Wax-Exuding Cuticular Pores in Oeclidius nanus Van Duzee (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha: Kinnaridae)

The fine cuticular structures of the wax-secreting pores in the female adults of the kinnarid planthopper, Oeclidius nanus Van Duzee (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha: Kinnaridae), are described for the first time, based on scanning electron microscope observations. Abdominal tergites 6 to 8 in the female adults of O. nanus are modified into wax-secreting plates and are elevated, chevron-shaped, and divided medially into two plates, bearing a large amount of whitish and filamentous wax threads (0.78 to 1.0 μm in diam) on dorsal surface. The whole cuticular surface of abdominal tergites 6 to 8 is covered with numerous, small, rounded wax gland pores. They are shallow cuticular depressions delimited by cuticle rims. The wax comes from the bottom walls of these depressions. The wax gland pores on the tergites 6 and 7 are externally similar to each other, having a density of 0.20 to 0.23 pores and 0.21 to 0.22 pores per μm², respectively, and measuring 1.43 to 1.95 μm and 1.33 to 2.11 μm in diam, and 0.52 to 0.86 μm and 0.46 to 0.64 μm in cuticle rim width, respectively. There are no distinct modifications on the bottom of the wax gland pores on tergites 6 and 7. The wax gland pores found on tergite 8 are different from those found on tergites 6 and 7 and are generally larger, sparser, and have a much narrower cuticle rim (cuticle rim width 0.35 to 0.48 μm) and specialized bottom. The pores on tergite 8 have a density of 0.09 to 0.10 pores per μm² and most pores range in diam from 2.75 to3.58μm, but the smallest ones (few in number) range from 1.60 to 2.10 μm. The bottom of the pores is modified and is plate-like (1.66 to 1.86 μm in diam) with a central, round, depressed disc (0.82 to 0.93 μm in diam). The wax gland pores found in O. nanus are similar to those found in the kinnarid Adolenda fuscofasciata Liang and species of Meenoplidae but differ from those seen in species of Kinnara Distant and in species of other fulgoromorphan families, e.g., Cixiidae, Delphacidae, Derbidae, Flatidae, Lophopidae and Eurybrachidae.