Aleurocanthus valenciae Martin & Carver

Gillespie, Peter S., 2012, A review of the whitefly genus Aleurocanthus Quaintance & Baker (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) in Australia, Zootaxa 3252, pp. 1-42 : 39

Aleurocanthus valenciae Martin & Carver (Figs 81–83)

Aleurocanthus valenciae Martin & Carver in Martin, 1999: 30–31 Holotype puparium slide Qld, Mundubbera on Citrus sinensis c.v. “Valencia”, 21.iii.1996 (D. Papacek) (ANIC). Related material: Aleurocanthus sp. 2. Martin 1999.

Distribution. NSW, Qld.

Hosts. BORAGINACIAE: Trichodesma zeylanicum (ASCU). EPACRIDACEAE : Trochocarpa laurina (ANIC, ASCU). MORACEAE : Streblus pendulinus (= S. brouniana ) (ANIC). MYRTACEAE : Syzygium sp. (ANIC, ASCU); Waterhousea floribunda (ANIC, ASCU). RUTACEAE : Citrus sinensis var “Valencia” ( Martin, 1999); C. sinensis ( Martin, 1999) ; Citrus spp. ( Martin, 1999); Geijera parviflora ( Martin, 1999) . STERCULIACEAE : Sterculia quadrifida (ASCU). SURIANACEAE : Cadellia pentastylis (ANIC).

Comments. This species is well adapted to specific hosts in drier climates whilst also being encountered readily in rainforest habitats. With the exception of a series from 40 Mile Scrub in North Qld, the setation is remarkably consistent for all available specimens, whose distribution range widely through many parts and habitats of Qld and NSW. Variation in other features, as pointed out by Martin (1999), may indicate that other species may be involved or that this variation may be related to host preference or other factors. With the benefit of detailed analysis of many more specimens than those available to Martin and Carver in 1999, examination of the variations in the marginal width and form, vasiform orifice shape and positioning, operculum shape and positioning could provide no consistent difference upon which to draw any firm conclusions about the level of variation involved with this group. This species belongs to the ‘ banksiae-valenciae’ group, as postulated here.