Ceraleurodicus Hempel, 1922

Canty, Roy J., Martini, Biancamaria & Wanke, Dominic, 2023, Three new species of Neotropical Ceraleurodicus Hempel (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) found in the Natural History Museum (London) collection, with notes and a puparial key to species, Zootaxa 5277 (2), pp. 313-338 : 314-315

Ceraleurodicus Hempel, 1922

NOMENCLATURE:

Ceraleurodicus Hempel, 1922: 6 .

Type species: Ceraleurodicus splendidus Hempel , by monotypy.

Radialeurodicus Bondar, 1922: 74 .

Type species: Radialeurodicus cinereus Bondar , by subsequent designation. Synonymised by Costa Lima (1928: 137).

Parudamoselis Visnya, 1941: 4–5 .

Type species: Parudamoselis kesselyaki Visnya , by monotypy. Synonymised by Mound & Halsey (1978: 238).

CHRESONYMY:

Ceraleurodius Hempel, 1922 —incorrect spelling of Ceraleurodicus Hempel, 1922 in Penny & Arias (1980: 903–905).

Species of Ceraleurodicus are some of the largest whiteflies known; however, the genus is poorly defined ( Martin 2004). The following characters of the puparia, modified from Martin (2004), are used for diagnosis of the genus, pending further research. (1) 15 pairs of submarginal setae usually present, normally positioned distant from the puparial margin or, if the setal bases are nearer to the margin, then setae only slightly extending beyond margin. (2) Puparial margin almost smooth to planar, but with submarginal folds giving rise to the appearance of laterallycontiguous crenate teeth, occasionally with an apparent second row of submarginal crenate teeth. (3) Notable asymmetry usually displayed in the outline of the puparium, also affecting compound pore composition. Bondar (1928) noted that the puparia in C. varus could be more developed on either the right or left side, whilst Martin (2004) noted that puparia of C. keris can often be found laterally pressed against the leaf midrib or major leaf veins, contributing to an asymmetrical puparial shape ( Gill 1990). (4) Dorsum usually with nine pairs of “ridges” or “rays” running mesad from margin. (5) Rays on dorsum apically with fine submarginal serrations or ‘combs’, and ventrally underlain with finely spinulose, apparent tracheal folds.

All species within the genus, except C. duckei , have had their puparia described, and C. assymmetrus , C. duckei , C. splendidus , and C. varus have adults described.