Aleurodicus trinidadensis Quaintance & Baker, 1913

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 : 44-45

Aleurodicus trinidadensis Quaintance & Baker

(Fig. 56)

Aleurodicus trinidadensis Quaintance & Baker, 1913: 69 . Lectotype puparium here designated, Trinidad [USNM].

DISTRIBUTION. Neotropical Region – Ecuador, Guyana, Trinidad.

MATERIAL EXAMINED. Type material detailed and discussed below ( USNM); 1 puparium, Ecuador, Orellana Province, Yasuní N.P., Napo Wildlife Center, on unidentified host, 18.ii.2005 (Martin) ( BMNH); 4

puparia, Guyana, Kaieteur Falls , on Clusia sp. and unidentified hosts, vi.2006 (Martin) ( BMNH) . 1 puparium, Trinidad, Erin , on Musa sp. , 22.i.1919 (Williams) ( BMNH) ; 1 puparium, Trinidad, Matelot , on Cocos nucifera , 16.x.1996 (International Institute of Entomology #23532) ( BMNH) .

COMMENTS. Three slides of original material were loaned to the author by USNM: one comprises a few damaged adults, and a single puparium in poor condition; another contains a single uncleared third-instar nymph; the third (evidently made at a later date than the other two) contains a single post-emergence pupal case in good condition. The data on these slides are “ Aleurodicus trinidadensis Q & B, TYPE, on coconut, F.W.Urich, March 27, 1912, Q 8066”, with “type no. 14777, USNM” on one red label on each of the two older slides. Also lent to the author was an envelope with residual dry material from the original sample, containing one further puparium which has now also been slide-mounted. The slide preparation made from the dry specimen is the most complete specimen of all, and is here designated the lectotype: the slide bears the full data on newly-printed labels, along with a small, printed, red label from the dry-collection envelope, bearing the data “Type no. 14777, U.S. N.M.”.

A. trinidadensis is a member of the capiangae / dugesii species-group, bearing closest resemblance to A. vinculus (seq.). As discussed in the comments on A. capiangae (p. 21), the number of double-rimmed septate pores in the submarginal row varies significantly within the species-group, and the species limits may require revision in the light of more detailed studies.