Tuberaleyrodes spiniferosa (Corbett), 2007

Dubey, Anil Kumar & Martin, Jon H., 2018, A review of the genus Tuberaleyrodes Takahashi (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) with description of five new species from Brunei, Hong Kong and Malaysia, Zootaxa 4402 (2), pp. 251-282 : 268-270

Tuberaleyrodes spiniferosa (Corbett)

( Figs 61–74 )

Dialeurodes spiniferosa Corbett, 1933: 128 .

Acanthaleyrodes spiniferosa (Corbett) Mound & Halsey, 1978: 7 Tuberaleyrodes spiniferosa (Corbett) Martin & Mound, 2007: 48 .

Corbett’s (1933) description of this species needs some additions, and hence, it is re-described here based on examination of a paratype from NHM.

Puparium. Oval ( Figs 61 , 66 ); on under surface of leaf; singly, yellowish brown; without secretion of wax; 1128 µm long, 744 µm wide.

Margin. Smoothly crenulate, 11 crenulations in 0.1 mm. Margin modified into a tracheal pore opening area, tracheal pores within margin; forming deeply invaginated thoracic and caudal tracheal pores, with chitinised teeth inside, and inner margin marked by a rim ( Figs 64, 65 , 68, 73 ).

Dorsum. Submargin with a row of 10 pairs of long tuberculate setae, 5 pairs on cephalothorax and 5 pairs on abdomen, apex of some of the setae reaching beyond puparial margin. Occasionally one submarginal setae absent on a single side of puparium. A row of short capitate setae present on submargin, more clearly visible on posterior abdominal area, but exact number could not be stated. Submargin not differentiated from the dorsal disc. Submarginal line present. Subdorsum and submedian area entirely tuberculate, tubercles absent on submarginal area. Median length of cephalothorax slightly smaller than abdomen. Median tubercles present on abdominal segments I–VI ( Fig. 70 ). Abdominal segments VI (44 µm), VII (35 µm) and VIII (28 µm) gradually reduced in middle length. Longitudinal moulting suture reaching margin and transverse moulting suture reaching submedian area. Thoracic tracheal furrow absent, caudal furrow present, narrow, posteriorly forming a conical shaped caudal opening in the margin. Caudal furrow near posterior end of the orifice a little broader, with faint minute tubercles. The distance between posterior end of vasiform orifice and the puparial caudal opening 3.5 times of the length of vasiform orifice, 184 µm long. Geminate pores present, most of the pores encircled in bi-lobed rim, scattered throughout dorsum and a row on submedian area of abdominal segments. Pockets continuous.

Vasiform orifice. Subcircular ( Figs 65 , 68, 72 ), as long as wide, 50×50 µm long, inner lateral and posterior margin with linear lines; operculum subcordate, posteriorly truncate, completely covering the orifice, 32 µm long, 33 µm wide. In Corbett (1933), operculum filling about two thirds of the orifice, leaving tip of lingula generally exposed.

Venter. Ventral setae not visible. Antennae located inside the prothoracic legs, reaching near base of prothoracic legs, 81 µm (including keel 3 µm) long. Spiracles and adhesive sacs visible.

Chaetotaxy. Cephalic and first abdominal setae pointed, placed on elevated tubercles but eighth abdominal setae capitate, not placed on elevated tubercles, caudal setae placed on tubercle but apically with blunt end. Cephalic setae 154 µm (basal elevation 69 µm + apical setae 85 µm) long, first abdominal setae 154 µm (basal elevation 92 µm + apical setae 62 µm) long, eighth abdominal setae laterad of vasiform orifice, below the base of operculum. A row of submarginal minute, capitate setae present.

Material examined. Paratype. Tuberaleyrodes spiniferosa (Corbett) (= Dialeurodes spiniferosa Corbett ), Malaysia: Kuala Lumpur, one puparium on slide, on Diospyros sp., 16.ii.1928, G. H. Corbett, B.M.1932.511 (NHM).

Host plant. Diospyros sp. (Ebenacae) ( Corbett, 1935).

Distribution. Malaysia ( Corbett, 1935).

Remarks. In a paratype puparium examined from NHM, the first cephalic submarginal seta was absent on right side but present on left side of the puparium. Corbett (1935) stated “a ring of minute spines around case in submarginal area, about 10 pairs anterior to and 20 pairs posterior to thoracic folds; similar minute spines scattered throughout case”. Also, the submarginal setae only visible, but their exact number could not be stated due to poor condition of puparia, scattered minute setae on dorsum not visible.

Figures

FIGURES 61–65. Tuberaleyrodes spiniferosa (Corbett), camera lucida drawings, paratype puparium (NHM), 61, dorsal view; 62, tuberculate seta, 63, median tubercles; 64, thoracic tracheal pore; 65, vasiform orifice,caudal furrow and setae.

FIGURES 66–74. Tuberaleyrodes spiniferosa (Corbett), microphotographs, paratype puparium (NHM), 66, dorsal and ventral views; 67, cephalothorax; 68, vasiform orifice, caudal furrow and setae; 69, abdomen; 70, median tubercles; 71, tuberculate setae; 72, vasiform orifice, enlarged view; 73, thoracic tracheal pore; 74, abdominal segment VII.