Aleurodicus jamaicensis Cockerell, 1902

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 : 33

Aleurodicus jamaicensis Cockerell

(Fig. 61)

Aleurodicus jamaicensis Cockerell, 1902: 280 . Holotype puparium, Jamaica [USNM, examined].

DISTRIBUTION. Neotropical Region – Jamaica.

MATERIAL EXAMINED. Holotype puparium, Jamaica, Kingston, “postal May 26 1903 from T.D.A.Cockerell ”, Q.3276, Type no. 14771 ( USNM, 8999); numerous puparia, Jamaica, on Cocos nucifera (BMNH) .

COMMENTS. A. jamaicensis was described from a single specimen and the type specimen is therefore properly a holotype, not a syntype as listed in Mound & Halsey (1978). The holotype has a very large thoracic parasitoid emergence hole, and was not cleared of debris or otherwise treated prior to mounting. When redescribing it, Quaintance & Baker (1913) readily admitted that their own redescription was wanting, because of the condition of the specimen. Through the kindness of USNM, the author was permitted to remount this specimen. Remounting has allowed the dorsum and venter to be separated, the parasitoid’s pupal remains to be removed and mounted adjacent to the puparium, maceration of remaining body contents, dewaxing and staining. The result is a great improvement, and it can be seen that parasitoid emergence occurred when the adult whitefly, a male (its claspers are still present), was forming within its puparium. The type preparation retains its original labels, with the addition of a circular “ holotype ” label.

Submarginal chaetotaxy appears to comprise the 12 setal pairs typical for Aleurodicus , these setae rather short and lining the mesal boundary of the wide-rimmed pore band (Fig. 61): however, cephalothoracic submedian setae have been destroyed by the emergence of the parasitoid. A. jamaicensis belongs to the pulvinatus- group of species, with a submarginal band of wide-rimmed pores, and its dorsal disc with scattered septate pores. However, there are small numbers of bright pores anterior to the small compound pores on abdominal segment VII but none adjacent to the compound pores on abdominal segment III. Most distinctive of all, within the pulvinatus group, is the absence of small compound pores on abdominal segment VIII.