Aleurocanthus ceracroceus Martin

Gillespie, Peter S., 2012, A review of the whitefly genus Aleurocanthus Quaintance & Baker (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) in Australia, Zootaxa 3252, pp. 1-42 : 12-13

Aleurocanthus ceracroceus Martin ( Figs 19– 21 )

Aleurocanthus ceracroceus Martin 1999: 26 . Holotype Qld, 3km N Cape Tribulation on Neolitsea sp. 16.xii.1996, J.H. Martin (ANIC).

Distribution. Qld, NSW.

Hosts. CUNONIACEAE : Ceratopetalum apetalum . ELAEOCARPACEAE : Sloanea woollsii (ASCU, ANIC). EPACRIDACEAE : Trochocarpa laurina (ASCU, ANIC). LAURACEAE : Neolitsea sp. ( Martin 1999). ATHEROSPERMATACEAE : Doryphora sassafras ( Martin, 1999, ASCU, ANIC). MYRTACEAE : Austromyrtus sp. ( Martin 1999); Waterhousea floribunda (ASCU, ANIC). PROTEACEAE : Orites excelsa (ASCU, ANIC).

Comments. This species is widespread in tropical, subtropical and temperate rainforests and is now known to occur in both dark and light forms. It is likely that this species will be found in suitable rainforest habitats south to Victoria. The type series collected from far north Queensland is the only sample seen by the author showing sexual dimorphism. Populations sampled by the author from subtropical and temperate areas do not show dimorphism. As pointed out by Martin (1999), the yellow wax of this species is distinctive. This species may be superficially confused with A. coombsi sp. n., a species also with yellow wax, but can be separated by the characters in the key.

Figures

FIGURES 18 – 21. A. callistemonus sp. nov. 18, adult male terminalia (100 µm); A. ceracroceus puparia 19 – 21: 19, habitus (pale form) (1 mm); 20, slide (dark form) (500 µm); 21, illustration (A) vasiform orifice (B) glandular seta (C) margin detail (modified from Martin 1999).