Marsipococcus maolanensis Deng, Watson & Xing 2025, sp. nov.

Marsipococcus maolanensis Deng, Watson & Xing, sp. nov. Figs 1–6 Material examined. Holotype: adult ♀, CHINA: Guizhou Prov., / Libo County, Maolan National Nature Reserve, / 25°20′7398″N, 107º94′72″E, / 706.7 m altitude, / on Bridelia retusa (L.) A. Juss, 1824 (Phyllanthaceae), / 11.July.2024, / Min Deng and Shangmi Hu leg., mounted singly on a slide (GUGC) (Fig. 1). Paratypes: Same collection data as holotype, 6 adult ♀♀, 3 adult ♂♂, all mounted singly on slides (Fig. 1) (BFUC). Etymology. The species name maolanensis is composed of maolan, from the name of the Maolan National Nature Reserve in China from where the species was collected, combined with the Latin –ensis, an adjectival suffix indicating place of origin. Adult female Appearance in life (Fig. 2 C–E). Adult female mostly flat but slightly convex in median area; body oval, widest at anterior of abdomen; extremities rounded. Median area of mature adult female brownish, surrounded by a diffuse yellow border that merges into transparent submarginal and marginal areas (Fig. 2C, D). Margin with fine, whitish marginal setae (each coated with wax secretion, making them look long), visible to the naked eye against dark green leaf. Eyes minute, black, situated almost dorsad to antennal bases. (Fig. 2 E, F). Slide-mounted adult female (n=3) (Figs 3, 4). Body broadly oval, 5.1‒6.4 (5.1) mm long, 3.7‒4.7 (4.1) mm wide. Stigmatic clefts distinct and moderately deep, each reniform. Anal cleft approximately 1/4 to 1/6 of body length, closely appressed. Dorsum. Derm membranous except for a narrow, heavily sclerotised crescent along inner margin of each stigmatic cleft (Fig. 4G), and around anal plates; derm with a series of irregularly shaped areolations. With faint radial lines extending medially from margin as follows: 5 on head between anterior stigmatic clefts (Fig. 3); and on each side, extending medially: 1 from each cleft; 1 on thorax between clefts; and 5 on abdomen; radial lines arising from anterior spiracular clefts and anteriormost on dorsum both extend across the entire body width (Fig. 3). Dorsal setae (Fig. 4A) very small, setose, slightly curved, often erect so difficult to measure, each 6.0‒10.0 (7.5) μm long, restricted to submedial area anterior to anal plates; these setae often each situated next to opening of a microduct. Microducts each with an inner filament (Fig. 4B), difficult to see; microduct openings all of 1 size, each 2.5‒3.0 (2.5) μm wide, scattered throughout but more numerous in medial areas of abdomen and thorax. Preopecular pores absent. Dorsal tubercles and tubular ducts absent. Anal plates together elongate oval (Fig. 4C), combined width 237‒270 (266) μm; each plate 222‒245 (241) μm long, with 2 setae on inner margin near apex, anteriormost seta about 10.0–12.5 μm long, other seta about 6.5–7.5 μm long; outer margin of plate with 2 setae near apex, anteriormost seta about 5.0–5.2 μm long, other seta 13.8–15.0 μm long, also with 7‒11 transparent spots beside outer edge (Fig. 4C). Anogenital fold (Fig. 4D) with 2 pairs of setae on anterior margin, mesad setae each 7.9.‒11.8 (11.8) μm long, outer setae each 22.5‒25.0 (22.5) μm long; each anterolateral margin of anal cleft with 1 seta 31‒35 (32) μm long. Anal ring (Fig. 4E) 18‒21 (18) μm wide, with 2 rows of pores and bearing 8 setae, each seta 45‒48 (47) μm long. Eyespots each 47‒58 (55) μm in diameter, located well onto dorsum, anterior to level of antennal base and 386‒437 (420) μm from margin. Margin. Marginal setae spinose (Fig. 4F, L), each sharply pointed, some slightly curved at apex, each 15‒25 (20) μm long, with a broad basal socket; arranged in a single row, abundant, each side with 74‒91 setae between apex of head and anterior stigmatic cleft, 63‒70 setae between stigmatic clefts, and 161‒165 setae between posterior stigmatic cleft and anal cleft. Each stigmatic cleft deep, crescent-shaped, inner margin with narrow strip of sclerotization, and with 2 stigmatic spines of similar length, each with parallel sides and a rounded apex, 85‒98 μm long (Fig. 4G), situated singly, one on each lateral margin of cleft. Venter. Derm entirely membranous except for outer end of each stigmatic furrow with a short, sclerotized section. Derm with abundant obvious small clear patches, Pregenital disc-pores absent. Spiracular disc-pores each 1.4‒1.8 (1.5) μm wide, mostly each with 5 loculi (but a few with 4 or 6) (Fig. 4H), some pores surrounded by a sclerotised ring, others not; each spiracular band 4‒6 pores wide, running between spiracular opening and margin in a stigmatic groove that is sclerotised near margin; each anterior band containing 138‒153 pores and each posterior band with 168–188 pores. Preantennal pores absent. Ventral microducts (Fig. 4I) very sparse throughout, most frequent in submarginal zone between stigmatic clefts, each duct orifice minute and oval with a long inner ductule. Ventral tubular ducts all of 1 type (Fig. 4J), each with long, narrow outer ductule about 4.5 μm long, and narrow inner ductule about 2.0 μm long ending in a terminal gland; restricted to a group of 28‒32 ducts on either side of genital opening. Minute ventral setae frequent in submarginal to submedian areas, each about 1.5 μm long (Fig. 4K), present on either side of each abdominal segment, each side with 46‒53 setae between apex of head and anterior stigmatic cleft, 23‒27 setae between anterior and posterior stigmatic clefts, and 72‒75 setae between posterior stigmatic cleft and anal cleft. With 3 or 4 short setae near each meso- and metacoxa, and 1 short seta near each procoxa. A pair of long setae present on pregenital segment VII, each 35‒48 (48) μm long; 1 pair of moderately long setae present on abdominal segment VI, each 32‒41 (33) μm long, accompanied by 4‒6 surrounding setae; and 1 pair of short setae present on segment V, each 23‒27 (25) μm long; metathorax with a single seta, 6‒8 (6) μm long, on mid-ventral line; further forward, 1 pair of short setae present posterior to mouthparts. Interantennal setae numbering 3 pairs, shortest setae each 8‒10 (10) μm long, medium-sized setae each measuring 12‒14 (12) μm and longest, each 18‒20 (20) μm long. Antennae (Fig. 4M) well developed, each 8 segmented, total length 386‒437 (397) μm, with third segment longest, 55‒60 (58) μm long. Setal distribution on antenna: scape with 3 hair-like setae; pedicel, 2 hair-like; segment III, 2 hair-like; IV, 4 hair-like; V, 0; VI, 3 hair-like and 1 fleshy seta; and apical segment with 3 fleshy setae, 3 stiff setae and 1 hair-like seta; terminal stiff seta 19.5‒23.5 (21.5) μm long. Clypeolabral shield 293‒320 (295) μm long, bearing 1 pair of setae, each seta 13‒15 (15) μm long; labium three segmented in adult stage, often longer than clypeolabral shield, with 4 pairs of setae, longest seta 14‒16 (15) μm long. Spiracles moderately large; each anterior peritreme 81‒85 (85) μm wide, each posterior peritreme 85‒88 (83) μm wide. Legs well developed (Fig. 4N), segmentation between tibia and tarsus obscure; lengths (in μm): total length of metathoracic leg 767‒842 (788), coxa 168‒195 (181), trochanter+femur 306‒318 (315), tibia+tarsus 298‒330 (323), claw 37‒39 (38). Setal distribution on hind leg: coxa with 3 setae, longest about 26‒35 (33) μm long; trochanter with 4, longest about 92‒97 (95) μm; femur with 2, tibia + tarsus with 10; tarsal digitules similar, both much longer than claw, each about 44‒50 (45) μm long; claw without a denticle, claw digitules with expanded tips, similar, each about 20.5‒26.5 (25.5) μm long. Remarks. The adult female M. maolanensis Deng, Watson & Xing, sp. n. can be easily separated from that of M. marsupialis as it lacks both ventral multilocular disc-pores and dorsal preopercular pores (both present in M. marsupialis). Marsipococcus maolanensis is also easily distinguished from M. christopheri by having (character states of M. christopheri given in parenthesis): (i) anal plates 237‒270 μm long (150‒165 μm long); (ii) antennae each 8 segmented (6 segmented); (iii) ventral tubular ducts present in a group on either side of genital opening (tubular ducts absent from venter); (iv) with a total of 5 pale radial lines on head, and 5 on each side of abdomen (with a total of 7 radial lines on head, and 7 on each side of abdomen); and (v) marginal setae on each side of abdomen numbering 161‒165 (67‒75). Marsipococcus maolanensis is also easily distinguished from M. ulubendulensis by having (character states of M. ulubendulensis given in parenthesis): (i) body apices rounded (obviously pointed); (ii) marginal setae abundant, with 161‒165 on each side of abdomen (72‒76), and (iii) dorsal pores all of one type (of two types). Marsipococcus maolanensis is very close to M. brideliae, but can be distinguished by (character states of M. brideliae given in parenthesis): (i) antennae eight segmented (seven segmented); (ii) anal plates together oval, each outer edge with 7‒11 transparent spots (anal plates together approximately quadrate, each outer edge without transparent spots); (iii) spiracular disc-pores very numerous, each anterior band containing 138‒153 and each posterior band with 168-188 pores (spiracular disc-pores fewer, each anterior band containing 45‒57 and each posterior band with 52‒63 pores); and (iv) derm with abundant, obvious small clear patches (derm without small clear patches). Ecological note. Specimens of M.maolanensis were found in a symbiotic relationship with the ant Crematogaster rogenhoferi Mayr, 1878 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Myrmicinae) on the leaves of Bridelia retusa (L.) A. Juss, 1824 (Phyllanthaceae). The ants were feeding on the honeydew eliminated by the scale insects. Female and male scales at various developmental stages were usually found together. Adult male Appearance in life (Fig. 5A–D). Body yellowish-brown. Penial sheath straight, about 1/5th of total body length; antennae almost as long as body; wing petaliform, about 5/6th of total body length. Slide-moun