Peracchius durantae, Lima, A. F. & Racca-Filho, F., 2005

Lima, A. F. & Racca-Filho, F., 2005, Peracchius durantae, a new genus and species of whitefly (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) from Brazil, Zootaxa 1045, pp. 39-43 : 40-43

Peracchius durantae sp.n.

PUPARIUM. Habitus ( Figs. 1 A): Color light green to yellow in life. Elongate elliptical in shape, with concave re­entrance in anterior margin and longitudinal moulting suture. Wax secretions absent. Puparium 2.26 mm long, 0.66 mm wide.

Margin: irregularly crenulate ( Fig. 1 B); thoracic and caudal tracheal pore areas differentiated from rest of margin (Figs. 2B and C); anterior and posterior marginal setae needle­like. Dorsum. Submarginal area punctuated by sinuous lines ( Fig. 1 B), not separated from dorsal disc. Longitudinal and transverse moulting sutures reaching margin. Cephalothoracic suture indistinct, promidthoracic and mesohindthoracic sutures short. Cephalothorax with prominent subdorsal, paired tubercles. Cephalic region with four pairs of setae: one stout anterior submarginal needle­like pair (longer than the others), and three pairs that are curved and capitate (Fig. 2D). Three paired setae, curved and capitate, on thoracic region, two on the prothorax and one on the metathorax; mesothoracic paired setae absent. Abdominal segments distinct on median and submedian areas; each segment, except the eighth, with a pair of prominent tubercles on each side of median area; each of the eight abdominal segments, excepting the second, with a pair of setae between the submedian tubercles (Fig. 2A). Vasiform orifice subcordate, with rounded teeth posteriorly, and a pair of short, acute, setae near anterior margin (Fig. 2E). Operculum subcordate, filling about two­thirds of orifice and obscuring the lingula. Caudal ridges present, with no ornamentation, weakly defining a caudal furrow. Disc porettes scattered over dorsum.

FIGURE 2. Peracchius durantae sp. n. A—submedian tubercles and capitate setae; B—tracheal thoracic fold (ventral) and pore; C—caudal fold (ventral); D—curved and capitate dorsal disc seta; E—vasiform orifice, showing ventral abdominal spiracles posterior to dorsal 8th abdominal setae (All scale 1.0 mm except D scale 0.1 mm).

Ven te r. Antennae situaded mesal to fore legs. Legs smooth, adhesive pads evident, basal microsetae not discernible ( Fig. 1 C). Legs not contiguous. Thoracic and caudal tracheal fold discernible, ornamented with rounded tubercles (Figs. 2B, 2C). Marginal thoracic tracheal pores typical C­shaped (Fig. 2B).

Adult: Unknown.

Holotype pupal case: Brazil, Rio de Janeiro: Seropédica, 11.v.2005, A.F. Lima col., on Duranta repens var. Aurea (Verbenaceae) , on slide, CECL 12.485.

Paratypes: Brazil. All collected from Duranta repens (Verbenaceae) . Tocantins: São Salvador, 2 pupal cases, 12.viii.2004, R. Gredilha col., CECL 12.491; Espírito Santo: Linhares, 6 pupal cases, viii. 2004, P.C. Grossi col., CECL 12.492 and Rio de Janeiro: Seropédica, 4 pupal cases, 31.vii.2003, A.F. Lima col., CECL 12.486, 3 pupal cases, 16.x.2003, A.F. Lima col., CECL 12.487; Niterói, 1 pupal case, 26.iv.2004, F.B. Pitombo col., CECL 12.488; Miguel Pereira, 2 pupal cases, 19.viii.2003, F. Racca Filho col., CECL 12489, 2 pupal cases, 31.viii.2003, F. Racca Filho col., CECL 12.490.

Host plants: Verbenaceae : Duranta repens Linnaeus var. aurea .

Distribution: Brazil, Belize (see discussion).

Etymology. The specific epithet refers to the host plant, Duranta repens , on which the species has been found in Brazil.

Discussion. Peracchius durantae is unlike any other previously described whitefly, as defined in the generic and species descriptions, above. The distribution of this species will be modified by additional collecting in view of the wide distribution of the host plant in the Brazilian territory, and specimens of P. durantae have also been collected from an unknown host in Belize. Moreover, unidentified material from other countries in Central America and the Caribbean appears to belong to this new genus (J. Martin, personal communication; material in Natural History Museum, London, UK).

Figures

FIGURE 1. Peracchius durantae sp. n. A—puparium; B—margin and dorsal submargin; C—Antenna and legs (A Scale: 0.5 mm; B and C scale: 1.0 mm).