Aleurocanthus sapindus, Gillespie, Peter S., 2012

Gillespie, Peter S., 2012, A review of the whitefly genus Aleurocanthus Quaintance & Baker (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) in Australia, Zootaxa 3252, pp. 1-42 : 33-34

Aleurocanthus sapindus sp. n. ( Figs 69–70 )

Puparium. Pale, slightly ovoid in shape with brownish markings limited to rhachis (Abdomen II – VI). Puparium 1283–1403 μm long, 985–1005 μm wide widest at abdomen III. Margin regularly crenulate with about 10–11 crenulations per 0.1mm. Very slight exaggeration of crenulation (to teeth) at caudal thoracic tracheal openings. Margin broad, unmarked, not easily differentiated from subdorsum.

Dorsum. ( Figs 69–70 ) Rhachis faintly defined medially in abdomen and coloured brown but can be difficult to see in cleared specimens. Rhachis lacking lateral arms. Abdominal segmentation observable medially only on rhachis. Longitudinal moulting sutures present and reaching margin. Transverse moulting sutures sinuate and reaching submargin. Abdomen VII same medial width as preceding segments. 16 pairs of long glandular spines on dorsum, longest about 250 μm, tapered with laciniate tips and basal pore within one seta width of base. Submargin with 10 pairs of glandular spines, 6 cephalothoracic and 4 abdominal. Three subdorsal pairs of long glandular spines in the cephalothorax and pair each of very short glandular spines in meso and meta-thorax. Long glandular spines present medially on abdominal VII, also II–VI medially with short broad glandular spines about as half as long as first abdominal seta. Two sub dorsal pairs of long glandular spines present in III and V respectively. Submargin with a ring of minute narrow papillae usually with four or five minute slender setae associated with this, with two cephalothoracic and three abdominal pairs.

Chaetotaxy. Anterior and posterior marginal setae present, cephalic setae present slender and acuminate, length about 12% of puparium width. First and eighth abdominal setae present and acuminate, first short and broad, eighth slender and long, about 12% of puparium width and situated mesad and laterad of vasiform orifice. Caudal setae present, acuminate, length about 1.5 times that of eighth abdominal setae. Caudal setae placed about six setae base widths from margin. Vasiform orifice rounded ovoid and situated about one vasiform orifice width from margin, elevated posteriorly, interior margin slightly tessellated. Operculum pale circular with straight posterior margin filling only about anterior 70% of vasiform orifice. Lingula included with lingula head rounded and spinulose and partially visible beneath operculum. Lingula with two short lingula setae.

Venter. ( Fig. 70 ) Caudal and thoracic tracheal folds barely visible and lacking stippling. Small seta at the base of mid and hind legs. Antenna short and situated mesad of first leg. Abdominal setae present, short (about half vasiform orifice width) and situated mesad of vasiform orifice.

Etymology. Reference to the family of the known hosts of this species, Sapindaceae .

Distribution. Qld.

Hosts. SAPINDACEAE : Cupaniopsis sp.; Guioa semiglauca .

Material examined. Holotype puparium slide: ex Guioa semiglauca , ‘3 stumps,’ Mt Glorious, Qld, 21.vii.2004, [BC] McNeil, [M] Coombs and [PS] Gillespie, ref 322 ( ASCT 00025264)( ASCT); Paratypes: same data as holotype, 2 x puparia on two slides ( ANIC, BMNH); nr 40 Mile Scrub, [Nth] Qld, P. DeBarro, Cupaniopsis , vial # 14, 2 x puparia on one slide ( ANIC).

Comments. This otherwise pale species is distinguished by having some medial brown markings on the abdomen. The species appears to be restricted to the rainforests of Queensland. The arrangement of the glandular spines and pale colouration are similar to A. rugosa , a species to which it is clearly related. It differs from A. rugosa in having most of the subdorsal glandular spines more marginal in location. A. rugosa has an additional pair of medial glandular spines in the mesocephalothorax lacking in A. sapindus . A. sapindus has a doubled set of glandular spines in the subdorsum of the cephalus which is lacking in A. rugosa . A. rugosa has ventral marginal patterning lacking in A. sapindus . With its dorsal spines having laciniate apices A. sapindus may perhaps be placed in the banksiae-valenciae group of species, despite the number of subdorsal / submedian spines.

Figures

FIGURES 69 – 72. A. sapindus sp. nov. puparia 69 – 70: 69, slide (500 µm); 70, illustration - inset margin detail (500 µm); A. schmidtii sp. nov. puparia 71 – 72: 71, slide; 72, illustration (inset margin detail).