Paraleyrodes cervus, John H. Martin, 2004

John H. Martin, 2004, Whiteflies of Belize (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae). Part 1 — introduction and account of the subfamily Aleurodicinae Quaintance & Baker, Zootaxa 681, pp. 1-86 : 65-66

Paraleyrodes cervus sp. nov.

( Figs 49–50, 106)

ADULT MALE. Body 1.18–1.23 mm long, including parameres (n=2). Aedeagus ( Figs 49–50, 106) with a straight dorsal thorn at mid­length (directed about 45° posteriad), a dorsoapical process similarly directed but less acute, and with the aedagal apex truncate and ventrally directed; the aedeagal apex bears a pair of parallel posteriorly­directed acute prongs, and a pair of anteroventrally­directed spine­like processes that are almost parallel to the shaft and thus difficult to see (Fig. 106); overall aedeagal length 0.15 /0.17 mm in the two available specimens. Last abdominal segment 0.14 / 0.16 mm long, itself also with a large, curved, posteriorly­directed thorn­like process between the vasiform orifice and articulation with the genitalia ( Figs 49–50), its surface finely spinulose, as is the surface of the whole segment; claspers 0.155 / 0.18 mm long. Abdomen with the normal three pairs of ventro­lateral wax­secreting glands present. Single antennal flagellar segment (fused segments III–VII) 0.45 / 0.59 mm long, densely sensoriate, typical for male Paraleyrodes . Ultimate rostral segment 0.12 / 0.13 mm long.

MATERIAL EXAMINED. Holotype adult male, BELIZE, CFR, Las Cuevas study plots, on a vine, probably Bignoniaceae , 16.ii.1996 (J.H.Martin #6678) ( BMNH). Paratype: 1 adult male, CFR, Las Cuevas, on Piper sp. ( Piperaceae ), 22.iii.2003 (Martin #7778) ( BMNH).

ETYMOLOGY. The specific name is the Latin word cervus (meaning a stag), reflecting the antler­like aedeagal apex.

COMMENTS. The characters of the aedeagus, which is very reminisent of a deer’s antler, are quite unlike those seen in any other Paraleyrodes species. With a pair of anteroventrally­directed spine­like processes that are swept back close to the shaft, the aedeagus of P. cervus is perhaps most similar to that of P. m i n e i Iaccarino, but its other characters are very different. The presence of a pronounced dorsal thorn­like process on the terminal abdominal segment is also unique to P. cervus , at least amongst known Paraleyrodes species. Collection sample #7778 also includes one adult female and three puparia: two of the puparia may belong to P. m i n e i, with slightly smaller compound pores than usual; the other resembles P. goyabae (Goeldi) , and association of the paratype of P. cervus with any of these individuals is very uncertain.