Valid Names Results

Rhizoecus peripotaro Schneider & LaPolla, 2024 (Rhizoecidae: Rhizoecus)

Nomenclatural History

• Rhizoecus peripotaro Schneider & LaPolla 2024: 128. Type data: GUYANA: Camp on Potaro River at base of Mt. Ayanganna, Dicymbe forest (5.3033, ‑59.9113), elev. 695m, from Acropyga goeldii nest, 10/8/2002, by J.S. LaPolla. Holotype, female, Type depository: Washington: United States National Entomological Collection, U.S. National Museum of Natural History, District of Columbia, USA; accepted valid name Notes: Paratypes. GUYANA, all with same data as holotype: 1 adult ♀, USNM; 2 adult ♀♀, USNM ; 2 adult ♀♀, USNM; 2 adult♀♀ and 1 immature in poor condition, USNM Illustr.

Common Names

Ecological Associates

Associates:

Families: 1 | Genera: 1

Geographic Distribution

Keys

• SchneiLa2024: pp.131 ( Adult (F) ) [modification to key by Kaydan et al. 2019]

Remarks

• Systematics: Following Kozár & Konczné Benedicty (2007), the presence of tritubular cerores and the weak development of the anal lobes in R. peripotaro places it within their concept of subtribe Rhizoecina, but it cannot be referred to the other genera of this group because it lacks (i) clavate setae, (ii) 5-locular pores, and (iii) groups of pores on the venter or around tritubular cerores. The new species fits within the general description of Rhizoecus in having (i) tritubular cerores, on the dorsum only in this case, and (ii) flagellate body setae. It departs from the norm for Rhizoecus by possessing 8 anal ring setae—the 6 robust setae typically found in other species, plus 2 additional shorter setae at the osterior apex of the ring. (Schneider & LaPolla, 2024)
• Structure: Slide-mounted adult female body broadly oval to subcircular and membranous, 0.81–0.90 mm long, 0.61–0.69 mm wide at widest point near abdominal segment II. Eyes absent. Antennae geniculate, each 5 segmented, situated ventrally on submedian of head; overall length 103–114 μm. Cephalic plate present, sclerotized. (Schneider & LaPolla, 2024) A distinctive trait of R. peripotaro relates to the variable and asymmetrical distribution of multilocular discpores, particularly those on the dorsum. Dorsal multilocular disc-pores are present in each specimen of the type series but vary in which segments they occupy (mesothorax through abdominal segment II) and whether they are symmetrically paired or lopsided in distribution around the medial tritubular cerores. (Schneider & LaPolla, 2024)
• Biology: Rhizoecus peripotaro was collected from nests of Acropyga goeldii Forel and is a trophobiotic species; worker ants were observed actively attending the mealybug colony in the nest. (Schneider & LaPolla, 2024)
• General Remarks: Detailed description and illustration in Schneider & LaPolla, 2024.

Illustrations

Citations