Trialeurodes cryptus, 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 : 56-57

Trialeurodes cryptus sp. nov.

(Figs 60, 126)

PUPARIUM. Habitus Puparia scattered under the leaves of the host, extremely difficult to see, their clear, gelatinous dorsal secretions not visible except microscopically. Margin. Outline elongate, but precise shape variable between individuals, owing to leaf hairs modifying growth; 0.61–0.74 mm long, 0.25–0.32 mm wide, 2.17–2.48 times longer than wide (n=12). Margin smooth to irregular, but fine folds extending a short distance mesad lend an appearance of marginal teeth at some points; margin is modified at thoracic tracheal openings as small combs of 3 teeth, with a sclerotic cresent behind (mesal to) the teeth; caudal tracheal opening is modified as a comb of different form. Dorsum. Longitudinal moulting suture reaches puparial margin, thickened and crimped along its middle two­thirds (Fig. 60); transverse moulting sutures terminate in submargin. Segmentation rather faintly marked. Dorsal disc with maximally about 8 pairs of submarginal papillae, apically acute: these comprise 2–3 pairs on anterior part of the cephalic region, 1–2 pairs posterior to vasiform orifice and 2–3 pairs between these extremities. Additionally there are rounded dorsal disc tubercles, always with one medially on abdominal segment VIII anterior to vasiform orifice; presence of other tubercles is highly variable but most extremely there is one medially on every abdominal segment, with a submedian row to each side of the median line, and also a subdorsal row, the submedian and subdorsal rows extending onto the cephalothorax. Abdominal segment VII greatly reduced medially, but pockets do not overlap segment VI. Vasiform orifice ovoid, almost smooth internally but with a small circular pit near its posterior extremity; operculum rather cordate, without posterior setae, occupying about three­quarters of the orifice, covering all but the extreme apex of the lobulate­headed lingula which has an apical pair of tiny setae. Chaetotaxy. Anterior and posterior marginal setae present, very fine, especially the anterior pair. Single pairs of cephalic, first and eighth abdominal and caudal setae present, robust and acute, similar in length to operculum (Fig. 60). Pores. Dorsum with scattered simple pores and porettes, but few are in evidently geminate pairings. Venter. Cuticle very delicate, diaphanous. Ventral abdominal setae similar to posterior marginal setae, very fine. Legs rather poorly developed, but each with an evident apical pad, and each with 1 or 2 minute basal setae just discernible under highest magnification. Antennal bases anterolateral to fore legs, the antennae very short, hardly reaching bases of middle legs. Tracheal folds not marked.

MATERIAL EXAMINED. Holotype puparium, BELIZE, CFR, Grano de Oro track, on? Bombacaceae , 22.xi.1994 (J.H.Martin #6487) ( BMNH). Paratypes: 27 puparia, 1 third­instar larva, 2 third­instar/puparial intermoults, same data as holotype ( BMNH, USNM) .

ETYMOLOGY. The specific name alludes both to the difficulty in resolving many fine characters, because of the tenacity of the dorsal secretions, and to the extreme crypsis of the feeding stages on leaf surfaces.

COMMENTS. Few of the puparia of the type sample have benefitted from direct examination of the cuticular surface, such was the difficulty in removal of the tough dorsal carapace of secretion (see comments on Tegmaleurodes , p. 47–48). It is clear, however, that T. cryptus does not fall within one of the species­groups of Trialeurodes proposed by Russell (1948). Despite the similarities of the dorsal secretions, the much smaller number and different form of the submarginal papillae, combined with the pronounced tracheal combs, places this species distantly from the T. floridensis ­group. No other known species of Trialeurodes is likely to be confused with T. cryptus .