Tetralicia salsolae von Ellenrieder & Gill, 2024

Ellenrieder, Natalia Von & Gill, Raymond J., 2024, The genus Tetralicia Harrison (Hemiptera: Sternorrhyncha: Aleyrodidae) in California, U. S. A., with the description of five new species and a redescription of Tetralicia granulata Sampson & Drews, 1941, Zootaxa 5527 (1), pp. 1-129 : 51-52

Tetralicia salsolae von Ellenrieder & Gill , sp. nov.

Figs 27, 28 , 187–200, 268–271

Aleuropleurocelus sp. : Rose & Zolnerovich 2006: 276.

Etymology. This species is named after the specific epithet of its host, Ambrosia salsola .

Type material. 14 slide mounted puparia: U.S.A., California: Imperial County: Holotype (circled with red on slide), Ocotillo , on Ambrosia salsola , 4.xii.1994, K.A. Hoelmer coll. #27 [ CSCA] ; 4 paratype s, same data as holotype [ CSCA] ; 2 paratypes, same data but 21.ix.1994 [ CSCA] ; 2 paratypes, same data but 22.ix.1994, G. Culver coll. [ CSCA] ; 3 paratypes, Calipatria, on Ambrosia salsola , 22.xi.1994, B. Rohn coll. [ CSCA]; Los Angeles County : 1 paratype (incomplete puparium), Llano , on Ambrosia salsola , 9.v.1954, A.C. Browne coll., CDA Herbarium 0007997 [ CSCA]; San Bernardino County : 1 paratype (incomplete puparium), open desert slope, 12 mi E of Baker, on Ambrosia salsola , 8.v.1962, T.C. Fuller coll., CDA Herbarium 0007996 [ CSCA] .

1 slide mounted third instar nymph paratype: U.S.A., California: Imperial County: Ocotillo , on Ambrosia salsola , 22.ix.1994, G. Culver coll. [ CSCA] .

Additional material examined. 5 dry mounted puparia: 3 (parasitized), U.S.A., California, Imperial County, Ocotillo , on Ambrosia salsola , 4.xii.1994, K.A. Hoelmer coll. #27 [ CSCA]; 1 (parasitized), same data but 21.ix.1994, G. Culver coll. [ CSCA]; 1, same data but 22.ix.1994 [CSCA] .

Hosts. Asteraceae : Cheesebush ( Ambrosia salsola ).

Description.

Field Characteristics. Puparium rounded oval, black with pale brown venter, with one lateral band of dorsal wax on each side, which is wide along abdomen, does not cover VO, has a separated and wide thoracic section and a narrow head section ( Fig. 27 ), and a tuft of white wax at level of thoracic cleft on true margin ( Fig. 28 ).

Slide-mounted characters. TMS ending at apparent margin, not lined with tubercles medially ( Figs 186–188 ); longitudinal molting suture not lined with tubercles ( Figs 186–188 ); eyespots absent; Ce setae absent; T2 and T3 setae present, T3 setae arising well behind anterior margin of metanotum ( Figs 186–188 ); medial area with rounded tubercles on head, along margins of T1/T2 and T2/T3 sutures and across anterior margins of each A1–A7, anterolateral depressions on abdomen moderate ( Figs 186 , 187 , 189 ), with pores and microsetae on each side of submedial area of head (2–4), T2 (2), T3 (2), A1 (2), A2 (2), A3 (2), A4 (2), A5 (2), A6 (2), A7 (2), and A8 (2); lateral areas of dorsal disc with rounded tubercles, with pores along sides of dorsal disc ( Fig. 188 ); dorsal submargin with transverse double rows of rounded tubercles ( Figs 186–191 ); deflexed submargin smooth, with a few granulations at level of tracheal and caudal openings ( Figs 192–194 , 196–199 ); marginal glandular teeth subtriangular, serrate to smooth, but rounded and slightly wider at level of tracheal and caudal openings ( Figs 192–194 , 196, 199 ); VO oval to subcordate, inset from posterior margin by about its own length or slightly more, with four petal-shaped apical projections ( Figs 195–197, 199, 200 ), operculum cordate, its dorsal surface with a few longitudinal ridges and with microspinulae across distal third to fourth; lingula concealed by operculum; VO ring subcircular, with dorsal setae of A8 arising anterior to operculum anterior margin ( Figs 195, 200 ); with two membranous ventral sacs medially to bases of mesothoracic legs ( Fig. 193 ); bases of caudal setae close together, at level of operculum lateral margins ( Figs 196, 198, 199 ); venter smooth lacking spinulae medially to leg bases, but with some granulations along tracheal and caudal openings ( Figs 193, 194 , 196, 198, 199 ).

Third instar nymph. Rounded oval lacking tubercles on dorsum; with moderate mediolateral abdominal depressions ( Fig. 268 ); VO oval, inset from posterior margin by less than its own length, with four low petal-shaped apical projections ( Fig. 270 ), with dorsal setae of A8 arising on its anterior margin anterior to operculum anterior margin ( Figs 270 ); venter with granulations along tracheal and caudal openings ( Figs 268, 270, 271 ); with a group of spines externally to base of pro and mesothoracic legs, absent along outer base of metathoracic leg.

Measurements (values of holotype in square brackets). Puparium length: 883 ± 92 [764]; maximum width (between TMS and A1): 565 ± 59 [543]; length/maximum width: 1.5 ± 0.1 [1.4]; width at level of anterior margin of operculum: 330 ± 78 [281]; maximum width/width at anterior margin of operculum: 1.8 ± 0.2 [1.9]; deflexed submargin/body radius: 0.5 ± 0.1 [0.4]; Ce setae: absent [absent]; T2 setae: 17 [missing]; T3 setae: 15 ± 6 [15]; dorsal A8 setae: missing [missing]; caudal setae: 55 ± 12 [39]; anterior marginal setae: missing [missing]; posterior marginal setae: 19 ± 7 [missing]; ventral A8 setae: not visible [not visible]; VO ring length: 62 ± 8 [50]; VO ring width: 65 ± 9 [56]; VO ring length/width: 1 ± 0.1 [0.9]; caudal seta/VO ring length: 0.9 ± 0.2 [0.8]; caudal seta/ operculum length: 1.5 ± [0.2]; VO length: 39 ± 4 [32]; VO width: 38 ± 2 [36]; VO length/width: 1 ± 0.1 [0.9]; operculum length: 36 ± 4 [27]; operculum/VO length: 0.9 ± 0.05 [0.8] (see Table 1 for ranges).

Third instar nymph: length: 621; anterior setae: 7; posterior setae: 15; T2 setae: 90; T3 setae: 97; dorsal A8 setae: 5; ventral A8 setae: tip broken off; caudal setae: 34.

Similar species. In California it shares the presence of copious dorsal wax with T. eriogonum and T. ornata . The petal-shaped lateroapical projections of VO are similar to the four roundish structures described for T. sawyeri from Peru on the apex of the lingula ( Valencia & Evans 2024: 223, fig. 7).

Diagnosis. Dorsal wax pattern of mature puparium is unique, with one dorsal wax band on each side along apparent margin which is divided into cephalic, thoracic, and abdominal sections ( Figs 27, 28 ); dorsal wax bands in T. eriogonum (one on each side; Fig. 8 ) and T. ornata (two on each side; Figs 25, 26 ) are not divided into sections. Microscopically it can be distinguished from all described species by its marginal glandular teeth slightly differentiated (slightly wider) accompanied by granulations on venter of deflexed submargin at level of tracheal and caudal openings ( Figs 192–194 , 196, 198, 199 ), and further from all California species with transverse suture reaching apparent margin by the absence of tubercles along longitudinal suture, presence of tubercles on entire median area of head ( Figs 186–188 ), absence of spinulae medially to legs ( Figs 192, 193 ), and VO with four petal-shaped lateroapical projections ( Figs 195–198, 199, 200 ). Third instar nymph is diagnosed from other known third nymphal instars under T. guajavae .

Remarks. The third instar nymph of Tetralicia salsolae shares an oval VO with four petal-shaped lateroapical projections, presence of moderate abdominal depressions and of granulations along tracheal and caudal openings with the puparium. Unlike the puparium, it is devoid of dorsal ornamentation and has a group of spines along leg bases (absent in the puparium) but situated on the outer side of the legs (in pupae of Tetralicia species which do have spinulae or spines along leg bases, these are situated medially to the leg bases).

Biology. Rose & Zolnerowich (2006) described a parasitoid ( Hymenoptera : Chalcidoidea: Aphelinidae : Eretmocerus hoelmeri Rose & Zolnerowich, 2006 ) reared from specimens of this species collected from nonagricultural plants in and around the desert region of the Imperial Valley in southern California. They noted that population densities of this whitefly were generally low relative to the overwhelming densities of the Bemisia tabaci group in nearby crops.

Distribution. Southern California (Imperial, Los Angeles, and San Bernardino Counties).

Figures

FIGURE 187. Tetralicia salsolae sp. nov., Holotype: Habitus.

FIGURE 188. Tetralicia salsolae sp. nov., Paratype, Imperial Co., Calipatria, on Ambrosia salsola: Habitus.

FIGURES 25–28. Puparia of Tetralicia in situ: 25, 26: T. ornata, San Bernardino Co., Mentone, on Eriodictyon californicum, 25: dorsal view, 26: dorsolateral view; 27, 28: T. salsolae sp. nov., Imperial Co., Ocotillo, on Ambrosia salsola, 27: dorsal view, 28: dorsolateral view. Figs 25, 26 by N. von Ellenrieder & R.W. Garrison, 28 by R.J. Gill.

FIGURES 183–186. Tetralicia ornata, caudal end of puparium, dorsal view. 183, 185: Neotype; 184: San Bernardino Co., Mentone, Eriodictyon; 186: San Bernardino Co., 4 mi E of Mentone.

FIGURES 189–194. Tetralicia salsolae sp. nov.: 189–193: Holotype: 194: Paratype, same data as holotype but 22.ix.1994. 189: Cephalothorax, dorsal disc; 190: Detail of dorsal disc and submargin; 191: Dorsal disc and submargin of abdomen; 192: Detail of deflexed submargin; 193: Venter T2 and T3; 194: Detail of tracheal cleft.

FIGURES 195–200. Tetralicia salsolae sp. nov.: 195, 196: Holotype; 197–200: Paratypes, same data as holotype but 22.ix.1994. 195, 197: Caudal end of abdomen, dorsal view; 196, 198: Caudal end of abdomen, ventral view; 199: Caudal end of abdomen; 200: Detail VO, dorsal view. Note: operculum (OP) and lingula (Li) are directed anteriorly in Fig. 182.

FIGURES 268–271. Tetralicia salsolae, third instar nymph, Paratype, Imperial Co., Ocotillo, on Ambrosia salsola: 268: Habitus; 269: Detail thoracic setae; 270: Detail tracheal opening and legs; 271: Caudal end.

FIGURES 5–8. Puparia of Tetralicia in situ: 5: T. ceanothi, San Bernardino Co., Mountain Home Village, Mill Creek. 6: T. ceanothi, San Joaquin Co., Lake Camanche, on Arctostaphylos; 7: T. coachellensis, Riverside Co., Coachella, on arrowwood; 8: T. eriogonum, San Joaquin Co., 7 mi SW of Tracy, on Eriogonum; Figs 5, 6, 8 by R.J. Gill, 7 by N. von Ellenrieder & R.W. Garrison.