Bakerius marmoratus (Hempel) Martin, 2008

Martin, Jon H., 2008, A revision of Aleurodicus Douglas (Sternorrhyncha, Aleyrodidae), with two new genera proposed for palaeotropical natives and an identification guide to world genera of Aleurodicinae, Zootaxa 1835 (1), pp. 1-100 : 53

Bakerius marmoratus (Hempel) comb. nov.

Aleurodicus marmoratus Hempel, 1922b: 1124 (Portuguese) , 1161 (English). Syntypes (adults), Brazil [MZUSP, examined].

DISTRIBUTION. Neotropical Region – Brazil.

MATERIAL EXAMINED. Adult syntypes – see details and discussion below.

COMMENTS. In connection with an earlier study ( Martin, 2004) the author was sent a syntypic slide of A. marmoratus on loan, through the kindness of MZUSP. This slide comprised only adult specimens, but no puparia could be located (Sonia Casari, MZUSP, personal communication). With our currently limited understanding of the taxonomy of adult whiteflies, puparia would be necessary for any definitive assessment of this species. However, some conclusions can be drawn from the original description, as discussed below.

Hempel’s description of the “larva” of marmoratus details three pairs of large circular compound glands [compound pores], one pair cephalically and two pairs abdominally, which strongly suggests a puparium of Bakerius ( Fig. 115 ) or Leonardius [third-instar nymphs of Aleurodicus species possess just two pairs of compound pores]. The “pupa” [puparium] is described as having the median area distinctly darker than the periphery, another typical character for Bakerius puparia. The description continues to detail six (not six pairs of) white wax tubes [filaments] produced by the compound pores. Hempel also stated that compound pores were not present in “very young” nymphs, whereas they are present in 2 nd and 3 rd nymphal instars of Aleurodicus species. However, nymphal compound pores are not present in Bakerius species.

It is therefore concluded that marmoratus is best placed in Bakerius (comb. nov.), in the absence of any descriptive suggestion of the additional presence of agglomerate pores, that would then indicate inclusion in Leonardius instead.

Figures

FIGURES 114–116. 114, Octaleurodicus nitidus Hempel, puparium, Ecuador. 115, Bakerius?phrygilanthi Bondar, puparium, Panamá. 116, Leonardius kellyae Martin, paratype puparium, abdominal segments IV–VI, with agglomerate porous areas on each segment, and that on segment IV surrounding the compound pore.