Valid Names Results

Cerococcus asteris Hodgson & Williams, 2016 (Cerococcidae: Cerococcus)

Nomenclatural History

• Cerococcus asteris Hodgson & Williams 2016: 153-155. Type data: MEXICO: San Lorenzo, Puebla, on stem of Pedilanthus sp. (Euphorbiaceae), 7/24/1978, by Riddlehuber et al.. Holotype, female, by original designation Type depository: Washington: United States National Entomological Collection, U.S. National Museum of Natural History, District of Columbia, USA; accepted valid name Notes: USNM: 2 paratype specimens (f). Illustr.

Common Names

Ecological Associates

Hosts:

Families: 1 | Genera: 1

Geographic Distribution

Keys

• HodgsoWi2016: pp.151-152 ( Adult (F) ) [Key to species of Cerococcus]

Remarks

• Systematics: The lace-like arrangement of the dorsal 8-shaped pores on the adult female of C. asteris is unique in Cerococcus for, although lines or bands of 8-shaped pores are also present on other Cerococcus species, in the latter species they are in an evenly spaced lattice-like pattern with 8-shaped pores frequent between the lines, whilst in C. asteris, the lines or bands of pores are not evenly spaced and there are no 8-shaped pores between them. In addition, the adult female of C. asteris also has the following unusual features: (i) large and obvious groups of spiracular disc-pores and smaller 8-shaped pores in apex of each pore band (somewhat similar to the arrangement in Cerochiton); (ii) cribriform plates in two submedial clusters on each side of abdominal segment IV, each cluster formed of 3–7 plates fused together in a mildly sclerotized cavity, and (iii) ventral marginal band of 8–shaped pores extending some distance mesad of each spiracle. The odd single sclerotized pore or duct on outer base of one lobe on the holotype specimen cannot be found on the other specimens, although it is very distinct. This is not thought to be homologous with the anteroventral sclerotizations typical of Antecerococcus species. (Hodgson & Williams, 2016)
• Structure: Body roundly pear-shaped, 2.4–3.1 mm long, 2.1–2.7 mm wide, with only a short abdominal extension posteriorly. (Hodgson & Williams, 2016) The adult female of C. asteris is characterised by the following combination of character-states: (i) anteroventral sclerotizations absent; (ii) three finely spinose setae present along inner margin of each anal lobe; (iii) dorsal fleshy setae on anal lobes spinose and bullet-shaped; (iv) posteroventral seta on each anal lobe absent; (v) dorsum with two sizes of 8-shaped pores, both quite small; (vi) 8-shaped pores on dorsum in a lace-like pattern; (vii) smallest 8-shaped pores restricted to 10–16 pores within apex of each stigmatic pore band; (viii) large areas of dorsum without 8-shaped pores; (ix) cribriform plates present in submedial clusters of 3–7 plates fused into two groups on each side of abdominal segment IV; (x) tubular ducts of one size only present; (xi) leg stubs absent; (xii) posterior stigmatic bands bifurcated; (xiii) multilocular disc-pores entirely absent; (xiv) ventral 8-shaped pores in a very broad marginal band extending medially well past antennae and spiracles, and (xv) antennae without either a cone-like apex or setal cavity. (Hodgson & Williams, 2016)
• General Remarks: Detailed description and illustration in Hodgson & Williams, 2016.

Illustrations

Citations