Aleurodicus nicaraguensis, Martin, 2008

Martin, Jon H., 2008, A revision of Aleurodicus Douglas (Sternorrhyncha, Aleyrodidae), with two new genera proposed for palaeotropical natives and an identification guide to world genera of Aleurodicinae, Zootaxa 1835 (1), pp. 1-100 : 37

Aleurodicus nicaraguensis sp. nov.

(Fig. 47)

PUPARIUM. Habitus. Not noted. Margin. Outline broadly oval, 1.08–1.25 mm long, 0.81–0.93 mm wide, generally widest at abdominal segment II (n=8). Dorsum. Longitudinal moulting suture reaching puparial; transverse moulting sutures terminating in outer subdorsum. Abdominal segment VII much reduced medially, but pockets not reaching into segment VI. Vasiform orifice rounded-cordate, anterior margin poorly defined, situated on a shallow elevation; operculum trapezoidal, its posterior margin straight to faintly emarginate, bearing a pair of fine setae similar to eighth abdominal pair; lingula head tongue-shaped, densely covered by seta-like spinules, bearing the normal 4 stout setae, its apex almost reaching bases of caudal setae. Chaetotaxy. A pair of posterior marginal setae present, similar to 12 pairs of submarginal setae (including nominal caudal pair) whose bases are mesal to submarginal simple pores; single pairs of eighth abdominal and cephalic submedian setae present, both pairs about half length of submarginal setae but longer than submedian pairs of pro-, meso- and metathoracic setae. Pores. Cephalic compound pores slightly smaller than anterior 4 pairs of abdominal pairs, most of which are 60–75µ in outer diameter and with broad, dagger-like axial processes; small pairs of compound pores on abdominal segments VII and VIII are about 25µ in diameter. Submargin defined by a band of crowded wide-rimmed simple pores, mesal boundary of the band interdigitating with a single row of large double-rimmed septate pores 20–25 µ in outer diameter, their spacing a little uneven (Fig. 47), 23 on each side in holotype; remainder of dorsal disc very sparsely provided with extremely small septate pores. Venter. Ventral abdominal setae similar to eighth abdominal dorsal setae, underlying vasiform orifice. Legs typically robust and two-segmented, smooth, each with a pronounced apical claw. Antennae long, corrugate-sided, apically acute, apices extending to slightly beyond articulation of hind legs, bases anterolateral to fore legs. Tracheal folds absent.

MATERIAL EXAMINED. Holotype puparium, NICARAGUA, Rio San Juan / Rio Bartola confluence, on unidentified woody broadleaf host, 21.vi.2004 (J.H.Martin #8070) ( BMNH) . Paratypes: 6 puparia, 1 adult female, same data as holotype ( BMNH) ; 3 puparia, 1 adult male, same locality as holotype, on unidentified woody broadleaf host, 20.vi.2004 (Martin #8059) ( BMNH) .

ETYMOLOGY. This species is named for its country of collection, Nicaragua.

COMMENTS. The presence of very large double-rimmed septate pores in the submargin is most reminiscent of A. maritimus but possessing a broad submarginal band of wide-rimmed pores suggests possible closer affinities with other members of the capiangae / dugesii species-group, to which A. nicaraguensis belongs.