Asiothrixus specialis, Dubey, Anil Kumar, Ko, Chiun-Cheng & Martin, Jon H., 2010

Dubey, Anil Kumar, Ko, Chiun-Cheng & Martin, Jon H., 2010, Description of Asiothrixus gen. nov. (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) and two new species with diagnoses and a puparial key to species, Zootaxa 2417, pp. 51-65 : 60

Asiothrixus specialis sp. nov.

( Figs 26–28 , 33–35 , Table 1)

PUPARIUM. Elliptical, broadest at transverse moulting suture region, gradually constricted toward posterior region. Margin dentate, each tooth with a wax secreting gland at base, deep incision between teeth, teeth not modified at tracheal pore openings.

Dorsum. Submargin not demarcated from dorsal disc. Cephalothorax with an oblique furrow. Submarginal area with a row of wide rimmed circular pores; submarginal pores located closer to the bases of marginal wax secreting glands. Longitudinal moulting suture reaching margin and transverse moulting suture reaching submedian area. Transverse moulting suture slightly turned anteriorly on submedian area. Abdominal segments I–VII rhachisform, each with a pair of pores and associated porettes on submedian area. Pores and associated porettes scattered on subdorsum. Glandular siphons absent on abdominal segments.

Vasiform orifice. Subcircular, posteriorly little narrow, inner posterior wall of the orifice with ridges; operculum covering 1/3rd of orifice. Lingula tip exposed, not extending beyond posterior wall of the orifice, with a pair of minute setae subapically. Pockets not contiguous.

Chaetotaxy. Anterior and posterior marginal setae present. First abdominal setae absent. Cephalic, eighth abdominal setae cephalolaterad of vasiform orifice and caudal setae present. Caudal setae placed on halfway between posterior end of vasiform orifice and puparial caudal end. Submargin with four pairs of pointed setae, two pairs each on cephalothorax and abdomen.

Ven t er. Adhesive pads at leg apices, adhesive sacs and spiracles visible. A pair of minute setae present at base of meso-, and metathoracic legs. Ventral setae positioned moderately below eighth abdominal setae. Stipples present at base of prothoracic legs, reaching submarginal area. Antennae reaching at base of prothoracic legs.

Distribution. Brunei (Borneo).

Host plant. Unidentified vine.

Material examined. Holotype, Brunei: Borneo, hilltop rain-forest, near Bukit Bedawan, 4°30’N, 114°48’E, 1 puparium of 6 puparia on one slide, on indet. vine., 30.iii.1989, J. H. Martin 5501, B. M. 1989-89 (NHM London).

Paratypes. 5 puparia on slide with holotype; 15 puparia on two slides, data as for holotype (NHM London).

Etymology. The species name is derived from a Latin word “ specialis’ meaning ‘special’, ‘alone’ for emphasizing puparial morphology within the new genus.

Remarks. The puparia of this species can be distinguished from other species of the genus by the usual, but not constant, absence of dorsal siphons on the abdominal segments, and by the presence of rhachisform abdominal segments, slightly long and posteriorly narrow vasiform orifice. The puparia of this species resemble A. silvestris in shape and in number of submarginal pore pairs, but differ by the absence of siphons on abdominal segment II and III, and rhachisform abdominal segments.

Figures

FIGURES 26 – 28 A. specialis sp. nov., holotype puparium, UK (NHM). 26, dorsal and ventral surface. 27, margin. 28, posterior abdominal area.

FIGURES 33 – 39 photomicrographs, A. specialis sp. nov. and A. unicus sp. nov., holotype puparium, UK (NHM) (A 1 – A 3 representing corresponding abdominal segments). 33, A. specialis, puparium. 34, abdominal segments I – III. 35, same, vasiform orifice. 36, A. unicus, puparium. 37, scallop-shaped markings on submedian area. 38, siphons from abdominal segment. 39, vasiform orifice.