Aleurocanthus banksiae (Maskell)

Gillespie, Peter S., 2012, A review of the whitefly genus Aleurocanthus Quaintance & Baker (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) in Australia, Zootaxa 3252, pp. 1-42 : 7-9

Aleurocanthus banksiae (Maskell)

(Figs 4–6)

Aleurodes banksiae Maskell, 1896: 423 –424. Lectotype, Australia, Vic, Melbourne, on Banksia integrifolia or Callistemon linearis, French (ANIC), designated by Dumbleton, 1956: 164.

Aleurocanthus banksiae (Maskell) , Quaintance & Baker, 1914: 102.

Distribution. ACT, Vic, SA ( Martin, 1999), NSW, Qld (ASCU).

Hosts. PROTEACEAE : Banksia spinulosa (ASCU), B. marginata ( Martin 1999, ASCU), B. integrifolia ( Martin 1999, ASCU), B. ornata ( Martin 1999) , B. serrata (ASCU). ULMACEAE : Aphananthe sp. (ASCU). MYRTACEAE : Callistemon linearis ( Martin, 1999) doubtful record (see below).

Comments. This species was illustrated by Martin (1999) following the illustration of Dumbleton (1956) and shows details of the dorsum of a puparium. Frequently specimens show the presence of more setae, particularly submarginal meso and metathoracic setae, although their number and position often vary. Also, small pale eyespots are often present mesad of the prothoracic setae (Fig. 5). Many records from ASCU and APPD now confirm that this species is widely spread from SE Qld through to the Adelaide area of SA wherever suitable hosts grow. A. banksiae is found often sparsely distributed on many different Banksia species and hybrids. A sample of A. banksiae collected on Aphananthe in rainforest in SE Qld formed dense aggregations, more typical of other Aleurocanthus species found in such rainforest habitats. Although morphologically similar to A. banksiae , this sample may yet prove to be FIGURES 4–6. A. banksiae puparia: 4, habitus (100 µm); 5, slide (500 µm); 6, illustration (from Martin 1999, after Dumbleton 1956), (A) margin detail, inset 3rd instar.

a different species. As noted by Martin (1999), Maskell’s record of this species possibly occurring on Callistemon seems highly doubtful, many samples of whiteflies taken from Callistemon by the author in eastern Australia having never included A. banksiae .