Trialeurolonga trifida, 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 : 61-63

Trialeurolonga trifida sp. nov.

(Figs 75–81)

PUPARIUM. Habitus. Cuticle entirely pale. Individuals scattered under leaves, not gregarious, without evident waxy secretions except for a very fine transparent marginal fringe of waxy filaments; yellowish or cryptic whilst feeding and silvery, glassy, in appearance when adults or parasitoids have emerged. Margin. Outline 1.48–1.61 mm long, 1.10–1.22 mm wide, generally widest at abdominal segment II/ III (n=20). Margin very finely crenulate (Figs 79–81), about 17–20 rounded teeth per 0.1 mm of margin; margin modified at each thoracic (Figs 80–81) and caudal tracheal opening with a dorsally­placed elongate lobe with a broader lobe to either side, often with a smaller intermediate lobe indicated on each side, this structure overlying a distinct notch formed between two enlarged marginal crenulations. Dorsum. Longitudinal moulting suture reaches puparial margin; transverse moulting sutures almost reaching, and perpendicular to, margin (Fig. 75). Submargin with a single row of numerous small, glandular papillae (responsible for secreting marginal waxy fringe, described above). Each submarginal papilla comprises a pair of moderately acute upper (dorsal) prongs, underlain ventrally by a single more sharply acute point that is visible between the upper prongs (Figs 79–80). About 4–6 marginal crenulations present between each pair of papillae, 67 and 71 papillae on each side in holotype. Dorsal disc subtly corrugate/reticulate. Pro–meso­ and meso– metathoracic divisions, and abdominal segmentation distinct submedially; paired submedian abdominal depressions (segments I– VII) distinct, subcircular, with two similar pairs on metathorax and another pair on pro–mesothoracic boundary. A small group of (usually 4) tiny dark, rounded, tubercles antero­mesal to cephalic setae, with a few similar ones often distributed between cephalic setae and longitudinal moulting suture (Fig. 75); anteromesal to each cephalic seta is a “septate” ovoid structure slightly closer to longitudinal moulting suture. Abdominal segment VII not reduced in length medially, pockets hardly evident. Vasiform orifice (Fig. 78) inset from posterior puparial margin by 3–4 times its own length, almost subcircular, about as wide as long, its inner rim thickened except anteriorly, fluted on inner sides, and with a pair of ovoid cells and a transverse short fold posteriorly, length of orifice 50 m in holotype; operculum similar in shape to, but somewhat smaller than, vasiform orifice, covering and completely obscuring lingula. A narrow caudal furrow somewhat indicated between a pair of roughened ridges leading from either side of vasiform orifice to caudal setae. Chaetotaxy. Anterior and posterior marginal setae present, hair­like, 24 m and 40 m long respectively in holotype. Single pairs of cephalic, first and eighth abdominal setae present, straight and rather fine, similar to each other and up to 40 m long in holotype. Pair of caudal setae much longer than other submedian setae, 120 m long in holotype, their bases located just submarginally and marking distal extremities of caudal ridges. Pores. Dorsal disc with fairly evenlydistributed geminate pore/porettes, each segment with one submedian pair and another pair marking submedian/subdorsal boundary, with a few more pairs in subdorsum. Each submarginal papilla with a distinct pore at its base. Venter. Ventral abdominal setae similar to posterior marginals, their bases anterior to vasiform orifice. Middle and hind legs each with the usual pair of tiny basal setae, the hind legs each additionally with two even more minute, accessory, setae; where discernible, fore legs also appear to possess minute setae similar to the accessory setae of hind legs. Antennal bases anterior to, similar in length to, and overlain by fore legs, antennal apices unusually acute and slender (Fig. 77). Thoracic and caudal tracheal folds each only marked by a pair of boundary lines, the folds unpunctuated (Fig. 81) .

MATERIAL EXAMINED. Holotype puparium, BELIZE, CFR, Monkey Tail track, on Chiococca ? alba ( Rubiaceae ), 01.vi.2004 (J.H.Martin #7967) ( BMNH). Paratypes: 9 puparia, same data as holotype ( BMNH); 18 puparia (2 dry on leaf tissue), 8 third­instar larvae, 1 third­instar/puparium intermoult, CFR, Puente Natural, on Amyris sp. (Rutaceae) , 02.iv.2003 (Martin) ( BMNH, USNM); 1 incomplete puparial dorsum, CFR, Las Cuevas, on undetermined host, 02.vi.2002 (Martin) ( BMNH).

ETYMOLOGY. The specific name is the latin trifida (meaning three­forked), reflecting the nature of each of the submarginal papillae.

COMMENTS. The affinities of this new species, within its monobasic genus, are discussed under the generic comments, above.