Coccus oecophyllae Das, Pramanik & Das, 2025
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publication ID |
https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5647.2.3 |
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publication LSID |
lsid:zoobank.org:pub:44D60881-3DB3-4E79-8ED0-DF9B14AB4490 |
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DOI |
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15819642 |
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persistent identifier |
https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03C2D37A-FFEC-FFD2-BDF4-D8B8FEAEFB64 |
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treatment provided by |
Plazi |
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scientific name |
Coccus oecophyllae Das, Pramanik & Das |
| status |
sp. nov. |
Coccus oecophyllae Das, Pramanik & Das , sp. nov.
urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:A4E327BD-F77D-4CF9-B49D-AF45FA8D119C
( Figs 4 View FIGURE 4 , 5 View FIGURE 5 and 6 View FIGURE 6 )
Material examined
Holotype. INDIA: West Bengal, / 24- Parganas (N), Mondouri, / ex. Citrus aurantifolia / (Christm.) / Swingle , 7.v.2024, coll. A. Das, inside the nest of Oecophylla smaragdina Fab. , 1 adult ♀ mounted on a slide ( ZSI, Registration No. 19682/H15).
Paratypes. Collection data same as for holotype, 5 adult ♀♀ mounted singly on 5 slides ( ZSI, Registration Nos. 19683/H15 to 19687/H15); and 5 adult ♀♀ mounted singly on 5 slides ( BCKV). Total number of paratype specimens = 10.
Additional, non-type specimens. Collection data same as for holotype, 8 slide-mounted adult ♀♀ ( BCKV) .
Adult female description
Appearance in life ( Fig. 4 View FIGURE 4 ): Body broadly oval to elongated oval; median area slightly convex, longitudinal median ridge apparent in lateral view; body light yellowish, marginal area transparent; the whitish ventral stigmatic bands and colour of the host plant to which it is attached visible through dorsum ( Figs 4 C, D View FIGURE 4 ); median area of body turning brown with age. Eyes black, prominent, situated very close to margin. Coccus oecophyllae sp. nov. was found inside the nest of the weaver ant, Oecophylla smaragdina F. ( Fig. 4 A View FIGURE 4 ), which the ants had built by binding the leaves together with white silk. The scale insects were found feeding on leaves ( Fig. 4 B View FIGURE 4 ) and a stem ( Fig. 4 C View FIGURE 4 ) within the nest.
Slide-mounted adult female (n=19, but measurements are based on the holotype and 7 paratypes only) ( Figs 5 View FIGURE 5 and 6 View FIGURE 6 ). Body broadly oval ( Figs 5 A View FIGURE 5 , 6 A View FIGURE 6 ), 2.7–3.1 mm long, 1.6–1.8 mm wide; anal cleft 400–480 μm long, onesixth to one-seventh of length of body.
Dorsum. Derm membranous with small, very pale dermal round-to-oval areolations, not numerous. Dorsal setae ( Figs 5 Q View FIGURE 5 1–Q View FIGURE 1 3 View FIGURE 3 , 6 J View FIGURE 6 1–J View FIGURE 1 4 View FIGURE 4 ) moderately numerous, scattered over entire dorsum, each 8–13 μm long; setae of two types present: (i) most frequent type spinose, straight or very slightly curved with pointed or slightly bluntly pointed apex ( Figs 5 Q View FIGURE 5 2–Q View FIGURE 2 3 View FIGURE 3 , 6 J View FIGURE 6 1– J View FIGURE 1 2 View FIGURE 2 ); and (ii) cylindrical setae each with a very slightly enlarged and rounded apex, present less frequently ( Figs 5 Q View FIGURE 5 1 View FIGURE 1 , 6 J View FIGURE 6 3 View FIGURE 3 , J 4 View FIGURE 4 ). Dorsal submarginal tubercles ( Figs 5 E View FIGURE 5 , 6 N View FIGURE 6 ) conspicuously raised and convex, sparse, numbering 6–9 in total, present adjacent to margins, each about 10 μm wide and 15–23 μm high. Preopercular pores absent. Microducts present throughout, each situated within an areolation. Dorsal tubular ducts ( Figs 5 O View FIGURE 5 , 6 E View FIGURE 6 ) few, numbering 4–6 in total, present on the submargin except between two anterior clefts, each with a broad outer ductule, 8–10 μm long and 2 μm wide, and a thin inner ductule about 15 μm long with a small terminal gland. Each anal plate triangular ( Figs 5 K View FIGURE 5 , 6 I View FIGURE 6 ), 137–160 μm long and 85–100 μm wide, plates together roughly quadrate with anterolateral margin (105–125 μm) and posterolateral margin (110–120 μm); each plate with 4 apical and subapical setae, each 20‒23 μm long. Anogenital fold with a total of 2 pairs of anterior margin setae ( Fig. 5 L View FIGURE 5 ), each 65–85 μm long, and each lateral margin with 2 setae ( Fig. 5 M View FIGURE 5 ), each 75–92 μm long. Anal ring subcircular, 35–52 μm wide, bearing 6 long setae, each 160–180 μm long; pores in anal ring forming 2 irregular rows. Anal tube 150–200 μm long. Eyes ( Figs 5 F View FIGURE 5 , 6 M View FIGURE 6 ) situated near margin, each 20–25 μm wide.
Margin. Stigmatic clefts well developed, weakly sclerotized; each cleft containing 3 spiracular setae ( Figs 5 S View FIGURE 5 1 View FIGURE 1 , 6 L View FIGURE 6 1 View FIGURE 1 ), usually with 1 long median seta, 60–65 μm long, straight to slightly curved apically and bluntly pointed, and 2 smaller, straight lateral setae with pointed apices, subequal in length, each 22–32 μm long, about half to one-third as long as median seta. Occasionally spiracular setae are grossly subequal in length (each 40–60 μm long) ( Figs 5 S View FIGURE 5 2 View FIGURE 2 , 6 L View FIGURE 6 2 View FIGURE 2 ), and rarely with longest seta situated laterally rather than in medial position ( Figs 5 S View FIGURE 5 3 View FIGURE 3 , 6 L View FIGURE 6 3 View FIGURE 3 ). Marginal setae ( Figs 5 J View FIGURE 5 1–J View FIGURE 1 7, 6 H1–H6) mostly small, slightly curved to sickle-shaped or even abruptly curved, each 12–35 μm long, with apices usually bifid or weakly to moderately fimbriate, but occasionally some simple; anal lobe margin with a few longer stout setae, each about 30‒40 μm long and straight to slightly curved with a well-developed basal socket. Distribution of marginal setae as follows: 27–31 anteriorly between two anterior spiracular furrows and, on each side, with 10–12 between anterior and posterior spiracular furrows, and 22–24 between posterior spiracular furrow and anal cleft.
Venter. Derm membranous. Submarginal setae ( Figs 5 D View FIGURE 5 and 6 F View FIGURE 6 1 View FIGURE 1 , F 2 View FIGURE 2 ) slender, straight and spinose, with sharply pointed apices, each 7–15 μm long. Interantennal setae ( Fig. 5 V View FIGURE 5 ) numbering 2 pairs, each seta 50‒65 μm long. Pregenital long setae ( Fig. 5 N View FIGURE 5 ) numbering 3 pairs, each seta 60–85 μm long, occasionally with 1 seta absent from one side, making the total number 5. Other ventral setae similar to submarginal setae, straight or curved, each 10–30 μm long, sparsely distributed. Antennae ( Figs 5 B View FIGURE 5 , 6 B View FIGURE 6 ) well developed, mostly each with 7 (occasionally 8) segments, each 250–285 μm long; lengths of segments in a 7 segmented antenna (in μm): segment I, 42; II, 30; III, 57; IV, 55; V, 18; VI, 28; and VII, 50. Clypeolabral shield ( Fig. 5 U View FIGURE 5 ) 110–125 μm long, 90–100 μm wide, without setae; labium 50–65 μm long and 60–75 μm wide. Legs ( Figs 5 C View FIGURE 5 , 6 C View FIGURE 6 ) well developed, each with a tibio-tarsal articulatory sclerotization; tarsal digitules thin, setose, knobbed, extending beyond claw digitules claw digitules equal, broad, expanded at apex; claw lacking denticle. Lengths of prothoracic leg segments (in μm): coxa 63–75, trochanter 38–78, femur 92–100, tibia 80–88, tarsus 60–65, claw 13–20, tarsal digitule 33–40, claw digitule 20–24; mesothoracic leg segments (in μm): coxa 75–85, trochanter 45–50, femur 100–108, tibia 92–100, tarsus 65–74, claw 15–18, tarsal digitule 32–42, claw digitule 17–20; metathoracic leg segments (in μm): coxa 95–100, trochanter 50– 65, femur 107–115, tibia 85–95, tarsus 65–75, claw 14–20, tarsal digitule 37–50, claw digitule 22–30. Spiracles all similar, each 50– 65 μm long and 27–30 μm wide across peritreme. Sometimes with very shallow spiracular furrow between each spiracle and margin, lacking sclerotization. Spiracular disc-pore band 1 or 2 pores wide between each spiracle and stigmatic cleft ( Figs 5 R View FIGURE 5 , 6 D View FIGURE 6 ), and 2 or 3 pores may extend beyond spiracle; each anterior pore band with 16–26 pores, and posterior band with 19–32 pores; each spiracular disc-pore 3–5 μm in diameter, containing 5 loculi. Pregenital disc-pores ( Figs 5 I View FIGURE 5 , 6 G View FIGURE 6 ) numbering about 30 (27‒37), each 8–10 μm in diameter, with 9 or 10 peripheral loculi and 1 central loculus, present around anogenital fold; sometimes also a few present on medial area of preceding abdominal segment. Ventral tubular ducts ( Figs 5 O View FIGURE 5 , 6 E View FIGURE 6 ) all of one type, each with an outer ductule 12–18 μm long and 2–3 μm wide and a narrow inner ductule about 15–18 μm long and 1.5 μm wide with a flowershaped terminal gland, scattered mostly medially near mouthparts, on thorax and a few laterally on some abdominal segments: with a group of 3 or 4 ducts located medially just posterior to labium, and, on each side, with about 4 ducts between clypeolabral shield and procoxa; a comparatively broad transverse band of about 9 ducts present mesad to mesocoxae; with 3 between each meso- and metacoxa, and 4 medially at same level; 5 or 6 sparsely scattered on inner submarginal area laterad to hind coxa; and 1 on each submarginal area of abdominal segments V and VII. Microspines ( Fig. 5 P View FIGURE 5 ) present on derm of anal lobe, distributed in small linear groups.
Etymology. The species epithet oecophyllae , meaning “of Oecophylla ”, refers to the intimate association of the scale insect with the ant species Oecophylla smaragdina ( oecophyllae : genitive case, feminine singular).
Comments. Choi & Lee (2018) gave the diagnostic morphological characters of adult females of 11 Asian species of Coccus possessing ventral tubular ducts, including the description of a new species, Coccus ficicola Choi & Lee from China, feeding on Ficus benghalensis L. ( Moraceae ). Comparing C. oecophyllae sp. nov. with these 11 species and other Coccus species present in India, the new species is found to have a novel set of morphological traits, including an unusual distribution pattern of ventral tubular ducts.
Morphologically, C. oecophyllae sp. nov. is closest to C. ficicola in sharing common character states like the presence of: (i) dorsal submarginal tubercles and tubular ducts on both dorsum and venter; (ii) two pairs of interantennal setae; (iii) each anal plate with four apical and subapical setae, but lacking discal setae; (iv) anogenital fold with a total of four anterior margin setae; and (vii) tibio-tarsal scleroses. However, C. oecophyllae may be easily distinguished from C. ficicola by the presence of the following features (contrasting character states for C. ficicola are given in parentheses): (i) dorsal setae of two types: spinose with pointed or slightly bluntly pointed apices, and cylindrical with very slightly enlarged and rounded apices (dorsal setae of one type, cylindrical with blunt apices); (ii) marginal setae with apices usually strongly bifid or weakly to moderately fimbriate, but occasionally a few with simple tips; (mostly with simple pointed apices, but sometimes with slightly bifid tips); (iii) marginal setae numbering 27‒31 between the two anterior spiracular furrows (52‒59), and, on each side, 10‒12 between anterior and posterior spiracular furrows (12–17), and 22‒24 between posterior spiracular furrow and anal cleft (45‒53); (iv) preopercular pores absent (preopercular pores present); (v) antennae each generally seven segmented (eight segmented); (vi) ano-genital fold with two lateral margin setae on each side (three); and (vii) pregenital disc pores each with 10‒12 loculi (nine or 10 loculi).
Coccus oecophyllae sp. nov. is also similar to C. discrepans (Green) , as both species have: (i) dorsal submarginal tubercles and ventral tubular ducts; (ii) preopercular pores absent; (iii) apices of marginal setae frayed, bifurcated or pointed; (iv) antennae each with seven segments (occasionally eight); (v) pregenital setae numbering three pairs; (vi) tibio-tarsal scleroses present; (vii) anogenital fold with two pairs of anterior margin setae and each lateral margin setae with two setae; and (ix) two pairs of interantennal setae. However, C. oecophyllae can be distinguished from C. discrepans by the following (character states of C. discrepans are given in parentheses): (i) dorsal setae of two types, spinose and cylindrical (one type, large and spinose as found in India by Avasthi & Shafee (1991) or short and rod-like with apices blunt or slightly pointed, as found in Taiwan by Tao et al. (1983)); (ii) dorsal tubular ducts present (dorsal tubular ducts absent); (iii) ventral tubular ducts present on medial areas of pro-, meso- and metathorax and submarginal areas of metathorax and abdomen (present on medial area of mesothorax, and with a few laterad to mid-coxae, not present on abdomen); and (iv) claw digitules similar in size and shape (different in size and shape).
It is therefore considered that C. oecophyllae is a species new to science that is morphologically close to C. ficicola and C. discrepans . The new species is associated with the ant, Oecophylla smaragdina , and was found inside the nest.
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