A new species of Aulacaspis and a revived combination of Diaspididae (Hemiptera, Coccomorpha) from China

A new species of armored scale insect, Aulacaspis fanjingshanensis sp. nov. is described and illustrated based on adult female specimens collected on Rosaceae plants in China. A key to the Aulacaspis species known from Guizhou Province of China is provided. Our molecular study suggests that Aulacaspis schizosoma (Takagi, 1970) is not a true member of the genus Aulacaspis; the genus Superturmaspis Chen, 1983 is revived and A. schizosoma is transferred to it as Superturmaspis schizosoma (Takagi, 1970), revived combination, based on a molecular phylogeny

A Wall-Associated Kinase Gene CaWAKL20 From Pepper Negatively Modulates Plant Thermotolerance by Reducing the Expression of ABA-Responsive Genes

Heat stress has become a major threat to crop production due to global warming; however, the mechanisms underlying plant high-temperature sensing are not well known. In plants, the membrane-anchored receptor-like kinases (RLKs) relay environmental signals into the cytoplasm. In a previous study, we isolated a wall-associated RLK-like (WAKL) gene CaWAKL20 from pepper (Capsicum annuum L.). Here, the amino acid sequence of CaWAKL20 was characterized and found to consist of conserved domains of WAK/WAKL family, including an extracellular region containing a GUB-WAK binding domain and a degenerated EGF2-like domain; a transmembrane region; and an intercellular region with an STKc catalytic domain. Moreover, CaWAKL20 transcription was inhibited by heat stress, whereas it was induced by both ABA and H2O2 treatments. Silencing of CaWAKL20 enhanced pepper thermotolerance, while overexpression decreased Arabidopsis thermotolerance. Additionally, Arabidopsis lines overexpressing CaWAKL20 showed less sensitivity to ABA during seed germination and root growth. Finally, the survival rate of Arabidopsis seedlings under heat stress treatment was enhanced by ABA pre-treatment, while it was compromised by the overexpression of CaWAKL20. Furthermore, the heat-induced expression of several ABA-responsive genes and some key regulator genes for thermotolerance was decreased in Arabidopsis CaWAKL20-overexpression lines. These results suggest that CaWAKL20 negatively modulates plant thermotolerance by reducing the expression of ABA-responsive genes, laying a foundation for further investigation into the functional mechanisms of WAKs/WAKLs in plants undergoing environmental stresses

A new species of Diaspididae, Megacanthaspis guiyangensis (Hemiptera, Coccomorpha) from China

A new species of armoured scale insect, Megacanthaspis guiyangensis sp. nov. is described and illustrated. The new species is morphologically similar to M. hangzhouensis. Megacanthaspis guiyangenis infests leaves of Oligostachyum lubricum in China. A key to all eight species of Megacanthaspis now known is provided

Unaspis yanonensis

Unaspis yanonensis (Kuwana, 1923) Material studied: 10 adult females, all from: CHINA, Guizhou Province, Qingyan city, on Citrus maxima (Burm) Merr. leaves, coll. Wei & Niu, 24.vii.2015 (at NWAFU: 2 slides each containing 4 adult females; and 2 slides each containing 1 adult female). Adult female diagnosis: Body elongate; segmentation obvious between prothorax and mesothorax, and between mesothorax and metathorax. Lateral margins of prepygidial abdominal segments protruding, those of segments II–III triangular; head rounded. Antennae each with minute, rounded tubercles and 1 seta. Anterior spiracles each with 12–15 parastigmatic pores; posterior spiracles each with 0–6 parastigmatic pores. Prepygidial abdominal segment lateral margins with gland spines, each side having 18–30 (6–9 on segment II, 8–10 on segment III, and 4–6 on segment IV). Conical duct tubercles numbering 7–9 on metathorax and 7–9 on abdominal segment I. Pygidium slightly rounded, with 3 pairs of well-developed lobes. Median lobes somewhat sunken into pygidium, not close to each other. Second and third lobes similar to each other, each deeply bilobed with rounded lobules; third lobes sometimes slightly smaller than second lobes. Each side of pygidium with 4 single marginal gland spines: with 1 between median and second lobes, 1 between second and third lobes, 1 lateral to third lobe, and 1 on segment V. Marginal macroducts absent from between median lobes, numbering 7 on each side: with 1 between median and second lobes, 1 between second and third lobes, 1 between lobules of third lobe, 2 on segment V and 2 on segment IV. Dorsal macroducts smaller than marginal ducts, present on all pygidial segments including VII and VIII, numbering over 100 in total. Anus rounded, rather small, situated near centre of pygidium. Perivulvar pores absent.Published as part of Niu, Minmin & Feng, Jinian, 2019, Two new species of the genus Unaspis MacGillivray, 1921 (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Diaspididae) from China, pp. 573-580 in Zootaxa 4555 (4) on page 574, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4555.4.8, http://zenodo.org/record/258536

Two new species of the genus Unaspis MacGillivray, 1921 (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Diaspididae) from China

Niu, Minmin, Feng, Jinian (2019): Two new species of the genus Unaspis MacGillivray, 1921 (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Diaspididae) from China. Zootaxa 4555 (4): 573-580, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4555.4.

Unaspis MacGillivray 1921

Genus <i>Unaspis</i> MacGillivray <p> <i>Unaspis</i> MacGillivray, 1921: 308.</p> <p> <b>Type species.</b> <i>Chionaspis acuminata</i> Green by monotypy and original designation.</p> <p> <b>Generic diagnosis.</b> Scale cover of adult female brownish, elongate, usually with a median longitudinal ridge; exuviae terminal. Scale cover of second-instar male white, felted, elongate and with a median ridge.</p> <p> <b>Diagnosis.</b> Body elongate, nearly fusiform, widest at metathorax or abdominal segment I. Derm membranous or sclerotized throughout on the cephalothorax and abdominal segment I. Antennae each with 1 or 2 setae, occasionally more. Anterior spiracle associated with a compact cluster of disc pores, posterior spiracle with usually fewer or no associated disc pores.</p> <p>Pygidium with margin slightly rounded. Median lobes usually well developed, rounded or serrate, non-zygotic, with a pair of minute marginal setae between the bases; in some species, median lobes parallel and separated from each other by quite a wide space, but in other species set close together basally and divergent distally. Second lobes bilobulate, lobules well developed and rounded. Third lobes similar to second in shape and size. Gland spines well developed, absent from between median lobes; usually present singly or in pairs between other lobes, more numerous on margins of free posterior abdominal segments; becoming conical duct tubercles on the ventral surface on more anterior abdominal segments.</p> <p>Marginal macroducts usually numbering 7 on each side of pygidium: absent from between median lobes, each side with 1 between median and second lobes (on abdominal segment VII), and 2 on each of segments IV, V and VI. Dorsal macroducts numerous, scattered loosely over whole pygidium. Ventral conical duct tubercles sometimes present. Anus rounded, situated near centre of pygidium. Perivulvar pores present or absent (Rao 1949, Tang 1986, Williams and Watson 1988, Zeng 2000, Watson 2015).</p> <p> <b>Comments.</b> Members of this genus, like others in the subfamily Diaspidinae, have an elongate body and bilobulate second pygidial lobes. <i>Unaspis</i> is distinguished from other genera, especially <i>Chionaspis</i> Signoret (1868), by having non-zygotic median lobes; moreover, the dorsal ducts are numerous and scattered loosely over the whole pygidium in <i>Unaspis</i>, in contrast to those in <i>Chionaspis</i>. <i>Lepidosaphes</i> Shimer, 1868 is similar to <i>Unaspis</i> in body features, but differs by having a pair of gland spines between the median lobes that are absent in <i>Unaspis</i>.</p>Published as part of <i>Niu, Minmin & Feng, Jinian, 2019, Two new species of the genus Unaspis MacGillivray, 1921 (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Diaspididae) from China, pp. 573-580 in Zootaxa 4555 (4)</i> on page 575, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4555.4.8, <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/2585361">http://zenodo.org/record/2585361</a&gt

Unaspis mediforma

<i>Unaspis mediforma</i> (Chen, 1983) <p> <b>Material studied</b>: Syntypes of this species were deposited at Chengdu, Plant Protection Research Institute, Sichuan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, but they are unavailable and probably lost; for this reason the diagnosis below is based solely on the description and illustration by Chen (1983).</p> <p> <b>Adult female diagnosis</b> (based on Chen, 1983): Body fusiform, widest at abdominal segment I. Antennae tuberculate, each bearing 3 long thick setae and 2 short slender setae. Anterior spiracles each with 5–8 parastigmatic pores; posterior spiracles each with 2–4 parastigmatic pores. Lateral ducts on dorsum scattered from the mesothorax to abdominal segment III. Conical duct tubercles present on ventral submargin of metathorax and the abdominal segments I–II.</p> <p>Pygidium relatively straight sided, with 3 pairs of well-developed lobes. Median lobes with basal parts of median margins linked and inner and outer margins serrate. Second and third lobes well developed but much smaller than median lobes, each deeply bilobed, with outer lobule smaller than inner lobule. Gland spines on pygidium present singly, each with apex split 2 or 3 ways.</p> <p>Marginal macroducts larger than dorsal ducts, absent from between median lobes; numbering 7 on each side, with 1 between median and second lobes, 1 between second and third lobes, 1 between lobules of third lobe, 2 on segment V and 2 on segment IV. Dorsal ducts scattered, numbering 62–67 on whole pygidium. Perivulvar pores present in 5 groups, with 8–12 in median group, 9–23 in each laterocephalic group, and 9–13 in each laterocaudal group.</p>Published as part of <i>Niu, Minmin & Feng, Jinian, 2019, Two new species of the genus Unaspis MacGillivray, 1921 (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Diaspididae) from China, pp. 573-580 in Zootaxa 4555 (4)</i> on page 574, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4555.4.8, <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/2585361">http://zenodo.org/record/2585361</a&gt

Unaspis fanjingensis Niu & Feng 2019, sp. n.

<i>Unaspis fanjingensis</i> sp. n. <p>(Figs 8–16)</p> <p> <b>Material studied. Holotype female</b>: CHINA, Guizhou Province, Tongren city, Fanjing Mountain, on Berberidaceae and <i>Litsea</i> (Lauraceae) leaves, coll. Zeng, 18.viii.1996 (at NWAFU; first specimen at the left end of a row of 4 adult females, clearly mapped on the slide label). The other 3 specimens are paratypes.</p> <p> <b>Paratypes female</b>: CHINA, same data as holotype (at NWAFU; a total of 12 adult females, as follows: 3 specimens on the slide containing the holotype; 2 slides each containing 4 adult females; and 1 slide containing 1 adult female).</p> <p> <b>Description of slide-mounted adult female</b>: the figures provided below are for the holotype specimen, and (holotype + 8 paratype specimens, range and mean value). Body fusiform, widest at abdominal segments I and II. Antennae tuberculate, each with 1 seta and two cusps. Anterior spiracles each with 28–31 parastigmatic pores; posterior spiracle without associated parastigmatic pores. Conical duct tubercles present on metathorax and abdominal segments I–III (each side with 1 on mesothorax, 1–4 on metathorax, 7–11 on segment I, 9 or 10 on segment II, and 7 or 8 on segment III). Prepygidial abdominal segments each with gland spines (4 on segment II, 5 on segment III and 3 on segment IV).</p> <p>Pygidium rounded, with 3 pairs of well-developed lobes. Median lobes with basal parts of median margins connected by a sclerosis and inner and outer margins serrate. Second and third lobes much smaller than median lobes, each deeply bilobed with outer lobule smaller than inner lobule. Fourth lobes reduced, very small.</p> <p>Marginal macroducts larger than dorsal ducts, absent from between median lobes; each side with 7: with 1 between median and second lobes, 1 between second and third lobes, 1 between lobules of third lobe, 2 by fourth lobe and 2 on segment IV. Pygidium with four single marginal gland spines on each side, 1 between median and second lobes; 1 between second and third lobes, 1 between third and fourth lobes, and 1 lateral to fourth lobe. Dorsal macroducts scattered on segments as far forward as mesothorax, numbering 60–80 over entire body. Dorsal macroducts located in the lateral margin on metathorax and segments I and II and arranged on submarginal and submedian areas of segments III, IV and V. Ventral microducts scattered over entire body, numbering 90–100 on entire body. Anus rounded, rather small, situated near centre of pygidium. Perivulvar pores present in 5 groups; with about 16 in median group, 24–29 in each anterolateral group, and 18–20 in each posterolateral group.</p> <p> <b>Host.</b> Berberidaceae, <i>Litsea</i> (Lauraceae).</p> <p> <b>Etymology.</b> The specific epithet is formed by a combination of Fanjing Mountain, the type locality, and the Latin “- <i>ensis</i> ”, meaning “from”.</p> <p> <b>Distribution.</b> China (Guizhou Province).</p> <p> <b>Comments.</b> <i>Unaspis fanjingensis</i> <b>sp. n.</b> is very similar to <i>U. mediforma</i> but di?ers in having (character-states on <i>U. mediforma</i> in brackets): (i) anterior spiracle with 28–31 parastigmatic pores (5–8 pores); posterior spiracle without parastigmatic pores (2–4 pores); (ii) gland spines on pygidium between pygidial lobes each with single point at apex (each with apex split into 2 or 3 points).</p>Published as part of <i>Niu, Minmin & Feng, Jinian, 2019, Two new species of the genus Unaspis MacGillivray, 1921 (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Diaspididae) from China, pp. 573-580 in Zootaxa 4555 (4)</i> on page 576, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4555.4.8, <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/2585361">http://zenodo.org/record/2585361</a&gt