Aleuroclava sterculiae Wang & Du

Wang, Ji-Rui & Du, Yu-Zhou, 2016, Contribution to our knowledge of the whitefly genus Aleuroclava Singh (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) in China, including Taiwan and Hong Kong, with descriptions of two new species, Zootaxa 4138 (2), pp. 332-348 : 334-335

Aleuroclava sterculiae Wang & Du , sp. nov.

( Figs. 1–3 )

Puparium. Body white, elliptical, 0.692-0.725mm long, 0.532–0.541mm wide, broadest at the first abdominal segment region. Specimems were found 4–5 per leaf, centrally on the under surface of leaves.

Margin. Smooth, very slightly narrow posterior margin. Crenulate, 32–36 crenulations in 0.1 mm. Paired anterior and posterior marginal setae 7.2 µm and 8.1 µm long, respectively. Thoracic and caudal tracheal pore area emarginated.

Dorsal surface. Submargin demarcated from dorsal disc not clearly. Submargin with a row of small tuberculate papillae, 38–41 pairs, about 15µm long, uniformly distributed and distinctly isolated from each other. Four pairs of thoracic tubercles present, three pairs on pro- and mesothorax; one pair on metathorax on the submedian area. Two pairs of tubercles laterad of first abdominal segment distinct. Minute tubercles present on abdominal segments I–VI. Longitudinal molting suture reaching anterior margin and the transverse molting suture reaching the submargin. Cephalic setae 14 µm, first abdominal setae 16 µm, eighth abdominal setae and caudal setae absent.

Vasiform Orifice. Subcordate to subcircular, slightly longer than wide, 42.5 µm long, 41 µm wide, open at the base; operculum inverted trapezoid, covering about more than half of the orifice, 17.5 µm long, 25 µm wide; lingula exposed a little. Caudal furrow distinct, about 42 µm long, 10 µm wide, without irregular ridges.

Venter. A pair of ventral abdominal setae 10 µm long, 26 µm apart. Antennae extending near the base of prolegs. Adhesive pads present at apex of legs. Thoracic tracheal folds indicated with many granulate, caudal tracheal folds discernible.

Host Plants. Sterculia nobilis ( Malvales : Sterculiaceae ).

Distribution. China (Gaungxi).

Material examined. HOLOTYPE: China, Guangxi, Nanning, Qingxiu hill park, 1 puparium on slide, on Sterculia nobilis , 21.viii.2011, J. R. Wang ( YZU).

Paratypes: six paratypes, same data as the holotype, 6 puparia on 6 slides ( YZU, BMNH, USNM, TARI, MNHN). Numerous dry puparia on Sterculia nobilis with above collection data available at Yangzhou University.

Etymology. The new species name refers to the family name of the host plant.

Remarks. The new species resembles of A. grewiae Sundararaj & David but differs from it by the presence of two pairs of tubercles laterad of first abdominal segment distinct, thoracic tracheal folds indicated with many granulate and the lingula exposed a little, the absence of the median tubercles on abdominal segments; the absence of eighth abdominal setae and caudal setae absent.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Aleuroclava sterculiae sp. nov., slide mounted specimen: (A) puparium; (B) margin and thoracic tracheal fold; and. (C) vasiform orifice and caudal furrow.

FIGURE 2. Aleuroclava sterculiae sp. nov.: (A) puparium, dorsal and ventral views; (B) margin; and (C) vasiform orifice and caudal furrow.

FIGURE 3. SEM of Aleuroclava sterculiae sp. nov.: (A) puparium; (B) thoracic tubercles; and (C) vasiform orifice and caudal furrow.