Aleurocanthus coombsi, Gillespie, Peter S., 2012

Gillespie, Peter S., 2012, A review of the whitefly genus Aleurocanthus Quaintance & Baker (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) in Australia, Zootaxa 3252, pp. 1-42 : 15-18

Aleurocanthus coombsi sp. n. ( Figs 25 –30)

Puparium. Broad brown/black oval shaped puparia requiring bleaching for observation, thin coating of white wax on dorsum. Peripuparial wax present as conspicuous yellow tangle forming elevated ring around puparium; in older specimens this peripuparial wax often becomes white in colour (see Fig. 25 ). Puparia 1,161 μm long, 877 μm wide, not apparently dimorphic. Margin broad, pale golden, with 9–11 finely serrate rounded teeth per 0.1 mm and not modified at thoracic and caudal tracheal openings.

Dorsum ( Figs 26–28 ). Margin pale, broad (~70 μm) with channels running laterad approximately corresponding to each marginal tooth. Paler glandular patch present in basal half of each channel. Outer submargin with concentric row of micro tubular siphons, each associated with a distally located, tiny simple pore. Each micro siphon/porette pair corresponds to marginal channel/tooth with exception of small gap corresponding to where thoracic tracheal openings would be. All abdominal segments approximately equal in width. Simple pores found singly submedially on meso and metathoracic segments and abdominal III and IV. Vasiform orifice ‘D’ shaped to subcircular, very slightly elevated posteriorly, situated about one and a half vasiform orifice widths distant from margin. Operculum subcircular filling vasiform orifice and obscuring lingula.

Chaetotaxy ( Figs 27–28 ). Minute posterior and anterior marginal setae present. Cephalothoracic setae long (~100 μm) paired with (a stouter) glandular spine. Abdominal seta I about 100 μm long, abdominal VIII setae long (100 μm) and situated laterad to vasiform orifice. Caudal setae long (~200 μm) and situated within marginal concentric line of siphons/porettes at some distance from margin (~90 μm). 18 pairs of long (>=200 μm), tapered glandular spines all placed subdorsally with nine pairs present in cephalothorax and nine pairs in abdomen. Glandular spines with laciniate tips, longer setae with slightly expanded tips whilst shorter setae with obliquely angled tips. The glandular spines lack basal pores. Subdorsal cephalothoracic glandular spines with one pair in each meso and metathoracic segment, cephalic with seven pairs, three of these clustered medially near anterior subdorsum and one paired with cephalic seta. Abdominal glandular spines with 2 pairs, each positioned submedially on V–VII, the inner pair on VII placed medially. Additionally one long pair of glandular spines (~300 μm) situated submedially in VIII near vasiform orifice. Pair each of long abdominal glandular spines submedially on II and IV. Up to six pairs of small setae in submargin immediately medial to siphon/porettes with four pairs cephalothoracically and 2 pairs abdominally. These small setae uniformly placed with 2 pairs in cephalic, usually one pair each in mesothoracic and metathoracic submargin, one pair each in abdominal submargin IV and VI.

Venter ( Fig. 28 ). Cephalothoracic tracheal folds faint or ill-defined, caudal tracheal folds absent. Few fine stipples found sparsely medially and anteriorly of vasiform orifice. Ventral abdominal setae present, short (~30 μm) and found beneath vasiform orifice. Antenna short (to base of fore leg), situated anterior to fore leg.

3rd Instar nymph (Fig. 29). 11 pairs of long glandular spines, 6 cephalothoracic pairs and 5 abdominal pairs. Margin narrow and toothed. Ventral submargin with blotched patterning.

Egg. Pale golden colour. Rounded triangular shape on long pedicel (at least 2.5 x length of egg), 200 μm long x 120 μm wide (Fig. 30).

Etymology. Named in honour of Dr Mark Coombs who collected and first recognised this species.

Distribution. Qld

Hosts. ELAEOCARPACEAE : Sloanea woollsii . MYRTACEAE : Waterhousea floribunda .

FIGURES 29–33. A. coombsi sp. nov. 29–30: 29, 3rd instar slide (100 µm); 30, egg (50 µm); A. froggatti puparia 31-33: 31, habitus; 32, slide (100 µm); 33, illustration (A) glandular seta and margin detail (from Martin 1999).

Material examined. Holotype puparium slide: ex Sloanea woollsii , ‘3 stumps’, D’Aguilar N.P., Qld, 21.vii.2004, [P.S.] Gillespie, [B.C.] McNeil & [M.] Coombs ( ASCT 00132101) ( DNA =WW00644)( ASCU). Paratypes: same data as holotype, 3 x puparia & 3 x 3rd instar on one slide ( ASCT 00132074)( ASCU), 2 x puparia on two slides, ( ASCT 00132198-9)( DNA = WW00915-16)( ASCU), 58 x puparia & 13 x nymphs on two dry leaves, ( ASCT 00132023)( ASCU); ex Waterhousea floribunda, Mt Glorious , NW Brisbane, Qld, 13.ix.2002, [P.J. DeBarro] #173, 4 x puparia on two slides ( ASCT 00131831 – 32)( ASCU), 106 x puparia & 30 nymphs on four dry leaves ( ASCT 00131941)( ASCU), 8 x puparia on one slide, (20-013418)( ANIC), 3 x puparia on two slides ( BMNH); Manorina, Mt Nebo , SE Qld, 24.ix.2003, [M.] Coombs & [B.C.] McNeil, ex Waterhousea floribunda, Ref 173, 6 x puparia on six slides (20-014709)( ANIC); ex Waterhousea floribunda, Manorina, D’Aguilar N.P. NW Brisbane, Qld, 27.3877o S 152.78439o E, 21.vii.2004, P.S. Gillespie, B.C. McNeil & M. Coombs, 32 x puparia on two dry leaves ( ASCT 00132188)( ASCU).

Comments. This species is very similar to, and shares at least one host plant with, A. ceracroceus . It is can only be confused with A. ceracroceus which also has conspicuous yellow wax but can be readily distinguished by having nearly twice as many dorsal glandular spines and a broader margin. This species has only been collected in dark colour form unlike its close relative A. ceracroceus . This species appears restricted to rainforest habitats.

Figures

FIGURES 25 – 28. A. coombsi sp. nov. puparia: 25, habitus (1000 µm); 26, slide (500 µm,; 27, illustration - vasiform orifice detail (100 µm); 28, illustration (cutaway venter).