Asterochiton cerata ( Maskell, 1896 )

Martin, Nicholas A., 2020, Revision of the whitefly genus, Asterochiton Maskell (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) from New Zealand, a study of intraspecific variation, Zootaxa 4859 (3), pp. 301-341 : 319

Asterochiton cerata ( Maskell, 1896)

Figures 7 A–J.

Aleurodes cerata Maskell 1896: 425–6 , pl.26, fig.1.

Aleyrodes cerata Maskell, Cockerell, 1902: 281 ; Kirkaldy, 1907: 49; Quaintance, 1908: 5; Quaintance & Baker, 1914:100. Asterochiton cerata ( Maskell, 1896) , Dumbleton, 1957, pp. 149–150, figs. 9–10.

Diagnosis. Covered in white wax when alive. All setae on dorsum except caudal and eighth abdominal setae, are tiny. Transverse suture reaches margin.

Puparium ( Figs. 7 A–C). Oval; unpigmented: dorsum covered in white flocculent wax that extends laterally; found on undersurface of leaves; widest at abdominal segments II & III; emarginated at thoracic and caudal tracheal pores; wax along vertical side walls/margin. Lectotype length 1.0 mm, range 0.95–1.30 mm (mean 1.12); width, 0.7 mm, range 0.65–0.90 mm (mean 0.77). Caudal and thoracic tracheal pores in shallow invagination with 2–3 teeth ( Figs. 7F, 7H ). Margin finely crenulated ( Fig. 7 I–J), 10–13 teeth in 0.1 mm.

Dorsum. Subdorsal area irregularly marked, submedian area smooth ( Fig. 7B ). Submargin extends 40–80 µm to a row of tiny circular pores that separate it from the dorsal disc and has a dense, narrow area, 20–35 µm wide ( Fig. 7H ). Tiny circular pores on cephalothoracic and abdominal submedian area. Cephalothoracic (pro-, meso- & metathoracic) and abdominal depressions conspicuous.Abdominal segment VII median length, 37 µm, range 23–50 µm, about half median length of abdominal segment VI ( Fig. 7D ). Transverse moulting sutures extending to margin. Pro-mesothoracic and meso-metathoracic sutures, and abdominal segmentation prominent, reaching subdorsal area. Vasiform orifice located anterior of caudal tracheal opening by its own length. Caudal furrow narrow.

Vasiform orifice ( Fig. 7E ). Subcordate; length 68 µm, range 63–85 µm (mean 75); width 60 µm, range 58–73 µm (mean 66 µm); open and pointed posteriorly, floor reticulated; operculum sub-trapezoidal; covering more than half the length of orifice; length 40 µm, range 30–50 µm (range 43); width 48 µm, range 45–60 µm (mean 53); lingula exposed, almost reaching beyond posterior margin of the vasiform orifice, terminal end slightly expanded and bluntly pointed, length 35 µm, range 35–53 µm (mean 45), two subapical setae 35 µm, range 20–33 µm (mean 30).

Venter. Thoracic tracheal folds, floor not stippled. Caudal fold not seen. Legs and antennae present, a tiny seta on the basal and terminal segments of legs 2 and 3 ( Fig. 7G ). Adhesive sacs present. Ventral setae 13–28 µm (mean 19), 50–73 µm (mean 63) apart. Anterior abdominal spiracles on abdominal segment II, posterior spiracles by vasiform orifice.

Chaetotaxy. Eighth abdominal setae, 27 µm, range 18–38 µm, setae anteriad of vasiform orifice; 7 pairs of tiny cephalothoracic lateral setae (5 pairs anterior & 2 pairs posterior to thoracic pore), just within the area of linear ornamentation; 6 pairs of abdominal lateral setae, 8–12 µm long, submarginal, close to a row of small pores marking submargin boundary and mesad of the linear ornamentation. Caudal setae 43 µm, range 18–80 µm (mean 49). Anterior marginal setae 5–8 µm, posterior marginal setae 18–25 µm.

Material examined. Lectotype: Pupal case on slide mount in Maskell collection, labelled Aleurodes cerata larva (Marked pupa in pencil) 1895 M.M.M. Lectotype Aleurodes cerata Maskell 1896 cf. Dumbleton 1957. Now held in NZAC.

Other material: 10 puparia, Maskell material ex Nothofagus menziesii ; 19 puparia/4 th instar larvae (3 slides 03-186a–c), NN, Korere Top House road T junction, 22 September 2003, FL & RC Henderson, on Nothofagus menziesii ; 14 puparia/4 th instar larvae (5 slides 01-101a–e), NN, Heaphy Tk, Browns Hut, 17 May 2001, NA Martin, Nothofagus menziesii , underside of leaves; 9 puparia, 6 parasitised (2 slides #94-004, #94-004c), TO, Kaimanwa North Forest Park, Clement Clearing, 4 Dec 1993, P.K. Buchanan, Nothofagus menziesii .

All specimens deposited in NZAC (Auckland, New Zealand) .

Host plant. Lophozonia menziesii (Hook.f.) Heenan & Smissen ( Nothofagaceae ), previously Nothofagus menziesii (Hook. f.) Oersted.

Distribution. Type locality, Reefton, West Coast, South Island, New Zealand. The species has also been found in the Nelson Region of the South Island and near Taupo in the North Island.

Remarks. This is the only species in the genus in which the puparium is covered with white wax.

Figures

FIGURE 7. Asterochiton cerata (Maskell, 1896) puparium. A. Dorsum line drawing, B. Dorsum slide mount, C. Live larvae and puparia covered in white wax on the underside of Lophozonia menziesii (Nothofagaceae) leaf, D. Abdominal segments VI, VII and VIII, note the stippling on VII, E. Vasiform orifice, lingula setae, F. Caudal pore and caudal setae, G. Antenna and legs, H. Thoracic tracheal pore and fold, cephalothoracic lateral setae, I. Abdominal lateral setae in submargin and posterior marginal seta, J. Cephalic lateral setae in submargin and anterior marginal seta.