Kaieteurodicus panamensis, Martin, Jon H., 2008

Martin, Jon H., 2008, Kaieteurodicus, description and discussion of a new genus of neotropical aleurodicine whitefly (Hemiptera, Sternorrhyncha, Aleurodicinae), Zootaxa 1730, pp. 43-55 : 53-55

Kaieteurodicus panamensis sp. nov.

( Figs 7 , 20–23 )

Puparium ( Figs 7 , 20–23 ). Habitus. Field notes are very sketchy and refer only to the puparia secreting “mealy wax” and “much wax”, and developing lined along major leaf veins. A note on the slides of one sample states “wax dorsal shield & peripheral fringe”. Wax secretions are certainly robust, and two slides contain untreated puparial wax carapaces mounted in Canada balsam (including the holotype, fig. 21). Margin. Outline asymmetric ( Fig. 20 ), rather broader abdominally, 1.61–1.98 mm long, 0.98–1.25 mm wide, generally widest at abdominal segment V/VI (n=26). Margin generally smooth; many pale lines lead mesad from margin, lending an appearance of contiguous teeth ( Fig. 7 ), the pale lines terminating at a row of curved glandular structures with the appearance of a rank of submarginal teeth. Margin without tracheal modifications. Dorsum. Longitudinal moulting suture reaching puparial margin; transverse moulting sutures terminating in subdorsum. Pro-/meso- and meso-/metathoracic segmentation, and abdominal segmentation, distinct submedially; abdominal segmental divisions graduating into short chains of shallow subcircular depressions in subdorsum. Abdominal segment VII similar in length to segment VIII medially, anterior to vasiform orifice. Vasiform orifice ( Fig. 7 A) rounded-cordate, about as wide as long; operculum rounded-trapezoidal, densely marked by fine black punctae, its posterior margin bearing a pair of stout setae; lingula head tongueshaped, densely covered by seta-like spinules, bearing the normal 4 stout setae, its apex reaching rim of vasiform orifice. Chaetotaxy. Anterior and posterior marginal setae present, long and fine; outer submargin, just mesal to rank of secretory tooth-like glands, with row of 12 pairs of rather short and fine setae, many of which reach a short distance beyond puparial margin; eighth abdominal setae present, similar to submarginals and situated on lateral edge of vasiform orifice ( Fig. 7 A); 4 pairs of fine subdorsal cephalothoracic setae present, similar to submarginals. Pores. Cephalic pair and 5 pairs of abdominal compound pores present, circular-tooval, maximum length of oval pores 70 µm, usually with pores on most convex side of puparia more oval in shape (more circular in shape on opposite side); compound pores all similar in size, structure and appearance very characteristic, each with a dagger-like axial process that extends slightly beyond pore mouth ( Figs 22, 23 ). Dorsum with numerous, evenly distributed, extremely tiny simple pores that are apparently all of the loculate type ( Fig. 7 , expanded detail); interspersed with submarginal setal bases is a single row of slightly larger simple pores; groupings (usually only 2 or 3 but up to 10) of extremely tiny “bright” simple pores within small “plates” are irregularly present in vicinity of vasiform orifice, pockets and submedian areas of abdomen ( Fig. 7 A); a few relatively large bright pores grouped on either side of vasiform orifice, also shown in fig. 7A. Ve n - ter. Ventral abdominal setae long and fine, similar to anterior and posterior marginals, situated posterior to vasiform orifice. Legs and antennae as shown ( Fig. 7 ). Tracheal folds absent.

Third-instar nymph. Outline similar to puparia, 1.05–1.30 mm long, 0.58–0.78 mm wide, margin slightly roughened but not dentate (n=5). Chaetotaxy as in puparia. Vasiform orifice, operculum and lingula similar to those in puparia. Without compound pores but with three pairs of small dark cicatrices present (evidence that second-instar has compound pores), two pairs in anterior half of body and the other pair posterolateral to vasiform orifice; cicatrices small, dark, little larger than bright pores. Simple pores similar to those in puparia but slightly more sparse, small numbers of bright pores lateral to vasiform orifice and pockets. Ventrally similar to third-instar of K. cereus (see fig. 5), legs elongate-triangular and 3-segmented, each with an apical claw; antennae short and hooked, each about as long as apical segment of hind leg; each middle and hind leg bearing a fine basal seta; ventral abdominal setae long and fine, similar to anterior and posterior marginals; only caudal tracheal fold is marked, by very tiny spinules.

Adults. Unknown.

Material examined. Holotype puparium, with part of its wax carapace mounted on same slide, PAN- AMÁ, Darién Province, Enseñada del Guayabo, 16–19 km S.E. of Jaqué, 7º 20´N, 78º 05´W, on Clusiaceae , possibly Rheedia acuminata , 14.i.1983 (J.H.Martin #3635) ( BMNH). Paratypes: 1 third-instar nymph, same data as holotype; 24 puparia, 5 third-instar nymphs, PANAMÁ, Canal Zone, Barro Colorado Island, on Maquira costaricense ( Moraceae, Martin #4020),? Sorocea or Maquira sp. ( Moraceae, Martin #4045) and Protium tenuifolium ( Burseraceae, Martin #4115), all March 1983 ( BMNH, USNM).

Etymology. This species is named for its country of collection, Panamá.

Comments. There is a striking resemblance between this species and Ceraleurodicus splendidus Hempel , both sharing the same arrangement and general appearance of the compound pores, and puparial size. However, puparia of C. splendidus have a symmetrical outline, 15 pairs of tiny submarginal setae that are located much further mesad, 9 pairs of radial rays leading mesad from margin into subdorsum, ventral tracheal folds underlying at least some of the rays, legs that are devoid of apical claws, and the lingula wholly included within the vasiform orifice – all characters differing from K. panamensis .

Figures

FIGURE 7. K. panamensis. 7, puparium with expanded detail of loculate simple pores; 7 A, expanded detail of vasiform orifice and adjacent pore-bearing plates.

FIGURES 20 – 23. K. panamensis puparium, photomicrographs. 20, holotype puparium; 21, dorsal wax carapace from holotype puparium; 22, abdominal compound pore showing short axial process; 23, abdominal compound pore, showing short axial process (left) and splines issuing from pore-base spinneret cells (right).