Aleuroparvus, Dubey, 2018

Dubey, Anil Kumar, 2018, A new whitefly genus and species, Aleuroparvus theae Dubey (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) colonising Assam tea (Camellia sinensis) and Cinnamomum bejolghota, in North-East India, Zootaxa 4486 (2), pp. 169-179 : 171

Aleuroparvus gen. nov.

( Figs 1–33 , Table 1)

Type species: Aleuroparvus theae Dubey sp. nov.; by present designation and monotypy. Gender masculine.

Diagnosis. In life, puparium black, with wax secretions only at the submarginal wax secreting pore areas; dorsal disc raised; submargin differentiated from the dorsal disc by a submarginal dorsal ridge, submargin placed obliquely downwards as to accommodate raised larger dorsal surface on smaller ventral surface area; submargin with wax secreting pores; longitudinal moulting suture reaching anterior margin and transverse moulting suture reaching the submarginal ridge; pro-mesothoracic and abdominal segment sutures present; abdominal segment VII not reduced in length medially; cephalic, first abdominal setae, eighth abdominal and caudal setae present; caudal and thoracic tracheal pores present; thoracic tracheal furrows absent; caudal tracheal furrow present; vasiform orifice subcordate; operculum subcordate, almost filling the vasiform orifice; lingula concealed; geminate pores present in four longitudinal rows, of which two rows on submedian area (one each along the submedian pockets and near termination of segment sutures), one row along submarginal ridge and on submargin. Ventral surface area smaller than the dorsal surface, a pair of ventral abdominal setae present; adhesive sacs and spiracles visible.

Etymology. The genus name is coined from “ αλευΡΟΝ- ” the Greek word meaning ‘flour’ and the Latin word ‘ parΝus’ meaning ‘small’ attributing to small ventral surface in puparium.

Remarks. In nature, puparia of the genus DialeurΟpΟra Quaintance & Baker have white, blue or green iridescent wax secretions around lateral margin; whereas the puparia of new genus and species have deposits of white wax at thoracic tracheal pore area only ( Fig. 1 ) and laterad of abdominal segment V. Puparia of the new genus resemble those of DialeurΟpΟra in having submarginal wax pores, but differ from it by being black in colour, a small ventral surface area, a submarginal ridge which separates the submargin from the dorsal disc, and in lacking submarginal lanceolate setae. None of the described species of DialeurΟpΟra are known to have black puparia, a small ventral surface area and the submargin separated from the dorsal disc. The puparia of AleurΟparΝus gen. nov. differ from those of AleurΟclaΝa Singh, AleurΟpleurΟcelus, Tetralicia by the presence of deeply invaginated caudal and thoracic tracheal pores, and the presence of a submarginal ridge and submarginal wax secreting pores. Additionally, the new genus differs from AleurΟclaΝa in having a smaller ventral surface (not deflexed), and from AleurΟpleurΟcelus and Tetralicia in having the submargin not folded ventrally, but placed obliquely. It also differs from TetraleurΟdes Cockerell in having a caudal furrow, submarginal wax secreting pores and smaller ventral surface.

Figures

FIGURES 1–2. Aleuroparvus theae gen. et sp. nov., habitus, 1, puparium on Cinnamomum bejolghota showing white wax secretion at thoracic tracheal pore area, and submarginal ridge; 2, puparium on tea leaf.

FIGURES 3–6. Aleuroparvus theae gen. et sp. nov., camera lucida drawings, 3, puparium, dorsal and ventral views; 4, thoracic tracheal pore and submarginal wax gland; 5, vasiform orifice and caudal furrow; 6, legs and antenna.

FIGURES 7–14. Aleuroparvus theae gen. et sp. nov., photomicrographs, holotype puparium, 7, dorsal and ventral views; 8, margin, tracheal pore, submarginal wax secreting gland; 9, cephalothorax, partly separated submargin; 10, abdominal segment sutures, pockets and depressions; 11, submarginal wax glands and geminate pores; 12, vasiform orifice, caudal furrow and 8 th abdominal setae; 13, cephalic seta; 14, first abdominal seta (FAS– first abdominal seta).

FIGURES 15–20. Aleuroparvus theae gen. et sp. nov., photomicrographs, paratype puparium, dorsal and ventral views, 15, submarginal wax secreting gland laterad of abdominal segment V; 16, ventral surface, separated; 17, cephalothorax, adhesive pads; 18, thoracic tracheal fold; 19, imprints of abdominal segment sutures and stomata; 20, ventral 8 th abdominal setae, caudal fold.

FIGURES 21–27 Aleuroparvus theae gen. et sp. nov., scanning electron microscope images, puparium, 21, dorsal view; 22, abdominal area; 23, caudal furrow; 24, margin and submarginal bands; 25, thoracic tracheal pore opening; 26, submarginal wax gland; 27, eighth abdominal setae (broken), vasiform orifice and caudal furrow.

FIGURES 28–33. Aleuroparvus theae gen. et sp. nov., scanning electron microscope images, puparium, 28, puparium, ventrolateral view showing obliquely downward extension of submargin; 29, ventral view; 30, thoracic tracheal fold; 31, legs, rostrum and adhesive sacs; 32, ventral setae and caudal tracheal fold; 33, antenna (RS– rostrum, AP– adhesive pads, ANT– antenna).