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

Type species Peracchius durantae sp. n.

Diagnosis: Puparium medium in size, narrowly elongate spindle­shaped, acute posteriorly, acute­or­indented anteriorly; always with a pair of acute and stout subapical setae at each end; anterior and posterior marginal setae considerable distances away from puparial apices, but unusually long; margin irregularly crenulate; wax secretions absent; submargin not separated from dorsal disc by a fold or suture; margin modified at thoracic and caudal tracheal openings (from slightly indented to a Dialeurodes ­like pore); caudal furrow distinct; operculum obscuring lingula, filling vasiform orifice (but detail of lingula often visible through operculum); with normal pair of 8th abdominal setae close to vasiform orifice, and a second 8th abdominal pair posterior to vasiform orifice; typically with a pair of setae on each of abdominal segments I, II­VII, pro­, meso­and metathorax most or all of these capitate; cephalic region with submedian setal pair (the normal “cephalic setae”) of variable size/shape, and at least two other pairs that are usually capitate the positions of all the capitate setae are variable between species sometimes in outer submargin; transverse moulting sutures reaching, or almost reaching puparial margin; many segments usually with tubercles in submedian zone, either along median line or bordering submedian zone (as in P. durantae , Figs 1 A, 2A); ventral tracheal folds marked, sometimes only subtly; legs well separated from each other.

Etymology: The generic name is in tribute to Dr. Adriano Lucio Peracchi, from Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, for his contributions to our knowledge of Brazilian whiteflies.

Affinities: The new genus appears to be most closely allied to Dialeurodes ­ group as defined by Jensen (2001), with relatively abundant dorsal setae, tracheal notches, pores at margin, tendency to have an ornate lingula (when it can be discerned), and ventral tracheal folds. However, the combination of elongate spindle­shaped puparia, extremely stout caudal and anterior submarginal setae, capitate dorsal disc setae and the chaetotaxy do combine to indicate a distinct generic assemblage. The new genus superficially resembles Agrostaleyrodes Ko, 2001 , differing from it in the presence of abdominal tubercles instead of depressions, more extensive chaetotaxy, tracheal and caudal folds evident, the transverse moulting suture reaching the margin and in the absence of longitudinal ridges on dorsum. Agrostaleyrodes is a grass­feeding genus, and grass­feeding whiteflies rarely also colonise dicotyledonous hosts.

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).