Valid Names Results

Rhopalotococcus dugdalei Williams, 2007 (Eriococcidae: Rhopalotococcus)

Nomenclatural History

• Rhopalotococcus dugdalei Williams 2007a: 1358-1362. Type data: NEW CALEDONIA: Mt. Koghis in galls on leaves of Metrosideros sp. 10/05/1978 by J. S. Dugdale. Holotype, female, Type depository: Auckland: New Zealand Arthropod Collection, Landcare Research, New Zealand; accepted valid name Illustr.

Common Names

Ecological Associates

Hosts:

Families: 1 | Genera: 1

Geographic Distribution

Keys

• HodgsoGeMa2018: pp.384 ( Adult (F) ) [Eriococcidae from New Caledonia]
• HodgsoMiCa2014: pp.163 ( Adult (F) ) [Key to Eriococcidae from New Caledonia (modified after Williams, 2007)]
• Willia2007a: pp.1358 ( Adult (F) ) [Key to adult females of Rhopalotococcus]

Remarks

• Systematics: All legs of the adult female of R. dugdalei are about the same size, whereas in R. metrosideri the hind legs are noticeably longer. (Williams, 2007)
• Structure: Body of adult female on microscope slide, elongate to broadly oval, 0.86-1.25mm long, 0.35-1.0mm wide, widest at about mesothorax, membranous, abdomen tapering to rounded posterior end. Position of each anal lobe with a stout, flagellate apical seta 65-75 µm long. Antennae short, 60-110 µm long, six-segmented, becoming narrower distally, situated close together on anterior margin of head, each segment with only a few short flagellate setae except on terminal segment where longest seta about 35 µm long; fleshy setae on last two segments about 20 µm long. Legs well developed, slender, hind coxa 30-50 µm long, hind trochanter + femur 95-130 µm long, hind tibia + tarsus 95-125 µm long. Claw slender, about 20 µm long, with a minute denticle and a pair of knobbed digitules conspicuously longer than claw. Ratio of lengths of hind tibia + tarsus to hind trochanter + femur 0.95-1.00. Ratio of lengths of hind tibia to tarsus 0.72-1.00. Distal trochanteral seta about 50 µm long; hind coxa without translucent pores. Labium 45-60 µm long, shorter than clypeolabral shield. Anal ring ventral, situated well anterior to apex of abdomen, semicircular, sclerotized, joined anteriorly by a very thin rim, ring about 25 µm wide, 15 µm long, non-cellular, with two pairs of short setae, each about 5.0 µm long, and a pair of lateral setae, each about 15.0 µm long. Eyes 25-30 µm in diameter. Dorsal surface with short, slender flagellate setae, mostly about 10 µm long, situated mainly across middle of segments. Extremely slender elongate microducts, each about 7.0 µm long, scattered on posterior abdominal segments, elsewhere sparse across segments. Ventral surface with similar setae to those on dorsum, not numerous. Macroducts present, each about 12 µm long, 1.5 µm wide, sparse, occurring in groups of one to three on submargins of abdominal segments IV-VI, and one or two present medially on each segment of thorax. Microducts, same as on dorsum, a few scattered on anal lobe segment and a few present anteriorly around margins. Quinquelocular pores, each about 5.0 µm in diameter, present on abdomen in almost single rows medially across abdominal segments V and VI and submedially on abdominal segments II, III, and VII, one or two also present medially on abdominal segment VIII; others present in groups of two to four next to each spiracular opening. Second-instar female Body on microscope slide, elongate oval, membranous, 0.75-0.85mm long, 0.28-0.32mm wide, widest at about mesothorax; abdomen narrowing posteriorly to rounded posterior end. Position of each anal lobe with a flagellate apical seta about 65 µm long. Antennae situated on anterior head margin, 50-90 µm long, seven-segmented. Legs well developed, slender, hind coxa 30-45 µm long, hind trochanter + femur 70-90 µm long, hind tibia + tarsus 95-100 µm long. Claw slender, about 15 µm long, with a minute denticle near apex and a pair of knobbed digitules longer than claw. Ratio of lengths of hind tibia + tarsus to hind trochanter + femur 1.11-1.35. Ratio of lengths of hind tibia to hind tarsus 0.72-1.11. Distal trochanteral seta about 50 µm long. Labium about 50 µm long, shorter than clypeolabral shield. Anal ring ventral, situated a short distance from apex of abdomen, semicircular and sclerotized, 25 µm wide, 15 µm long, joined at anterior end by an extremely narrow rim; sclerotized area with four minute setae, each about 5.0 µm long, and two lateral setae each about 15.0 µm long. Dorsal surface with flagellate setae, mostly 30-35 µm long, noticeably longer than in adult female, distributed across middle of segments in more or less single rows. Macrotubular ducts present of two sizes. A larger type with shallow cup, about 18.0 µm long, cup about 3.0 µm wide, present in rows of four to six across middle of abdominal segments II-VI, usually two present on abdominal segment VII, more numerous in rows on head and thorax. A smaller type of duct with deeper cup, about 10 µm long, cup about 2.0 µm wide, interspersed with larger type but less frequent. Microtubular ducts about 7.0 µm long, same as in adult female, represented by one or two at posterior end of abdomen.Ventral surface with similar flagellate setae to those on dorsum. Macrotubular ducts present of two sizes. A small type, same as small type on dorsum, present in submedial clusters of four to six on abdominal segments V-VII. An intermediate size duct, larger than small ducts but smaller than large dorsal ducts, about 12 µm long, with orifice surrounded by thick hyaline rim about 3.0 µm in diameter, occurring singly on submargins of thorax and abdominal segments II-VI, a few also present in medial area of thorax. Microtubular ducts, same as on dorsum, sparsely distributed around margins of most abdominal segments. Quinquelocular pores, minute, about 3.50 µm in diameter, present next to spiracular openings, usually two or three present next to each mesothoracic spiracle and singly or in pairs next to metathoracic spiracles. (Williams, 2007)
• Biology: Inducing leaf galls, dome-shaped on upper surface, elongate-conical and truncate on lower surface. Some galls split on under-surface where crawlers possibly escape. The galls are unlike any of the galls induced by scale insects on Metrosideros discussed and illustrated from New Zealand by Henderson and Martin (2006). They appear to resemble the galls induced by Tectococcus ovatus Hempel, a South American species found on the leaves of Psidium spp., another genus of Myrtaceae. (Williams, 2007)
• General Remarks: Detailed description and illustration in Williams, 2007.

Illustrations

Citations