Aleurotrachelus

Dubey, Anil Kumar & Ko, Chiun-Cheng, 2010, Aleurotrachelus Quaintance & Baker (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) and allied genera from Taiwan, Zootaxa 2685, pp. 1-29 : 27

Relationship among Aleurotrachelus and similar genera

Bink-Moenen (1983) diagnosed the genus Rugaleyrodes from Cohicaleyrodes by “the presence of submarginal or subdorsal setae on the abdomen, the absence of meso-, and metathoracic setae, and the ridged floor of the vasiform orifice.” Bink-Moenen also described the genus Cohicaleyrodes and compared this with Aleurocanthus Quaintance & Baker , and stated that “it is easily distinguished by the absence on the pupal case of larval skins of previous stages, the absence of abdominal subdorsal setae, the usual absence of elongate spines or siphons; the presence of real meso-, and metathoracic setae and the floor of the vasiform orifice which is densely set with microtubercles.” Many of the Rugaleyrodes species described by Bink-Moenen (1983) have submarginal/subdorsal setae on cephalothorax as in some Cohicaleyrodes species. However, Rugaleyrodes vuattouxi (Cohic) has no submarginal/subdorsal setae on abdominal segments and tracheal pore area not modified, these characteristics thus relating it to Cohicaleyrodes . Meso- and metathoracic setae are absent in Rugaleyrodes and in some Cohicaleyrodes species.

The Cohicaleyrodes species described by Bink-Moenen lack submarginal/subdorsal setae on the abdomen. In the species, Co. taiwanus , the submarginal setae are present on abdomen, and the caudal setae placed half way between posterior end of the orifice and puparial caudal margin, relating it to Rugaleyrodes , but the metathoracic setae are present, and throracic tracheal pores not differentiated from margin, relating it to Cohicaleyrodes ; the floor of the orifice is with a microtubercle (inner notch) which is seen in the species of both Cohicaleyrodes and Rugaleyrodes . We understand that the genus Rugaleyrodes was poorly described for the species having the characteristics of Cohicaleyrodes , and believe these genera need more detailed study to resolve complexities. The new combinations, Co. rubi and Co. taiwanus are justified based on the absence of thoracic tracheal pores on margin; by the presence of meso-, and metathoracic setae; 6 pairs of minute submarginal setae on cephalothorax, and elevated vasiform orifice with a broad anterior rim.

Many of the species in the genus Aleurotrachelus have recently been transferred to other genera ( David et al., 2006; Martin & Mound, 2007). The puparia of Aleurotrachelus usually have black cuticle, elevated vasiform orifice, often the median longitudinal area of cephalothorax elevated from dorsal surface, and with marginal glands. In contrast, the puparia of Cohicaleyrodes species lack such cephalic elevation of cuticle and without marginal glands. The puparia of Crenidorsum are recognised by the presence of scallop-shaped thickening on cephalic submedian/subdorsal area, and marginal teeth without glandular bases. As discussed above, the characteristics of Cohicaleyrodes justify the new combination of Co. caerulescens . Aleurotrachelus resembles Aleurothrixus Quaintance & Baker in having marginal teeth with glandular bases (see remarks in Dubey et al., 2010), but the later differs by the presence of transversely-elliptical vasiform orifice and submargin demarcated from the dorsal disc.