Asiothrixus antidesmae (Takahashi) Takahashi, 2010

Dubey, Anil Kumar, Ko, Chiun-Cheng & Martin, Jon H., 2010, Description of Asiothrixus gen. nov. (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) and two new species with diagnoses and a puparial key to species, Zootaxa 2417, pp. 51-65 : 53-59

Asiothrixus antidesmae (Takahashi) comb. nov.

(Figs 1–6, 7–9, Table 1)

Aleurothrixus antidesmae Takahashi, 1933: 13 -14. Lectotype (here designated).

Material examined. Taiwan: Lectotype puparium, Kuraru, one puparium on slide, on Antidesma sp., 26.v.1932, R. Takahashi ( TARI); paralectotypes, 27 puparia on one slide, data same as lectotype; 10 puparia on Antidesma sp., 25.v.1932, R. Takahashi (all TARI); other specimens: Nantou, Shueili, 5 puparia on Smilax sp., 29.ix.1995, K. C. Chou; Nantou, Wushe, 10 puparia on Smilax sp., 12.v.1994, K. C. Chou; Bingdong, Eluanbi, 18 puparia on unidentified plant, 19.iii.1996, K. C. Chou (all NTU); Brunei: Penanjong, coast, 6 puparia on slide, on Dillenia sp., 03.iii.1989, J. H. Martin 5431, B. M. 1989-89, 4 puparia on slide, data same as preceeding (Martin 5430); Hawaiian Is.: Maui, Wailuku, 14 puparia on Calophyllum inophyllum , 03.iii.1999, J. H. Martin 7201; Palau Is.: Koror, 14 puparia and one third instar on Ixora sp., 15.v.2005, K. Englberger (ENQ2005/333); Indonesia, Sulawesi Utara: Dumoga-Bone N. P., Toraut forest, near base camp, approx. 215 m. alt., 8 puparia on unidentified plant, 6.v.1985, J. H. Martin 4926; 12 puparia on? Myrtaceae , 30.iii.1985, J. H. Martin 4767; Singapore: Botanic Gardens, Napier/Cluny Rds, 2 puparia on Garcinia eugeniaefolia , 29.xii.1996, J. H. Martin 6992; 11 puparia, one third instar on two slides, unidentified plant, 29.xii.1996, J. H. Martin 6993 (all NHM London).

Host plants. Antidesma sp. ( Takahashi, 1933);? Myrtaceae & indet. ( Martin, 1988); Anthurium andraeanum , Gardenia jasminoides , Gardenia sp., Morinda citrifolia , Ocimum sp. ( Evans, 2007); Smilax sp. (new record). Calophyllum inophyllum , Dillenia sp., Garcinia eugeniaefolia , Ixora sp. (all NHM) (new records).

Distribution. Taiwan ( Takahashi, 1933); Sulawesi ( Martin, 1988); Puerto Rico, Philippines, Thailand ( Evans, 2007); Brunei, Guadeloupe, Hawaii Is., Palau, Singapore, W. Samoa (NHM London).

Remarks. The puparium of this species resembles A. smilaceti but differs from it by the presence of a row of 25–35 pairs of large pores along the bases of marginal glands; abdominal segments not medially rhachisform, and four pairs of submarginal setae (two pairs each on cephalothorax and abdomen). This is the only species of Asiothrixus known to occur in the New World. Martin observed puparial wax variation as follows: on Garcinia eugeniaefolia ( Singapore) with translucent wax rays and median tuft; on Dillenia sp. ( Brunei) with slightly mealy group; from Sulawesi with broad fringe and 20–30 median brown wax tufts and slightly white marginal wax.

TABLE 1. Puparial measurements for Asiothrixus species. ( A. silvestris measurements are in Corbett, 1935). Aleurothrixus smilaceti Takahashi, 1934: 63 -64. Lectotype (here designated).

Material examined. Taiwan: lectotype puparium of Aleurothrixus smilaceti, Hichiseisan , on Smilax sp., 23.ix.1933, R. Takahashi, clearly indicated on slide ( TARI); paralectotypes, 8 complete and one broken puparium on same slide as lectotype; 18 puparia, on other slides ( TARI); other specimens: Taiwan: Taipei, Yangmingshan, 34 puparia on Smilax sp., 27.i.1994, K. C. Chou; Nantou, Donpu, 22 puparia on Smilax sp., 18.vii.1996, K. C. Chou; 30 puparia on Smilax sp., 4.viii.1994, K. C. Chou; Nantou, Lien-Hua-Chih, 30 puparia on Smilax sp., 12.vii.1996, K. C. Chou; Kenting National Park, 9 puparia on Smilax sp., 4.iv.1986, C. C. Ko; Taitung, Chipen, 12 puparia on unidentified plant, 25.ii.1990, C. C. Ko (all NTU); Jianshi forest, 69 puparia, 1 Ƥ, 2 3 on 6 slides, on Smilax sp., 11.vi.2009, A. K. Dubey & Y. T. Shih (NTU 5382); 10 puparia, 2 Ƥ on 2 slides, on Smilax sp., 11.vi.2009, A. K. Dubey & Y. T. Shih (several puparia in 95% alcohol) (NTU A. antidesmae , lectotype puparium, Taiwan ( TARI) (A1–A3 representing corresponding abdominal segments). 1, dorsal and ventral surface. 2, marginal teeth with glands at base. 3, dorsal siphon from abdominal segment. 4, posterior end of puparium and vasiform orifice.

Host plants. Smilax sp. ( Takahashi, 1934), Smilax china ( Evans, 2007) .

Distribution. Taiwan.

ADULT MALE ( Figs 17–20 ). Antenna 7-segmented, segment III longest, 2 primary sensoria placed subapically, and 1 sensorial cone located in front of the middle, apex of the sensorial cone reaching beyond the apical end of segment III; segment VI and VII each with 1 sensorial cone; segment V and VII each with 1 primary sensoria; the upper and lower lobes of each compound eye are joined by 4 ommatidia; 4 pairs of abdominal wax plates, each assisted by 1 minute seta on outer side and 2 setae on inner side, 1 small circular marking in middle of each wax plate was visible. Genitalia: each clasper with subapical teeth and adhesive sac, apical spine present, the median dorsal surface with 5 setae; aedeagus pointed apically.

ADULT FEMALE ( Figs 21–25 ). Antenna 7-segmented, segment III longest with 2 primary sensoria subapically and 1 sensorial cone, the apex of sensorial cone not reaching the tip of segment III; 1 sensorial cone each on segment VI and VII; 1 primary sensoria each on segment V and VII; the upper and lower lobes of each compound eye are joined by 4 ommatidia; 2 pairs of abdominal wax plates, each assisted with 1 seta on outer side and 2 setae on inner side. Genitalia: paired gonopophysis with 3 pairs and unpaired gonopophysis with 1 pair of setae. Cement gland deeply constricted at three places.

Remarks: This is a host specific species. The puparia are found in groups on the lower leaf surfaces, with transparent dorsum and marginal fringe of white wax, milky white in appearance. The puparium differs from that of A. antidesmae by the presence of rhachisform abdominal segments, shape of siphons and five pairs of submarginal setae (two pairs on cephalothorax and three on abdomen), and by the absence of a row of large pores along the base of marginal glands. Pigmentation was absent on the submedian area of freshly mounted puparia.

Figures

FIGURES 17 – 25 A. smilaceti, adults, Taiwan (NTU). 17, antenna (male). 18, eye (male). 19, abdominal wax plates (male). 20, clasper and aedeagus. 21, antenna (female). 22, eye (female). 23, abdominal wax plates (female). 24, genitalia (female). 25, cement gland.