Aleurovitreus insignis (Bondar) Martin, 2005

Martin, Jon H., 2005, Whiteflies of Belize (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) Part 2 - a review of the subfamily Aleyrodinae Westwood, Zootaxa 1098 (1), pp. 1-116 : 29-30

Aleurovitreus insignis (Bondar) comb. nov.

( Figs 22 , 107)

Aleyrodes insignis Bondar, 1923: 127–128 . Syntypes, Brazil.

DISTRIBUTION. Neotropical Region: Belize, Brazil, Costa Rica, Venezuela.

REDESCRIPTION—PUPARIUM. Habitus. Usually widely scattered on the undersides of leaves, with no evident waxy secretion and thus very cryptic when still feeding, but colourless­glassy when empty. Margin. Outline oval, 0.54–0.75 mm long, 0.36–0.52 mm wide, generally widest opposite transverse moulting sutures (n=20). Apparent margin smooth, but morphological margin deflexed ventrally, with 15–18 rounded crenulations per 0.1mm, precise appearance dependent on presentation to the field of view, not modified at thoracic tracheal openings. Dorsum. Dorsal disc generally smooth, with a patch of brown pigmentation centred on confluence of longitudinal and transverse moulting sutures, and other patches variably present between cephalic setae, at extremities of transverse moulting sutures and anterior to vasiform orifice (Fig. 107). Longitudinal moulting suture reaches round ventrally to the deflexed morphological margin, appearing crimped along its middle one­third, but hardly keeled; transverse moulting sutures terminate in outer subdorsum. Meso­metathoracic division pronounced and marked into subdorsum, other cephalothoracic segmentation indistinct, abdominal segmentation distinct only medially, segment VII not significantly reduced medially; submedian abdominal and cephalothoracic depressions distinct, subcircular to ovoid. Individuals of some samples with variably developed submedian tubercles on abdominal segments I–IV or V, probably environmentally induced. Vasiform orifice cordate, smooth, about as wide as long, situated on an elevation and inset about its own length from posterior puparial margin; operculum completely occupying vasiform orifice, obscuring lingula head. Chaetotaxy. Single submedian pairs of cephalic, meso­ and metathoracic, eighth abdominal and caudal setae present, usually all long and stout, with the cephalic pair normally longest and sometimes overlapping puparial margin, eighth abdominal setae placed anterior and slightly lateral to vasiform orifice. Two pairs of fine, straight thoracic submarginal setae present, physically just on the dorsal surface in most examined specimens, usually much shorter than submedian setae but puparia of one Brazilian sample in BMNH with only the caudal setae longer than the thoracic submarginal pairs. Anterior and posterior marginal setae present, fine and hair­like, arising from crenulations of morphological margin. Pores. Geminate pore/porettes sparse, one on each side of submedian part of each abdominal segment except VI, one on each side of subdorsum of abdominal segments III–VIII, and typically up to 3 on each side of each cephalothoracic segment. In addition to the geminate pore/porettes, a small subdorsal group of thickrimmed bright pores is present in prothorax, often within an apparent circular shallowly raised area, typically 3 or 4 pores in each group; an outer submarginal group of 2–3 pores of the same type present on each side of abdominal segment IV, and 1–2 on each side of segment V. Venter. Smooth, diaphanous. Ventral abdominal setae very fine, bases close to median line, underlying anterior edge of vasiform orifice. Legs smooth, bisegmental, the adhesion padded apices directed mesad, middle and hind legs sometimes each with a minute basal seta just visible. Antennae similar in length to distal segments of fore legs, their bases anteromesal to fore legs. Thoracic and caudal tracheal folds absent. Submedian thoracic adhesive sacs absent.

MATERIAL EXAMINED. 4 syntype puparia, BRAZIL, Bahia , on Persea gratissima (Bondar) (MZUSP) ; BELIZE, numerous puparia, Las Cuevas Research Station, on Persea americana, 1994 –2002 (Martin) ( BMNH, USNM); 18 puparia, BRAZIL, São Paulo, Campinas, on Persea americana , v.1983 (Lourencao) ( BMNH); 1 puparium, COSTA RICA, Heredia Province, 15km N of Puerto Viejo, on? Persea sp. , 04.ii.1983 (Martin) ( BMNH); 1 puparium, VENEZUELA, Aragua, La Candelaria, on Persea americana , 01.iii.1982 (Arnal/Debrot) ( BMNH).

COMMENTS. This species is probably common on avocado trees throughout Central and South America , given the disjunt distribution of the countries from which it has been collected. The widely scattered individual puparia, combined with pale cuticle, very small size and lack of waxy secretions, lead to its being overlooked unless actively sought. Material collected in Belize, Costa Rica and Venezuela has been compared with syntypes kindly made available for study by MZUSP, confirming the determination. It is felt that a redescription of this species is needed because inadequacies in the original description, combined with the poor original illustration, have been responsible for it remaining wrongly placed in Aleyrodes until now .

Figures

FIGURE 22. Aleurovitreus gen. nov. insignis (Bondar), puparium from Persea americana ex­ Belize, used in preparation of redescription (see Fig. 107 for photograph).