Valid Names Results

Diaspidiotus aetnensis Nucifora, Watson & Mazzeo, 2020 (Diaspididae: Diaspidiotus)

Nomenclatural History

• Diaspidiotus aetnensis Nucifora, Watson & Mazzeo 2020: 585. Type data: ITALY: Sicily, Mt. Etna, eastern slope, Lat. N 37°47’02.0’’ / Lon. E 15°03’34.7’’ / 1625 m asl., (on branch) , 3/8/2016, by S. Nucifora. Holotype, female, by original designation Type depository: Catania: Dipartimento di Agricoltura, Alimentazione e Ambiente, University of Catania, Italy; London: The Natural History Museum, England, UK; Paris: Museum National d'Histoire naturelle, France; accepted valid name Notes: Paratypes. Nineteen adult females, all from: ITALY, Sicily, Mt. Etna, eastern slope (Municipality of Sant’Alfio), on bark of B. aetnensis. Illustr.

Common Names

Ecological Associates

Hosts:

Families: 1 | Genera: 1

Geographic Distribution

Keys

• NucifoWaRu2020: pp.589 ( Adult (F) ) [Diaspidiotus on Betulaceae]

Remarks

• Systematics: Of the 9 species of Diaspidiotus reported on Betula, all have perivulvar pores; D. aetnensis usually lacks them. Other Palaearctic Diaspidiotus species that lack perivulvar pores are: D. alni, D. distinctus, and D. wuenni, but they have not been collected on Betula. Diaspidiotus aetnensis has a body outline and pygidial morphology very similar to D. alni, especially the median lobes (L1) and the paraphyses between segments VI, VII, and VIII, but differs as follows (condition in D. alni in brackets): pygidial margin with plates developed (plates reduced or absent); segment IV with dorsal ducts, especially in larger individuals (without ducts); and pygidium with about 45 (31–54) dorsal ducts (fewer than 32 ducts). Both D. aetnensis and D. lenticularis occur on Betula, and sometimes D. lenticularis also lacks perivulvar pores. Diaspidiotus aetnensis differs as follows (condition in D. lenticularis in brackets): prepygidial macroducts absent (present). Diaspidiotus aetnensis resembles D. wuenni in having similar plates and in the number of dorsal ducts, but differs in having segment IV with dorsal ducts, especially in larger individuals (D. wuenni without ducts); the shape and proportions of the marginal paraphyses situated between segments VIII and VII, in relation to the size of a median lobe (L1) are also different between these species. (Nucifora, et al., 2020)
• Structure: Scale cover of adult female subcircular, diameter 0.9‒1.9 mm (usually 1.2‒1.6 mm), almost flat; in large specimens, scale cover is more irregular in outline. Central area of cover (over exuviae) opaque sandy brown, being darker towards the centre and whitish toward the outer edge. Exuviae central to subcentral; first-instar exuviae pale yellow, second-instar exuviae yellowish. Ventral scale extremely thin, white and fragile, remaining on plant surface when scale cover and insect are removed. Exposed adult female yellow, rather flat, pygidium darker and flatter than rest of body. Scale cover of second-instar male similar to that of female but oval, measuring 0.6‒0.8 mm x 0.4‒0.6 mm, whitish to sandy brown by exuviae but fading to white at margins; exuviae yellow, situated at widest part of scale cover; ventral scale similar to that of female. Slide-mounted adult female egg-shaped or pyriform, becoming almost circular at maturity due to expansion of cephalothorax, with lateral abdominal lobes sometimes extending posteriorly on either side of pygidium. Body measurements (n=20): 640 (576‒1239) long, maximum width 545 (477‒1162). (Nucifora, et al., 2020)
• General Remarks: Detailed description and illustrations in Nucifora, et al., 2020.

Illustrations

Citations