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.

Figure 1. 

Chortinaspis jujuyensis sp. nov. Adult female, full body view, illustrated from the holotype (D0265G).

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.

Figure 2. 

Chortinaspis jujuyensis sp. nov. Adult female, expanded view of pygidium, illustrated from the holotype (D0265G).

Specimens of C. jujuyensis sp. nov. have appeared in several published phylogenetic trees, and have been referred to variously as “Diaspidiotus sp undesc #2” (Morse and Normark 2006; Rugman-Jones et al. 2010), “Diaspidiotus sp. undesc.” (Gruwell et al. 2009), “Diaspidiotus sp” (Andersen et al. 2010), and “Chortinaspis ud0265” (Schneider et al. 2018; Normark et al. 2019).

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.

Figure 3. 

Clavaspis patagonensis sp. nov. Adult female, full body view, illustrated from the holotype (D0274E).

A specimen from the type series (D0274B) has appeared in published molecular-phylogenetic analyses, designated as “Clavaspis undescr” (Schneider et al. 2018) and “Clavaspis ud0274” (Normark et al. 2019).

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 (Schneider et al. 2018). The morphological character traditionally used to distinguish between these genera is the shape of paraphyses arising from the lateral angles of median lobes. In typical Clavaspis species, these paraphyses are swollen at the anterior end and directed toward the midline of the body or they have a detached knob giving them a mushroom-like appearance (Ferris 1938). In C. patagonensis sp. nov., the paraphyses are slightly swollen at the anterior end but they are pointing away from the midline, similar in appearance to those found in species of Diaspidiotus and other near relatives, like Hemiberlesia.

Figure 4. 

Clavaspis patagonensis sp. nov. Adult female, expanded view of pygidium, illustrated from the holotype (D0274E) and a paratype (D0274A), reflecting variation in the degree of visibility of the plates.

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.

Figure 5. 

Hemiberlesia ozolita sp. nov. Adult female, full body view, illustrated from a paratype (D0288C).

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.

Figure 6. 

Hemiberlesia ozolita sp. nov. Adult female, expanded view of pygidium, illustrated from a paratype (D0288C).

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” (Morse and Normark 2006; Rugman-Jones et al. 2010), “Diaspidiotus sp nov 1” (Andersen et al. 2010), and “Hemiberlesia ud0288” (Schneider et al. 2018; Normark et al. 2019).

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 Schneider et al. (2018). The relatively small anal opening in this species is a trait shared in common with several other species formerly placed in Abgrallaspis that have since been transferred to Hemiberlesia (Normark et al. 2014), a decision supported by molecular evidence.

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).

Figure 7. 

Melanaspis lilloi sp. nov. Adult female, full body view, illustrated from the holotype (D0275L).

(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.

Figure 8. 

Melanaspis lilloi sp. nov. Adult female, expanded view of pygidium, illustrated from the holotype (D0275L).

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.” (Gruwell et al. 2005) “Melanaspis sp undesc #2” and “Melanaspis sp undesc #3” (Gruwell et al. 2007; Morse and Normark 2006; Rugman-Jones et al. 2010), “Melanaspis sp. undesc.” (Gruwell et al. 2009), “Melanaspis sp nov 1” and “Melanaspis sp nov 2” (Andersen et al. 2010), and “Melanaspis ud0276” (Schneider et al. 2018; Normark et al. 2019).

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).

Figure 9. 

Melanaspis targionoides sp. nov. Teneral adult female, full body view, illustrated from the holotype (D0272C). Inset at upper left shows sclerotization pattern of a fully mature female, illustrated from a paratype (D0264E).

(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.

Figure 10. 

Melanaspis targionoides sp. nov. Adult female, expanded view of pygidium, illustrated from the holotype (D0272C).

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.” (Gruwell et al. 2005), “Melanaspis sp undesc #1” and “Melanaspis sp undesc #4” (Gruwell et al. 2007; Morse and Normark 2006; Rugman-Jones et al. 2010), “Melanaspis sp. undesc.” (Gruwell et al. 2009), “Melanaspis sp nov 1” (Andersen et al. 2010), and “Melanaspis ud0276” (Schneider et al. 2018; Normark et al. 2019).

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 Schneider et al. (2018) and Normark et al. (2019). The diversity of informal designations assigned to members of the two species prior to 2018 were record-keeping artifacts and did not reflect any diversity of evidence-based hypotheses. Careful study of the type series during the preparation of this manuscript revealed slight but consistent morphological differences between what are here regarded as separate species. The two species are also distinguishable by DNA, and appear as separate clusters in published phylogenies (Morse and Normark 2006; Normark et al. 2019). The pattern is seen most clearly in figure S2 of Normark et al. (2019), and is seen in each of the loci sampled from both species in that study: 2.2% divergence at 28S (compared to 0.14% within M. lilloi sp. nov.), 2.2–2.3% divergence at EF-1α (compared to 0.12–0.35% within each species), and 1.45% divergence at the primary endosymbiont’s 16S locus (compared to 0.18–0.19% within each species). Although the species are morphologically very similar, M. targionoides sp. nov. has more numerous and more sclerotized dorsal ducts, along with sclerotization of the prosoma at full maturity. Specifically, the two species may be distinguished by the following characters. In M. targionoides sp. nov., the elongate cluster of dorsal ducts in the furrow of the first space (arising between L1 and L2) extends anteriorly at least 90% of the distance to the anus, its anterior end usually being directly lateral to the anus; in M. lilloi sp. nov., this cluster of dorsal ducts extends only 60–85% of the distance to the anus, its anterior end always lying posterolateral to the anus. In M. targionoides sp. nov. the furrow of the third space (arising between L3 and L4) has a single or double line of conspicuous subcircular sclerotized duct orifices extending from near the posterior margin to the anterior third of the pygidium; in M. lilloi sp. nov., the furrow of the third space has sclerotized duct openings only in the posterior third of the pygidium, with sometimes a few present further anteriorly along the medial edge of the furrow (lateral edge of the sclerotized area arising from L3) – these are often only partially sclerotized and anteroposteriorly compressed, thus appearing as partial ellipses rather than complete circles. Melanaspis targionoides sp. nov. has the prosoma sclerotized at full maturity (body length greater than 1.4 mm); M. lilloi sp. nov. has the prosoma membranous at full maturity. Melanaspis targionoides sp. nov. sometimes has perivulvar pores; M. lilloi sp. nov. lacks perivulvar pores.

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 (Morse and Normark 2006; Andersen et al. 2010; Rugman-Jones et al. 2010; Schneider et al. 2018; Normark et al. 2019;) . However, they possess a combination of traits often seen in species of Targionia, including the absence of plates, presence of numerous small, slender macroducts arranged in distinct furrows, and simple, rounded pygidial lobes lacking notches. Plates are typically present in species of Melanaspis but can be highly reduced and difficult to view. The simple lobes and short paraphyses found in M. targionoides sp. nov. and M. lilloi sp. nov. are similar in appearance to those of M. enceliae (Ferris), but the number and distribution of macroducts is quite distinct from any other species observed for this genus.

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).