Tetralicia fouquieriasplendens ( Carapia-Ruiz & Sánchez-Flores, 2019 )

Ellenrieder, Natalia Von & Gill, Raymond J., 2024, The genus Tetralicia Harrison (Hemiptera: Sternorrhyncha: Aleyrodidae) in California, U. S. A., with the description of five new species and a redescription of Tetralicia granulata Sampson & Drews, 1941, Zootaxa 5527 (1), pp. 1-129 : 25-27

Tetralicia fouquieriasplendens ( Carapia-Ruiz & Sánchez-Flores, 2019)

Figs 9, 10 , 89–96

Aleuropleurocelus fouquieriasplendens Carapia-Ruiz & Sánchez-Flores, 2019: 1 .

Tetralicia fouqueirasplendens : Valencia & Evans 2024: 217.

Material examined. 55 puparia: U.S.A., California; 47 slide mounted: Imperial County: 5, Ocotillo, on Fouquieria splendens, J. Ball coll., 12.i.1993, CDFA PDR 738520 [ CSCA]; 2, Ocotillo, on Burseria microphylla , 4.i.1978, Flock & Flock coll., CDFA PDR 78A12-5 [ CSCA]; 4, East Desert, on mesquite, K.A. Hoelmer coll. [ CSCA]; Riverside County: 5, Palm Desert, Living Desert Museum, on Jatropha cuneata , 18.xi.1997, K.A. Hoelmer coll. [ CSCA]; 6, La Quinta, on ocotillo, 17.xi.1954, E.H. Asker coll. [ USNM]; 4, Deep Canyon, on ocotillo, 9.x.1963, M.E. Irwin coll. [ USNM]. Arizona, La Paz County: 4, Quartzsite, on Fouquieria splendens , 14.ix.1972, Davis & Paddock coll. [ CSCA]. Intercepted from Mexico (at San Diego): 4, on Bursera , 18.ii.1975, B. Dozier coll. [ USNM]; 8, same data but 29.ii.1976, K. Bryan coll. [ USNM]; 5, on Euphorbiaceae , 3.ii.1955, B.K. Dozier & G. Piro coll. [ USNM]. 8 dry mounted: 2, Riverside County, Palm Desert, Living Desert Museum, on Jatropha cuneata , 11.xi.1997, K.A. Hoelmer coll. [ CSCA]; 4, same data but 18.xi.1997 [ CSCA]; 2 same data but on Fouquieira digetii [ CSCA].

Hosts. Burseraceae : elephant tree ( Bursera microphylla ); Euphorbiaceae : physicnut ( Jatropha cuneata ); Fagaceae : mesquite (Prosopis sp.); Fouquieriaceae : Ocotillo, Adam’s tree ( Fouquieria diguetii , F. splendens ).

Characterization.

Field characteristics. Pupal case elliptical, black, with an indentation on midline of anterior apparent margin of head and three rounded projections, one each adjacent to each lateral end of TMS and at caudal end of apparent margin ( Fig. 9 ), and with a narrow ring of lateral wax along true margin ( Fig. 10 ).

Slide-mounted characters. Puparium apparent margin with a concavity at anterior end and three rounded projections, one each adjacent to lateral ends of TMS and at caudal end ( Fig. 89 ); TMS extending over submargin but not reaching apparent margin, not lined with tubercles ( Figs 89–91 ); longitudinal molting suture not lined with tubercles ( Figs 89–91 ); eyespots present, oval; Ce setae absent; T2 and T3 setae present, long and flattened, arising from bulbous bases, T3 setae arising well behind anterior margin of metanotum ( Figs 89–91 ); medial area smooth, lacking tubercles or granulations; abdominal depressions indistinct to insinuated; with pairs of pores and porettes on each side of submedial area of head (0–1), T2 (1), T3 (1), A1 (0–1), A2 (0–1), A3 (0–1), A4 (0–1), A5 (0–1), A6 (0–1), A7 (0), and A8 (0); dorsal disc with cobblestone pattern of depressions of variable extension and pairs of pores and porettes along sides ( Figs 89–91 ); dorsal submargin lacking imbrications or granulations, with cobblestone pattern of depressions of variable extension ( Figs 89–91 ); deflexed submargin with a row of paired pores and porettes, smooth with depressions of variable extension sometimes arranged in transverse rows, and a band of small granulations basal to glandular marginal teeth ( Fig. 94 ); marginal glandular teeth subquadrangular with tips dentate ( Fig. 93 ); VO oval, inset from posterior margin by about its own length; operculum cordate, its dorsal surface with a few longitudinal ridges and with microspinulae across distal third to fourth; lingula concealed by operculum; VO ring subcordate, narrow, open anteriorly ( Fig. 95 ), with dorsal setae of A8 arising from bulbous bases anterior to level of anterior margin of operculum ( Fig. 95 ); bases of caudal setae close together, within level of VO ring ( Fig. 96 ); with two membranous ventral sacs medially to bases of mesothoracic legs ( Fig. 92 ); tegument of venter extensively spinulose ( Figs 92, 93 ).

Measurements. Puparium length: 885 ± 62; maximum width (at level of TMS lateral ends): 648 ± 54; length/ maximum width: 1.4 ± 0.05; width at level of anterior margin of operculum: 367 ± 50; maximum width/width at anterior margin of operculum: 1.8 ± 0.1; deflexed submargin/body radius: 0.4 ± 0.05; Ce setae: absent; T2 setae: 38 ± 19; T3 setae: 76 ± 11; dorsal A8 setae: 18 ± 4; caudal setae: 60 ± 11; anterior marginal setae: 12; posterior marginal setae: 22; ventral A8 setae: 20 ± 5; VO ring length: 78 ± 7; VO ring width:68 ± 6; VO ring length/width: 1.1 ± 0.1; caudal seta/VO ring length: 0.7 ± 0.1; caudal seta/operculum length: 1.2 ± 0.2; VO length: 48 ± 4; VO width: 47 ± 8; VO length/width: 1 ± 0.2; operculum length: 45 ± 3; operculum/VO length: 0.9 ± 0.02 (see Table 1 for ranges).

Similar species. In California, it shares a smooth longitudinal molting suture lacking tubercles with T. hoelmeri , T. hyptisemoryi , T. mexicana and T. salsolae , and the presence of lateral projections along apparent margin, VO ring open anteriorly, and T2, T3, and dorsal A8 setae originating from bulbous bases with T. hoelmeri and T. hyptisemoryi .

Diagnosis. The indentation on midline of puparium head and the position of the three rounded lateral projections along apparent margin, one each adjacent to lateral ends of TMS and at caudal end ( Fig. 89 ), are unique among California species.

Remarks. The original description of T. fouquieriasplendens stated that eyespots are absent. However, eyespots are present in all specimens of this species examined here, although they might not be very evident in bleached specimens ( Figs 89 , 90 ), in which they are usually partially obscured by the deflexed margin (as is the case in fig. 1 of Carapia Ruiz & Sánchez-Flores 2019).

Distribution. Desert areas in Southern California (Imperial and Riverside Counties) and Arizona (La Paz County), and Mexico (based on interceptions).

Figures

FIGURE 89. Tetralicia fouquieriasplendens, Riverside Co., Palm Desert, Living Desert Museum, on Jatropha cuneata: Habitus.

FIGURES 9–12. Puparia of Tetralicia in situ: 9, 10: T. fouquieriasplendens, Riverside Co., Palm Desert, Living Desert Museum, on Fouquieira digetii, 9: dorsal view, 10: dorsolateral view. 11, 12: T. guajavae, Orange Co., Santa Ana, on Psidium guajava, 11: dorsal view, 12: ventral view. Figs 9–12 by N. von Ellenrieder & R.W. Garrison.

FIGURES 90–96. Tetralicia fouquieriasplendens: 90: Riverside Co., Palm Desert, Living Desert Museum, on Jatropha cuneata; 91: Imperial Co., East Desert, on mesquite; 92, 94–96: Imperial Co., Ocotillo, on Fouquieria splendens; 93: Arizona, La Paz Co., Quartzsite, on F. splendens. 90: Dorsal submargin and disc of thorax; 91: T2–A3 dorsal disc; 92: T2–T3 venter; 93: A5–A8 venter; 94: Detail submargin; 95: Detail caudal end, dorsal view; 96: Detail caudal end, ventral view.