Acanthonavis Dubey, 2022

Dubey, Anil Kumar, 2022, Description of Acanthonavis deflexa gen. et sp. nov. (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) from the Nicobar Island, India, and generic re-definition of Editaaleyrodes David, Zootaxa 5092 (2), pp. 209-220 : 210

Genus Acanthonavis Dubey gen. nov.

Type species: Acanthonavis deflexa Dubey sp. nov.; by present designation and monotypy. Gender feminine.

Diagnosis ( Figs 1–22 ). In life, submargin elevated above the lateral margin; elongate; apparent margin deflexed ventrally in slide mounts, smoothly crenulate; thoracic tracheal pore areas not defined, but caudal tracheal pore opening poorly indicated. Longitudinal and transverse moulting sutures reaching subdorsum/submargin ridge. Promesothoracic suture obsolete, but meso-metathoracic and abdominal sutures present and faint, not extending to subdorsum. Submedian depressions indicated. Median length of abdominal segment VII shorter than VI. Thoracic tracheal furrows absent. Vasiform orifice not elevated posteriorly, laterally surrounded by raised cuticle; subcordate; operculum not covering entirely the orifice; lingula exposed. Caudal tracheal furrow present. Cephalic, first, eighth abdominal and caudal setae present. A row of setae present on subdorsum, including the caudal setae. Simple pores present on dorsal surface. Geminate pores absent. Ventral submargin demarcated from the subventral area by a fold. Thoracic and caudal tracheal folds without stipples. Legs conical, pad-like, not elongate, widely spaced, bases of pro-, and mesothoracic legs placed distantly, and apices of mesothoracic legs not overlapping bases of metathoracic legs. Antennae extending through outside of prothoracic legs. Ventral setae present.

Etymology. The genus name ‘ Acanthonavis ’ is coined from the Greek noun ἄκανθα which means thorn and the Latin noun ‘navis’ which means ship, referring to the projected spines and boat or battleship-like puparia, respectively.

Remarks. Fundamentally, Acanthonavis gen. nov. resembles Aleurolonga , Brazzaleyrodes , Editaaleyrodes and Ramsesseus in having an elongate puparial body, and in the shape of the vasiform orifice. The new genus differs from Editaaleyrodes David in that the longitudinal and transverse moulting sutures of the puparia reach the subdorsal/ submargin ridge, the abdominal segment sutures are not so prominent, the subventral area is differentiated from the submargin, the legs are widely spaced, the pockets are separated, and in lacking polygonal tubercles/markings in the thoracic tracheal furrows and geminate pores (simple, unpaired pores present) on dorsum and submargin. The new genus also differs from Aleurolonga Mound in anterior and posterior margins not as prolonged anteriorly and posteriorly, deflexed submargin, presence of subdorsal setae, antennae extending along the outside of the prothoracic legs (extending along the inside of the prothoracic legs in Aleurolonga ). It differs from Brazzaleyrodes Cohic in that the longitudinal moulting suture reaches the anterior margin and the abdominal segment VIII posteriorly, and from Ramsesseus Zahradnik by its differentiated subdorsal-submarginal ridge and the vasiform orifice being not elevated.

Figures

FIGURE 1–6. Acanthonavis deflexa gen. and sp. nov., puparium and immatures, habitus on leaf: 1, occurrence on underside of a leaf; 2, second instar; 3, third instar; 4, dimorphic forms; 5, male puparium; 6, egg and female puparium, laterally raised submargin, ridge.

FIGURES 7–9. Acanthonavis deflexa gen. and sp. nov., holotype, female, line drawings: 7, dorsal surface; 8, vasiform orifice; 9, ventral surface.

FIGURES 10–16. Acanthonavis deflexa gen. and sp. nov., puparium: 10, holotype (HT), female; 11, deflexed submargin and ventral surface, paratype (PT); 12, dorsal disc, male (PT); 13, cephalic setae (HT); 14, submargin expanded (left) and folded (right) (PT); 15, first abdominal setae (HT); 16, vasiform orifice, caudal furrow (HT).

FIGURES 17–25. Acanthonavis deflexa gen. and sp. nov., puparium, paratypes (17–22), second instar (23–24) and third instar (25): 17, ventral surface; 18, legs; 19, subventral demarcation; 20, submedian pockets impressions; 21, ventral setae, spiracles, posterior end; 22, antenna, prothoracic leg; 23, habitus; 24, posterior end of second instar; 25, habitus, female.