Valid Names Results

Cryptostigma cecropiaphilum Kondo & Roubik, 2022 (Coccidae: Cryptostigma)

Nomenclatural History

Cryptostigma cecropiaphilum Kondo & Roubik 2022: 546. Type data: ECUADOR: Orellana Prov., Yasuní Biosphere Reserve, ca 14km North of PUCE Scientific Field Station, on Cecropia ficifolia inside nest of Plebeia sp, 3/2018, by D. W. Roubik. Holotype, female and first instar, by original designation Type depository: Mosquera: Colección Taxonómica Nacional de Insectos “Luis María Murillo”, Corporación Colombiana de Investigación Corpoica, Mosquera, Cundinamarca, Colombia; accepted valid name Notes: Paratypes. Same data as holotype, 54(58 specimens: 17 adult ♀♀ + 10 third-instar nymphs + 24 second-instar nymphs + 7 first-instar nymphs) (CTNI: No. 7109); Illustr.

Common Names

Ecological Associates

Hosts:

Families: 1 | Genera: 1

Urticaceae

Cecropia ficifolia | KondoRo2022

Associates:

Families: 2 | Genera: 2

Apidae

Plebeia | KondoRo2022

Formicidae

Azteca | KondoRo2022

Geographic Distribution

Countries: 1

Ecuador | KondoRo2022

Keys

KondoRo2022: pp.551-552 ( Adult (F) ) [species of Cryptostigma]
KondoRo2022: pp.552-553 ( First instar ) [known nymphs of Cryptostigma]

Remarks

Systematics: The adult female of C. cecropiaphilum can be diagnosed by having the following: (i) sclerotic pores present; (ii) dorsal setae bluntly spinose; (iii) preopercular pores present; (iv) each anal plate with about 4 setae on dorsal surface; (v) marginal setae not differentiated; (vi) antennae each 1 segmented, flattened, or conical, bearing numerous setae; and (vii) legs vestigial, each represented by a small, sclerotized area bearing a rudimentary claw and a few setae. Preopercular pores are absent in most Cryptostigma species, but are present in C. cecropiaphilum, C. serratum, C. tuberculosum and C. mexicanum. Cryptostigma cecropiaphilum is closest to C. tuberculosum, but these species can be differentiated by the following combination of features (features of C. tuberculosum in parenthesis): (i) marginal setae not differentiated (marginal setae differentiated, sharply spinose); (ii) preopercular pores not tubercle like (preopercular pores tubercle like); and (iii) multilocular pores present on mid-areas of thorax (multilocular pores absent from thorax). Adult females of C. cecropiaphilum also resemble those of C. rhizophilum and C. silveirai in having circular sclerotic pores. However, C. cecropiaphilum can be separated from the latter two species by the presence of preopercular pores (absent in C. rhizophilum and C. silveirai). (Kondo & Roubik, 2022)

Structure: In life, scale insect body elongate oval, wine red to dark red; dead specimens becoming brown after death. Body 3.0–5.8 mm long, 4.0–6.1 mm wide, with very long threads of white wax protruding from each stigmatic area; these waxy threads sometimes becoming as long as or longer than body length when fully developed, but usually broken off (removed by the bees). Fully developed female scale becoming convex with maturity. Anal plates and stigmatic sclerotization dark brown. Dorsum covered by transparent wax that becomes whitish in alcohol. (Kondo & Roubik, 2022) In life, the red color of the hemolymph in C. cecropiaphilum is due to the presence of carminic acid. (Kondo & Roubik, 2022)

Biology: Insects living inside hollow stems of Cecropia plant host, commonly tended by stingless bees of the genus Plebeia, normally found surrounding the brood cells. The stingless bees remove the dorsal and spiracular wax produced by the scales for use in the construction of their nest, so the scale insect dorsum is usually devoid of wax (Fig. 2B). Dead female scales brown and not removed by the bees. (Kondo & Roubik, 2022)

General Remarks: Detailed desription, photographs and illustration in Kondo & Roubik, 2022.