Neothoracaphis glaucae (Takahashi, 1958)

3.4. Description of Alates of Neothoracaphis glaucae View in CoL .

Unless the sample size is indicated in parentheses, the following description is based on 10 specimens which were collected as nymphs from leaves of Quercus glauca in Shinkiba on 14 and 25 November 2013 and emerged in the laboratory between 26 November and 8 December 2013.

Th e body is 1.0–1.3 (mean 1.2) mm long. Th e head is 0.27–0.33 (0.30) mm wide across the compound eyes, weakly rugose, or reticulate on the dorsum ( Figure 5 View FIGURE 5 (a)), ventrally with four minute setae between the bases of antennal sockets. Th e antenna ( Figure 5 View FIGURE 5 (c)) is five-segmented: the segment III is 232–307 (269) μ m long, longer than the fore tibia, 1.7–2.4 (1.9) times as long as the length of the segments IV and V combined; the segment IV is 68–93 (82) μ m long; and the segment V is shorter than IV, 49–68 (57) μ m long. Th e processus terminalis is very short, with two apical setae which are about as long as the diameter of the segment at the base. Secondary rhinaria are narrow, often encircling the circumference of the segment; the segments III, IV, and V are with 13–18 (15), 5–7 (6), and 3–5 (4) secondary rhinaria, respectively. Th e primary rhinarium on the segment IV is indistinct, united with the distal secondary rhinarium; the primary rhinarium on the segment V is ciliated, often united with the distal secondary rhinarium. Th e ultimate rostral segment is 41–50 (46) μ m long (n = 8), without secondary setae. Th e legs are slender; the fore tibia is 206–255 (232) μ m long, and the hind femorotrochanter is 202–235 (217) μ m long. Tarsi are two-segmented: the segment I is with a pair of long, spatulate setae and one shorter seta on fore- and midlegs, and the segment II is 58–67 (63) μ m (n = 9) on the hind leg, middorsally with a pair of pointed setae and apically with three pairs of setae, of which the dorsoapical and lateroapical setae are long and widened at the apex and the ventroapical setae are short and pointed; empodial setae are spatulate at the apex, reaching the apices of the claws. Th e forewing is with two branches of the media which usually are not connected, and the basal vein of the media is indistinct. Th e abdomen is with two pairs of sclerotized spiracles, and with a pair of ring-like cornicles which are 18–22 (20) μ m in outer diameter. Th e abdominal tergite VII is membranous, mesially with two setae; the tergite VIII is weakly sclerotized, with four rather long setae. Th e cauda is small, 28–36 (32) μ m wide, with 7–9 (8) setae. Th e anal plate is bilobed, with a total of 10–14 (12) setae. Th e genital plate is with 2–5 (4) setae anteriorly and 8–12 (10) setae along the posterior margin (n = 9).

Th e alates of N. glaucae were, in morphology, similar to those of N. yanonis , a description of which is given by Takahashi [ 8]. Th e former were discriminated from the latter in having the head with reticulated sculptures ( Figure 5 View FIGURE 5 (a)); the head of N. yanonis was smooth on the dorsum ( Figure 5 View FIGURE 5 (b)). Fourth-instar nymphs (to be alates) of the two species were easily discriminated from each other by their wax plates on the tergites ( Figures 5 View FIGURE 5 (d) and 5(e)).