerosis about 1/2 width of L1 arising from mesal edge; L2 and L3 similar in size and shape, shorter and broader than L1; L4 somewhat variable in shape, truncate or with sloping edges. Paraphyses: Short and clavate, scarcely longer than L1; absent between L1, paraphysis formula 2-2-3 or 2-2-4; 1 interlobular paraphysis near outer corner of L1, 1 attached to inner corner of L2, 1 in interlobular space between L2 and L3, 1 attached to inner and outer corners of L3, 1 narrow paraphysis attached to inner corner of L4 and 2–3 narrow paraphyses in interlobular space between L3 and L4, these often fused into a single complex mass and difficult to count; several paraphysis-like sclerotizations surrounding macroduct orifices present beyond L4. Plates: Apparently absent. Ducts: Dorsal pygidial macroducts of 1-barred type, nearly uniform in size, with minute orifices and long slender ducts, most arranged in distinct furrows between sclerotized areas arising from interlobular spaces; 1 submarginal macroduct orifice immediately anterior to each L1, with ducts extending beyond posterior margin of anal opening; 10–21 (median 16) duct orifices in furrow of first space, originating between L1 and L2 and extending in elongate cluster anteriorly 60–85% of distance to anus, each duct about 120–130 μm in length; 18–40 (median 29) in furrow of second space, originating between L2 and L3 and extending anteriorly to a point laterad or anterolaterad of anus; 3–9 (median 6) on sclerotized area arising from L3; 2–24 (median 15) in furrow of third space, originating between L3 and L4 and extending anteriorly to a point anterolaterad of anus; duct orifices in furrows of second and third spaces membranous, especially towards anterolateral corner of furrow, or surrounded by partial or complete sclerotized ring, especially near posterior end and along medial margin of furrow; submedial clusters of dorsal macroducts present on each pre-pygidial abdominal segment, shorter and narrower than pygidial ducts. Ventral pygidial microducts similar to dorsal macroducts in size and shape and similarly arranged in rows on segments V–VII, 21–44 (median 33) on each side; ventral duct orifices on segment V each surrounded by conspicuous sclerotized ring, degree of sclerotization decreasing towards anterolateral corner of segment; microducts also distributed along head, thorax, and pre-pygidial margins, as well as rows extending from marginal area toward each spiracle. Anal opening: Oval, 20–28 (median 24) μm long, positioned 3.5–6.3 (median 4.6) anal lengths (85–124, median 107 μm) from base of L1, near midpoint of pygidium. Perivulvar pores: Absent.
Several DNA sequences of Melanaspis lilloi sp. nov. have been published, including fragments of 4 loci from a paratype (D0275G): 28S, GenBank accession number KY218989.1; EF-1α, MH915714.1 and KY221286.1; CAD, MH915988.1; and COI-II, KY22069.1 and MH916394.1. DNA sequences have also been published for other members of the type series that were ground to powder during DNA preparation; these include sequences of 28S (D0275D, DQ145363.2; D0297A, DQ145362.2 and KY219142.1), EF-1α (D0275D, DQ145475.1; D0297A, DQ145474.1 and KY221295.1), and COI-II (D0275, GQ445417.1; D0297A, GQ425005.1). DNA sequences of the primary bacterial endosymbiont, Uzinura diaspidicola, of M. lilloi sp. nov. have also been published for ground-up individuals of the type series, including fragments of 16S rDNA (D0275, DQ133558.1 and DQ868836.1; D0297A, GQ424858.1) and 23S rDNA (D0275, DQ873248.1).
Specimens from the type series have appeared in several published phylogenetic trees, and have been referred to variously as “Melanaspis sp. nov.” (
This species is very similar to M. targionoides sp. nov. The diagnosis and affinities of M. lilloi sp. nov. are discussed below under the remarks for M. targionoides sp. nov.
Not recorded.
The specific epithet is a noun in the genitive case, meaning “of Lillo”. It honors the Instituto Miguel Lillo, academic home of Lucia Claps and the other scientists who first collected the species described in this manuscript.
Argentina (Jujuy).
Holotype : Argentina • 1 adult female; Jujuy, entre Maimará & Tilcara; 23.586S, 65.408W; 13.II.2002; L. E. Claps, P. Zamudio, L. Diaz-Briz, & P. Cabrera leg.; IFML, L. E. Claps catalog #20-02, #1092 (D0272C). Paratypes: Argentina • 1 adult female; same data as holotype; UMEC (D0272E) • 1 adult female; same data as holotype; UMEC (D0272F) • 4 adult females; Jujuy, Humahuaca, camino a Aparzo; 23.20S, 65,10W; 13.II.2002; L. E. Claps, P. Zamudio, L. Diaz-Briz, & P. Cabrera leg.; USNM, L. E. Claps catalog #23-02 (D0264D) • 1 adult female; same data as previous; USNM (D0264C) • 1 adult female; same data as previous; USNM (D0264E) • 1 adult female; same data as previous; USNM (D0264F) • 1 adult female; same data as previous; USNM (D0264G) • 3 adult females; Jujuy, 30 km N Humahuaca; 22.97S, 65.39W; 12.II.2002; L. E. Claps, P. Zamudio, L. Diaz-Briz, & P. Cabrera leg.; UMEC, L. E. Claps catalog #6-02 (D0276F) • 1 adult female; same data as previous; UMEC (D0276E) • 4 adult females; Jujuy, Humahuaca, entrada a Juella; 23.525S, 65.396W; 14.II.2002; L. E. Claps, P. Zamudio, L. Diaz-Briz, & P. Cabrera leg.; IFML, L. E. Claps catalog #26-02 (D0291D) • 1 adult female; same data as previous; IFML (D0291C).
(N = 20). Adult female presumed to secrete scale cover, not pupillarial. Appearance in life not recorded. Slide-mounted adult female 860–1720 (median 1130, holotype 1020) μm long, 730–1440 (median 960, holotype 860) μm wide; broadest near mesothorax. Body outline turbinate. Prosoma becoming sclerotized at full maturity (length > 1400 μm); derm otherwise membranous except for pygidium, which has characteristic dorsal sclerotized areas; sclerotization of these areas unusually heavy, such that paraphyses and basal scleroses of lobes difficult to discern clearly on some specimens. Antennae simple, each with 1 long seta, distance between antennae 130–410 (median 230) μm. Without disc pores near spiracles. Lobes: With 4 pairs of well-developed pygidial lobes, L1–L3 apically rounded and L4 truncate or pointed, notches absent from lobes; L1 slightly wider than long, median lobes separated by narrow space 0.15 times width of L1, with basal sclerosis about 1/2 width of L1 arising from mesal edge; L2 and L3 similar in size and shape, shorter and broader than L1; L4 somewhat variable in shape, truncate or with sloping edges. Paraphyses: Short and clavate, scarcely longer than L1; absent between L1, paraphysis formula 2-2-3 or 2-2-4; 1 interlobular paraphysis near outer corner of L1, 1 attached to inner corner of L2, 1 in interlobular space between L2 and L3, 1 attached to inner and outer corners of L3, 1 narrow paraphysis attached to inner corner of L4 and 2–3 narrow paraphyses in interlobular space between L3 and L4, these often fused into a single complex mass and difficult to count; several paraphysis-like sclerotizations surrounding macroduct orifices present beyond L4. Plates: Apparently absent. Ducts: Dorsal pygidial macroducts of 1-barred type, nearly uniform in size, with minute orifices and long slender ducts, most arranged in distinct furrows between sclerotized areas arising from interlobular spaces; 1 submarginal macroduct orifice immediately anterior to each L1, with ducts extending beyond posterior margin of anal opening; 17–36 (median 29) duct orifices in furrow of first space, originating between L1 and L2 and extending in elongate cluster anteriorly 90% of distance to anus or farther, anterior end of cluster usually directly laterad of anus, each duct about 120–130 μm in length; 18–53 (median 35) in furrow of second space, originating between L2 and L3 and extending anteriorly to a point laterad or anterolaterad of anus; 7–14 (median 9) on sclerotized area arising from L3; 15–30 (median 19) in furrow of third space, originating between L3 and L4 and extending anteriorly to a point anterolaterad of anus; duct orifices in furrows of second and third spaces each surrounded by sclerotized ring; submedial clusters of dorsal macroducts present on each pre-pygidial abdominal segment, shorter and narrower than pygidial ducts. Ventral pygidial microducts similar to dorsal macroducts in size and shape and similarly arranged in rows on segments V–VII, 23–51 (median 35) on each side; ventral duct orifices on segment V each surrounded by conspicuous sclerotized ring, degree of sclerotization decreasing towards anterolateral corner of segment; microducts also distributed along head, thorax, and pre-pygidial margins, as well as rows extending from marginal area toward each spiracle. Anal opening: Oval, 14–31 (median 20) μm long, positioned 4–9 (median 6) anal lengths (102–144 μm, median 129 μm) from base of L1, near midpoint of pygidium. Perivulvar pores: Absent or present; 0–11 (median 0, holotype 1) pores in total, distributed as one loose cluster on only one side of the body (5 of 7 individuals with pores present) or as one loose cluster on each side of the body.
Several DNA sequences of Melanaspis targionoides sp. nov. have been published, including fragments of 3 loci from the holotype (D0272C): large ribosomal subunit (28S, GenBank accession number KY218986.1), elongation factor 1-alpha (EF-1α, MH915711.1), and carbamoylphosphate synthetase (CAD, MH915986.1). DNA sequences have also been published for the paratypes D0276E (28S, KY218990.1; EF-1α, MH915715.1; CAD, MH915989.1) and D0264C (28S, KY218983.1). Several other members of the type series were ground to powder during DNA preparation; morphological vouchers were not preserved, but DNA sequences were published. These include sequences of 28S (D0264A, DQ145361.2; D0264C, KY218983.1; D0291A, KY219004.1 and DQ145395.2), EF-1α (D0264A, DQ145473.1), and cytochrome oxidase I and II (COI-II, D0276G, MH919222.2). An additional sequence of COI-II purporting to be from a member of the type series of this species, D0264A, was available on GenBank from 2010–2020 under accession number GQ424989.1. This was actually a sequence of a different species, Aonidomytilus espinosai Porter, GQ424988.1, erroneously assigned due to contamination or mislabeling; it has been retracted from GenBank. DNA sequences of the primary bacterial endosymbiont, Uzinura diaspidicola, of M. targionoides sp. nov. have also been published, including a fragment of the small ribosomal subunit (16S) of a paratype (D0264C, KY220091.1) and 2 ground-up specimens of the type series (D0264A, GQ424852.1; D0291A, DQ868844.1), and a fragment of the large ribosomal subunit (23S of D0291B, DQ873256.1).
Specimens from the type series and their endosymbionts have appeared in several published phylogenetic trees, and have been referred to variously as “Melanaspis sp. nov.” (
This species is very similar to the previous one, Melanaspis lilloi sp. nov. The two were considered to belong to a single undescribed species, (“Melanaspis ud0276”) by
Melanaspis targionoides sp. nov. and M. lilloi sp. nov. are referrable to Melanaspis based upon the characteristic sclerotization pattern of the dorsal pygidium, and their placement in Melanaspis is supported by molecular evidence (
Not recorded.
The specific epithet is an adjective describing the resemblance this species bears to others placed in Targionia by adding the suffix -oides to indicate likeness in form.
Argentina (Jujuy).
1 | Paraphyses or paraphysis-like sclerotizations absent | 2 |
– | Paraphyses or paraphysis-like sclerotizations present | 4 |
2 | With two pairs of well-developed pygidial lobes, L3 entirely absent; perivulvar pores absent; margin of prosoma sclerotized | Chortinaspis jujuyensis sp. nov. |
– | With three pairs of well-developed pygidial lobes, L3 at least represented by narrow processes; perivulvar pores present; margin of prosoma membranous | 3 |
3 | Anal opening about same size in diameter as length of L1, or longer; dorsal setae associated with outer corners of L2 and L3 slender, not thickened basally | Aspidiotus nerii (Bouché) |
– | Anal opening noticeably shorter in diameter than length of L1; dorsal setae associated with outer corners of L2 and L3 thickened, swollen basally | Oceanaspidiotus spinosus (Comstock) |
4 | Paraphyses or paraphysis-like sclerotizations present anterior to position of L3 | 5 |
– | Paraphyses or paraphysis-like sclerotizations absent anterior to position of L3 | 19 |
5 | Dorsum of pygidium with several sclerotized areas divided by furrows, one of which isolates L2 from remaining sclerotized areas; anterior submarginal region of dorsal pygidium appears reticulated or striped with variously branching furrows; longest paraphyses attached to lobes, never arising from interlobular spaces (Crenulaspidiotus) | 6 |
– | Pygidium not as described above, L2 not isolated on a distinct sclerotized area; dorsal submargins of pygidium without reticulated or branched furrows, region patterned by fine parallel cuticular lines running perpendicular to body margin; longest paraphyses often arising from interlobular spaces | 9 |
6 | Interlobular paraphysis formula in first, second, and third spaces 1-1-1 | Crenulaspidiotus maurellae (Laing) |
– | Interlobular paraphysis formula in first, second, and third spaces, 1-2-2 | 7 |
7 | Ventral microducts present in area anterior to interlobular space between L3 and L4; dorsal submargin adjacent to L4 reticulate | Crenulaspidiotus cyrtus Miller & Davidson |
– | Ventral microducts present in area anterior to interlobular space between L3 and L4; dorsal submargin adjacent to L4 striped | 8 |
8 | Segments I and II with conspicuous pre-pygidial lobes | Crenulaspidiotus greeneri Miller & Davidson |
– | Segments I and II without conspicuous pre-pygidial lobes | Crenulaspidiotus lahillei (Lizer & Trelles) |
9 | Body elongate, length approximately 2X maximum width | Pseudischnaspis bowreyi (Cockerell) |
– | Body round or turbinate, length less than 2X maximum width | 10 |
10 | Pygidium elongate and apically acute, with wide base and straight or concave sides tapering to point; angle formed by lateral pygidial margins being less than 90 degrees (Acutaspis) | 11 |
– | Pygidium short and apically broad, margins usually convex; pygidial angle usually greater than 90 degrees | 14 |
11 | Cephalic margin of body with median notch; with slight indication of prothoracic tubercles; paraphysis arising from outer angle of L2 longer than any others arising between L2 and L3; paraphysis arising from outer angle of L3 among longest representatives | Acutaspis reniformis (Cockerell) |
– | Cephalic margin of body without median notch; without any indication of prothoracic tubercles; paraphysis arising from outer angle of L2 shorter than at least one other paraphysis arising between L2 and L3; paraphysis arising from outer angle of L3 noticeably shorter than longest representatives | 12 |
12 | Derm sclerotized around body margins, leaving central portion membranous; adult female body can reach over 2 mm in length | Acutaspis scutiformis (Cockerell) |
– | Derm membranous throughout except for pygidium; adult female body typically less than 2 mm in length | 13 |
13 | Perivulvar pores arranged in 4 small but distinct groups; longest paraphysis arising from interlobular space | Acutaspis paulista (Hempel) |
– | Perivulvar pores in lateral groups alone, forming an irregular longitudinal series of pores; longest paraphysis arising from lateral angle of lobe | Acutaspis aliena (Newstead) |
14 | Plates well developed and fimbriate; dorsal macroduct orifices vary in size | Lindingaspis rossi (Maskell) |
– | Plates simple, minimally fringed, or absent; dorsal macroduct orifices of uniform size | 15 |
15 | Plates present; cephalic margin with sclerotized protuberance (Mycetaspis) | 16 |
– | Plates absent; cephalic margin without sclerotized protuberance | 17 |
16 | Median lobes each with broad basal sclerosis as wide as L1 at proximal base | Mycetaspis personata (Comstock) |
– | Median lobes each with narrow basal sclerosis arising only from medial angle of lobe | Mycetaspis apicata (Newstead) |
17 | Dorsum of pygidium with heavily sclerotized areas separated by lightly sclerotized pore furrows | 18 |
– | Dorsum of pygidium without heavily sclerotized areas between pore furrows | Targionia fabianae Leonardi (in part) |
18 | Furrow of third space with continuous single or double row of conspicuous sclerotized duct openings extending from submargin to anterior third of pygidium; furrow of first space usually with more than 20 duct orifices, extending from submargin at least 90% of distance to anus; prosoma sclerotized at full maturity (when body length > 1.4 mm); with or without perivulvar pores | Melanaspis targionoides sp. nov. |
– | Furrow of third space without continuous row of sclerotized duct openings extending from margin to anterior, sclerotized duct openings occurring only in posterior third of furrow and sporadically along the medial margin; furrow of first space usually with fewer than 20 duct orifices, extending from submargin only 60–85% of distance to anus; prosoma remaining membranous; without perivulvar pores | Melanaspis lilloi sp. nov. |
19 | Pygidium with 3 definite pairs of sclerotized lobes, each similar in shape and size | 20 |
– | Pygidium with at most 2 definite pairs of sclerotized lobes of similar shape, if present L3 represented by small sclerotized point | 24 |
20 | Paraphyses often obscure and shorter than L1; prosoma of mature adult female heavily sclerotized; body reniform in shape (Aonidiella) | 21 |
– | Paraphyses obvious and longer than L1; prosoma of mature adult female membranous; body turbinate in shape (Chrysomphalus) | 23 |
21 | With 24–38 dorsal macroducts on each side of pygidium; without apophyses or scleroses anterolaterad of vulva | Aonidiella taxus Leonardi |
– | With 20–26 dorsal macroducts on each side of pygidium; with apophyses or scleroses anterolaterad of vulva | 22 |
22 | Normally each apophysis anterolaterad of vulva with 2 associated scleroses; paraphysis formula of 3-3-1 or 3-2-2 | Aonidiella aurantii (Maskell) |
– | Normally each apophysis anterolaterad of vulva without adjacent scleroses; rarely with faint scleroses; paraphysis formula of 2-2-0, 2-3-0, 3-3-0, 3-3-1 or 3-2-2 | Aonidiella citrina (Coquillett) |
23 | Dorsal macroducts in second and third furrows few, arranged in single rows; pre-pygidial abdominal segment II lacking a dorsal cluster of 4 or more ducts | Chrysomphalus dictyospermi (Morgan) |
– | Dorsal macroducts in second and third furrows more numerous, arranged in double or triple rows; pre-pygidial abdominal segment II with a cluster of 4 or more dorsal ducts | Chrysomphalus pinnulifer (Maskell) |
24 | Pygidial plates absent | Targionia fabianae Leonardi (in part) |
– | Pygidial plates present | 25 |
25 | Distinctive plates between positions of L3 and L4, with 1 or 2 lateral tines around a central duct projecting from the body margin | Comstockaspis perniciosa (Comstock) |
– | Plates between positions of L3 and L4 absent, simple or fringed, without a protruding central microduct | 26 |
26 | Distance between posterior margin of anus and apex of L1 within about 2X longest anal diameter | 27 |
– | Distance between posterior margin of anus and apex of L1 about or exceeding 3X longest anal diameter | 33 |
27 | Perivulvar pores absent | 28 |
– | Perivulvar pores present | 31 |
28 | L1 and L2 each with 1 lateral notch | Hemiberlesia diffinis (Newstead) |
– | L1 with 1 medial and 1 lateral notch, L2 without notches | 29 |
29 | L2 with rounded apex, similar in shape to L1 | Hemiberlesia corporifusca (Chiesa Molinari) |
– | L2 pointed, distinctly different in shape | 30 |
30 | L2 represented by unsclerotized point; L3 entirely absent, represented at most by rounded projection; anal opening fairly large but located at least 1X anal diameter from apex of L1 | Hemiberlesia nothofagi Williams |
– | L2 and L3 both represented by small sclerotized points; anal opening very large and located less than 1X anal diameter from apex of L1 | Hemiberlesia rapax (Comstock) |
31 | L2 and L3 represented at most by small unsclerotized points; plates beyond L3 simple, minimally fringed | Hemiberlesia lataniae (Signoret) |
– | L2 with medial and lateral notches, L3 pointed and sclerotized; plates beyond L3 well developed and fringed | 32 |
32 | L2 unsclerotized, often blending in with surrounding plates; all plates highly fringed and exceeding L1 in length | Hemiberlesia palmae (Cockerell) |
– | L2 sclerotized, easily distinguishable from plates; some plates minimally fringed and approximately same length as L1 | Hemiberlesia cyanophylli (Signoret) |
33 | L3 well developed; anal opening about equal in size to 1 median lobe | 34 |
– | L3 represented at most by slight projection or unsclerotized point; anal opening clearly smaller than 1 median lobe | 35 |
34 | L1 with basal sclerosis; anal opening longer than wide; paraphyses between L1 and L2 represented by doubled pairs, forming small furrow with 4–6 macroducts | Hemiberlesia latastei (Cockerell) |
– | L1 without basal sclerosis; anal opening wider than long; paraphyses between L1 and L2 represented by single pair, with 2 macroducts arising from interlobular space | Hemiberlesia mendax McKenzie |
35 | Perivulvar pores absent | 36 |
– | Perivulvar pores present | 38 |
36 | Paraphyses arising from outer angle of L1 without swollen knob at anterior end, about equal in length to L1 | Hemiberlesia ozolita sp. nov. |
– | Paraphyses arising from outer angle of L1 with swollen knob at anterior end, noticeably longer than length of L1 | 37 |
37 | Paraphysis arising from outer angle of L1 mushroom-shaped in appearance; plates fringed and at least as long as L1 | Clavaspis herculeana (Cockerell & Hadden) |
– | Paraphysis arising from outer angle of L1 swollen at anterior end but not mushroom-shaped; plates all simple and shorter in length than L1 | Clavaspis subsimilis (Cockerell) |
38 | L2 well developed or represented by sclerotized projection of pygidial margin | 39 |
– | L2 represented at most by unsclerotized point | 40 |
39 | Posterior apex of L2 in line with or posterior to apex of L1; plates well developed, as long as L1 | Diaspidiotus ancylus (Putnam) (leaf form) |
– | Posterior apex of L2 anterior to apex of L1; plates poorly developed, shorter in length than L1 | Diaspidiotus ostreaeformis (Curtis) |
40 | Minimally fringed plates present between L1–L2 and L2–L3, absent or present anterior to position of L3, broad-based with 2 or 3 fringes when present; with 1 or 2 submarginal macroducts on dorsum of IV | Clavaspis patagonensis sp. nov. |
– | Well fringed plates present between L1–L2 and L2–L3, only simple plates present anterior to position of L3; without submarginal macroducts on dorsum of IV | 41 |
41 | L1 without medial notch, with 1 lateral notch; with 2 simple plates between median lobes; 30 or more perivulvar pores present | Diaspidiotus ancylus (Putnam) (bark form) |
– | L1 with 1 medial and 1 lateral notch; without plates between median lobes; fewer than 30 perivulvar pores present | Diaspidiotus uvae (Comstock) |
Additional online resources aiding in the identification of Aspidiotini are provided by
We thank all those who helped LEC collect specimens: P. Zamudio, L. Díaz-Briz, L. Guardia Claps, and P. Cabrera. Specimens were collected under permits to LEC from the government of Jujuy province (File #0646-076 Resolution #264) and the National Parks Administration (APN) (Resolution # 0039079). Specimens were prepared by N. Vajda, B. Peters, R. Carlton, M. Fizdale, M. Nichols, A. Krewinski, and E. Stangle. JW’s participation was supported by the China Scholarship Council. This research was supported in part by the National Science Foundation (DEB-0447880, DEB-1258001). It was also supported in part by the U. S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture, and by the University of Massachusetts Amherst Biology Department and Center for Agriculture, Food, and the Environment, under project number MAS00535. It was also supported in part by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service. The authors have declared that no competing interests exist. Mention of trade names or commercial products in this publication is solely for the purpose of providing specific information and does not imply recommendation or endorsement by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the USDA or NIFA. USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.