Aleuroclava kharazii Manzari & Shahbazvar

Hajizadeh, Jalil, 2010, A new species of Aleuroclava Singh (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) from Iran, Zootaxa 2428, pp. 64-68 : 65

Aleuroclava kharazii Manzari & Shahbazvar sp. nov.

( Figs 1–7 )

Description. In life, puparia occurring scattered, attached to the lower surface of leaves of the host plants; cuticle generally pale, yellowish-brown to pale-brown submedially, but thoracic segments remain pale, with obvious white wax secretions on coloured area, remaining submargin and subdorsum exposed (fig. 4); dorsal wax secretions somewhat long and curly.

Margin. Puparia almost entirely elliptical (figs 1, 4, 7), 0.7–0.9 mm long, 0.45–0.64 mm wide; broadest across first abdominal segment/metathorax. Margin very finely crenulate (figs 2, 7 inset), about 25–30 crenulations occupying 0.1 mm of margin, not modified at thoracic tracheal openings, but smooth and slightly curved inwardly at the region of caudal tracheal opening at margin. Anterior and posterior marginal setae present, very fine and hardly visible.

Dorsum. Cephalic, first and eighth abdominal setae present; caudal setae very fine, resembling posterior marginal setae. Submargin not separated from dorsal disc by a line or fold; submargin punctuated by scalloped lines, bearing a resemblance to a thick and nearly zigzag line concentric with margin (figs 3, 7 inset). Dorsal disc with relatively large tubercles above thoracic legs, around and between cephalic setae, and along the longitudinal moulting suture medially (fig. 7); median abdominal tubercles present (figs 5, 7), almost similar to those on cephalothorax; tubercles at the end of abdominal intersegmental sutures faintly visible, resulting a barely discernible abdominal rachis (fig. 7). Transverse moulting suture reaching subdorsum; longitudinal moulting suture almost reaching margin. Cephalothorax slightly shorter than abdomen. Abdominal segments subequal in length. Vasiform orifice nearly trapezoidal (fig. 6), with a posterior notch, inset from posterior margin of pupal case by about 1.5 times its own length, its floor densely occupied with microtubercles both laterally and posteriorly; operculum subcordate, occupying about whole of orifice; lingula obscured. Caudal furrow present, weakly ornamented and slightly tapering towards margin.

Ven t e r. Thoracic tracheal folds present, indicated by faint pairs of boundary lines; caudal tracheal fold absent. Adhesive sacs developed, mesad of pro/meso-thoracic legs. Each leg with an apical pad. Antennae short, limited and mesad to prothoracic legs. Submargin defined by a distinct suture (fig. 7).

Type material: Holotype, puparium, IRAN, Guilan province, Astara, -27 metres, N = 37° 24' 44", E = 48° 52' 34", on Nerium oleander , 1.xi.2008, (N. Shahbazvar, 232) ( HMIM). Paratypes, IRAN, 9 puparia, same data as holotype ( HMIM, USNM); 1 puparium, Guilan province, Talesh, Asalem, 131 metres, N = 37° 09' 83", E = 48° 32' 88", on Crataegus monogyna , 3.xi.2008, (N. Shahbazvar, 219); 1 puparium dry on leaves, same data as holotype ( HMIM); 1 puparium, Fars province, Shiraz, on Nerium indicum , 01.xi.1990, (M. Zarrabi #12) ( BMNH).

Etymology. Named in honour of Dr Aziz Kharazi-Pakdel, Emeritus Professor of Entomology at University of Tehran, and President of Entomological Society of Iran.

Host plants: Apocynaceae : Nerium oleander , N. indicum ; Rosaceae : Crataegus monogyna .

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 6. Aleuroclava kharazii sp. nov. 1. Puparium. 2. Margin. 3. Submargin showing scalloped lines, bearing a resemblance to a thick and nearly zigzag line concentric with margin. 4. Habitus photograph of puparia. 5. Median abdominal tubercles. 6. Vasiform orifice and caudal furrow.

FIGURE 7. Aleuroclava kharazii sp. nov., puparium, with inset detail of margin and submargin.