Aleurocanthus octospinosus, 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 : 29-31

Aleurocanthus octospinosus sp. n. (Figs 60–64)

Puparium. In life dark brown/black requiring mild bleaching for microscopic observation, with distinctive fine pale red brown margin (Fig. 60). Dorsum not particularly waxy. Peripuparial wax sometimes present only at thoracic and caudal tracheal openings as short white tufts, dorsal wax thin and clear. Puparium widest at abdominal segment II and in outline somewhat angular, 1187–1312 μm long, 937–1,062 μm wide. Margin regularly toothed with about 5–7 teeth per 0.1mm. Marginal teeth slightly gathered and exaggerated at thoracic and caudal tracheal openings.

FIGURES 60–64. A. octospinosus sp. nov.: 60, puparium habitus; 61, puparium scanning electron micrograph (BC McNeil); 62, puparium illustration (inset margin detail); 63, 3rd instar (100 µm); 64, egg (100 µm).

Dorsum. (Figs 60–62) Darkly patterned medially with paler linear pattern towards the outer subdorsum. Margin pale with a margin concentric line of simple pores. Marginal teeth darker. Rhachis is pronounced with lateral arms reaching to subdorsum. Scattered simple pores present on dorsum. Transverse moulting sutures sinuate medially and reaching subdorsum. Longitudinal moulting suture present and reaching margin. Vasiform orifice oval/ subcircular, little or not elevated and paler in colour often appearing pinkish in live specimens. Operculum rounded cordate almost completely filling vasiform orifice. Lingula enclosed and hidden by operculum. Vasiform orifice situated more than 2 times vasiform orifice width from margin.

Chaetotaxy. (Figs 61–62) Cephalic first, eighth abdominal and caudal setae present and short (50 μm) to long (<150 μm). Eighth abdominal setae long (~150 μm) and situated laterad to vasiform orifice. Fine anterior and posterior marginal setae present. Four pairs of very long (>200 μm), tapered glandular spines situated in submargin, with two cephalic pairs, a pair level with abdominal segment II and a pair slightly laterad of the caudal setae. Long glandular spines with laciniate and slightly expanded yips. In life these distinctive four pairs of erect setae appear red/brown in colour like that of the margin. Glandular spines lacking basal gland. There are a few scattered minute setae around margin.

Venter. (Fig. 62) Caudal and thoracic tracheal folds present and just visible, lacking stippling. Some fine stippling present medially in abdomen. Ventral abdominal setae present and situated anterior to vasiform orifice. Small setae present at the base of the mid and hind legs.

3rd Instar nymph. (Fig 63) Pale with few darker markings medially on abdomen, 745 μm long, 517 μm wide angular, 3 pairs long (<100 μm) subdorsal setae, 6 pairs smaller subdorsal setae.

Egg. (Fig 64) Pale, golden, 203 μm long, 142 μm wide elongate angular egg. Peduncle fixed from angle of egg and about egg width long.

Etymology. The name is derived from the distinctive four pairs of long glandular spines found on the margin of this species.

Distribution. NE NSW, SE Qld.

Hosts. PROTEACEAE : Macadamia integrifolia , M. ternifolia .

Material examined. Holotype puparium slide: Australia, NSW, Fernleigh near Ballina, damaging Macadamia integrifolia , 3.x.2001, P.Tully, ( ASCT 00132209)( ASCU). Paratypes: same data as holotype, 10 x puparia on six slides ( ASCT 00025318, ASCT 00027537-40, ASCT 00132208)( ASCU), 1 x 3rd instar nymph slide ( ASCT 00132220) ( ASCU), approx 300 x puparia and nymphs on 7 leaves ( ASCT 00027536)( ASCU); Manorina, Mt Nebo, Qld , 16.vii.2004, Coombs & McNeil, ex Macadamia ternifolia Ref 317, 1 x puparium slide ( ASCT 00169502)( ASCU), 7 x puparia on 7 slides (20-013560)( ANIC). Non type material: Qld, Bunya Mtns, 22.ii.1997, P.J. DeBarro, 4 x puparia on one slide (AN20.10730)( ANIC).

Comments. This species is a minor pest in macadamia plantations in northern NSW where it was first brought to the author’s attention. The characteristic colouration and the number and arrangement of long glandular spines of the puparium uniquely identify the species which is closely related to A. mcneili but differs in having a darker colouration and one fewer pair of long marginal glandular spines. The material collected from Bunya Mountains was excluded from the type series because it is damaged and not properly cleared. The specimens collected on M. ternifolia were found in the company of Pseudosynaleurodicus nigrimarginatus – a whitefly restricted to this rare and endangered host (see Gillespie, 2006). This species was previously known as “ Aleurocanthus undescribed sp. 4” ( Martin 1999) and belongs to the ‘ banksiae-valenciae’ group.