First record of Takecallis taiwana (Takahashi) and T. arundinariae (Essig) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) in Colombia

Primer reporte de Takecallis taiwana (Takahashi) and T. arundinariae (Essig) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) en Colombia

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Takecallis Matsumura belongs to the tribe Panaphidini, subfamily Calaphidinae (Favret, 2014). Matsumura (1917) proposed the genus Takecallis for the single species T. bambusae Matsumura, 1917 (= Callipterus arundicolens Clarke, 1903), collected in Hokkaido, Japan, which he described as being similar to MyzocallisPasserini, 1860. Takecallis and Myzocallis share several diagnostic characteristics, but Takecallis differs from Myzocallis for the following: i) by having an anteriorly directed tubercle with two setae on the clypeus (Myzocallis with clypeus smooth, without an anteriorly directed tubercle with two setae); ii) the base of VI antennal segment about equal to the processus terminalis in length (the slender apical part of the sixth antennal segment distal to the primary sensorium on the thickened base); iii) and the rostrum short, extending slightly beyond the forecoxae (Higuchi, 1968; Qiao and Zhang, 2004).

The genus Takecallis is represented by six, mostly Oriental and Palaearctic species, but several species are now widely distributed (Tab. 1). Favret et al. (2010) observed T. taiwana and inferred the presence of T. arundinariae (Essig, 1917) in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, USA. All Takecallis species have been collected on species of bamboo (Poaceae: Bambusoideae). In some parts of Colombia, these plants are of ornamental importance, used as living fences or to conserve natural aquifers (Salas, 2006). The life cycle of Takecallis is apparently anholocyclic (Qiao and Zhang, 2004). Adults are mostly known from alate viviparae (Qiao and Zhang, 2004). Ghosh (1986), when describing T. affinis, reported two apterous viviparae collected from Arundinaria jounsarensis in association with a single alate vivipara, and vagrant alate males. LeClant (1966) observed alate viviparae throughout the year and collected ovipara from Arundinaria sp. in Montpellier.

Table 1
Distribution and hosts of Takecallis Matsumura species (Matsumura 1917; Gomez-Menor, 1965; Paik, 1965; Takahashi, 1965; Higuchi, 1968, 1972; Higuchi and Miyazaki, 1969; Stroyan, 1977; Blackman and Eastop, 1984; Ghosh and Quednau, 1990; Tao, 1990; Chan and Frazer, 1993; Blackman and Eastop, 1994; Remaudière and Remaudière, 1997; Foureaux and Kato, 1999; Noemberg et al., 1999; Gonzales et al., 2000; Halbert et al., 2000; Delfino 2001; Ortego et al., 2004; Qiao and Zhang, 2004; Mondor et al., 2006; Delfino and Buffa, 2008; Laamari et al., 2010).

Samples were found during a field trip conducted in February 2014 in the municipalities of Fusagasuga and Cachipay, Cundinamarca, and Bogotá DC, Colombia. The specimens were collected in ethanol [76%] and the specimens were slide-mounted, chiefly following the method of Blackman and Eastop (2000). We identified the species using the keys of Higuchi (1968), Blackman and Eastop (1984, 1994), and Qiao and Zhang (2004). Photomicrographs were taken using an Olympus.CX31 microscope (Olympus Corporation, Japan) with a magnification: 10x; camera: at infinity, and organized Image-Pro. Insight software (Media Cybernetics, Bethesda, MD).

Takecallis taiwana (Takahashi, 1926). Colombia:Cundinamarca, Fusagasuga, Avenida de Las Palmas, Barrio Potosí, 04°20'14"N, 74°21'52"W, 1,700 m a.s.l., 11.ii.2014, coll. R. Simbaqueba, ex leaves of Phyllostachys sp. (Poaceae), 5 slides and 5 specimens in alcohol [76%]; Takecallis arundinariae (Essig, 1917). Colombia: Cundinamarca, Fusagasuga, Avenida de Las Palmas, Barrio Potosi, 04°20'14"N, 74°21'52"W, 1,700 m a.s.l., 11.ii.2014, coll. R. Simbaqueba, ex leaves of Phyllostachys sp. (Poaceae) 5 slides and 5 specimens in alcohol [76%]: Colombia: Cundinamarca, Bogotá, Park Way, 04°38'N, 74°04'W, 2600 m a.s.l., 20.iii.2014, coll. R. Simbaqueba, ex leaves of Phyllostachys sp. (Poaceae), 5 slides and 5 specimens in alcohol [76%]; Colombia: Cundinamarca, Cachipay, San Jose, 04°43'N, 74°26'W, 1100 m a.s.l., 20.iv.2014, coll. R. Simbaqueba, ex leaves of Phyllostachyssp. (Poaceae), 5 slides and 5 specimens in alcohol [76%], UNAB catalogue numbers 884 and 885, respectively. All material deposited at the Museo Entomologico UNAB, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, Bogotá, Colombia.

Biology. Collected in small, scattered "colonies" (1-3 individuals per leaf) composed of nymphs and adults on Phyllostachys sp.

Takecallis taiwana (Takahashi, 1926)(Fig. 1)

Diagnosis. Alate vivipara, length 1.57-1.83 mm. Head smooth, without antennal tubercles, clypeus with an anteriorly directed tubercle with 2 setae (Fig. 1). Antenna 0.8X the body length. Usually, 5-6 secondary rhinaria, organized toward first third of III. Rostrum short, extending slightly beyond the forecoxae. First tarsal segments with 5-7 setae. Abdominal segments I-IV with a pair of dorsal tuberculate processes, markedly long on I and II, each possessing a seta. Siphunculi short, without setae. Cauda knobbed with 14-16 setae. Anal plate bilobed. Genital plate with 17-20 setae (Blackman and Eastop, 1994).

Figure 1
Takecallis taiwana (Takahashi, 1926), Alate vivipara, clypeus with an anteriorly directed tubercle with two setae.

Takecallis arundinariae (Essig, 1917)(Fig. 2)

Diagnosis. Alate vivipara, length 1.5-2.0 mm. Head smooth, without antennal tubercles, with a brown medial longitudinal line. Antenna 1.2X length of the body. Usually having 4-8 secondary rhinari. Rostrum short, just reaching the forecoxae. First tarsal segments with 9 setae. Abdomen with two brown, dorsomedial rows of tuberculate processes, each with 1 seta (Fig. 2), abdominal segment VIII with 2-4 setae. Siphunculi short, with 1 seta. Cauda knobbed with 12-15 setae. Anal plate bilobed. Genital plate with 18-24 setae (Blackman and Eastop, 1994).

Figure 2
Takecallis arundinariae (Essig, 1917), Alate vivipara, abdomen with two brown, dorsomedial rows of tuberculate processes, each with one seta.

Takecallis taiwana and T. arundinariae are recorded in the South American countries Argentina, Brazil, Chile and now in Colombia (Fig. 3), associated with hosts belonging to the subfamily Bambusoideae (Poaceae). In Colombia, associated with Bambusa vulgaris plants, the aphid Hysteroneura setariae (Thomas 1978) has also been recorded on this host (Gallego and Velez, 1992; Madrigal, 2003).

Figure 3
Distribution records of Takecallis taiwana and T. arundinariae in South America.

Genus Takecallis Matsumura, particularly T. taiwana (Takahashi), was recorded for the first time in South America by Foureaux and Kato (1999), found in Minas Gerais (Brazil), on Phyllostachyscf. aurea (Poaceae). The same year, Noemberg et al. (1999) reported T. arundinariae, in São Paulo (Brazil), collected on Dendroclamussp. and Merostachys sp. (Poaceae). Further south on the continent, in the metropolitan area of Chile, Gonzales et al. (2000) found T. taiwana on Bambusoideae (Poaceae). For Argentina (provinces of Cordoba, Mendoza and Buenos Aires city), Delfino (2001) recorded T. arundinariae for the first time, collected on Arundinaria sp. (Poaceae), and on another unidentified bamboo. Meanwhile, Saini et al. (2002) records T. taiwana for Mendoza (Argentina), on an unidentified bamboo. Ortego et al. (2004) recorded T. arundinariae for Chile (San Fernando province of Rancagua), on an unidentified bamboo. Delfino and Buffa (2008) identified two species of aphids for Argentina, on Phyllostachys aurea (Poaceae), a plant of ornamental importance.

We do not know with certainty when these aphid species were introduced to the southern part of the South American continent. We can infer that their arrival was through transport of their host plants (Bambusoideae). It can be said that weather conditions do not limit the presence of T. arundinariae and T. taiwana, given the wide variety of environments in the countries where they have been found. Apparently, these species have no difficulty in establishing colonies in new environments and it can be assumed that they exist throughout the continent (Fig. 3).

We thank the UNAB Museum for allowing use of its facilities and providing access to the voucher collection, and housing specimens; Valentina Vergara for help with the curatorial process in UNAB; and Mark A. Metz for editing, formatting, fact-checking, and reviewing the manuscript. Thanks to the anonymous reviewers for reviewing the manuscript.