Asterochiton simplex ( Maskell, 1890 )

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 : 337-340

Asterochiton simplex ( Maskell, 1890)

Figure 13 A–J.

Asterochiton lecanioides Maskell (in part) 1879: 215–6.

Aleurodes simplex Maskell, 1890: 175–6 , pl.13, figs.27; 1896: 441–2

Aleyrodes simplex Maskell, Cockerell, 1902: 281 ; Kirkaldy, 1907: 69; Quaintance, 1908: 7.

Dialeurodoides simplex (Maskell) , Quaintance & Baker, 1914: 99.

Asterochiton simplex (Maskell) , Dumbleton, 1957, pp. 150–151, figs. 16–18.

Asterochiton pittospori Dumbleton 1957: 151–152 , figs. 13–15. n. syn.

Diagnosis. Two pairs of large discal setae (cephalothoracic and first abdominal), three pairs of large cephalothoracic lateral setae and 1 to 5 large abdominal lateral setae per side.

Puparium ( Figs. 13 A–D). Oval; white; found on undersurface of leaves; widest at abdominal segments I & II; emarginated at thoracic and caudal tracheal pores. Length, Lectotype 1.2 mm, range 1.0– 1.4 mm (mean 1.2); width, Lectotype, 0.97 mm, range 0.7–1.1 mm (mean 0.9). Caudal and thoracic tracheal pores narrowly invaginated with 3–4 teeth ( Figs. 13 H–I). Margin finely crenulated ( Figs. 13 H–I), 9–13 crenulations in 0.1 mm.

Dorsum. Finely sculptured verging to linear markings marginally ( Figs. 13 C–D, 13H–I). Submargin width is 29 µm, range 13–45 µm and to the pores 86 µm, range 63–105 µm. Tiny circular pores on cephalothoracic and abdominal discs and in the submarginal area. Cephalothoracic (pro-, meso- & metathoracic) and abdominal depressions conspicuous. Abdominal segment VII narrow medially 28 µm, range 18–38 µm, about half length of abdominal segment VI ( Fig. 13E ). Transverse moulting sutures extending to edge of the subdorsal area. Pro-mesothoracic and meso-metathoracic suture, and abdominal segmentation prominent, reaching subdorsal area. Vasiform orifice located anterior of caudal tracheal opening by about two times its own length. Caudal furrow distinct.

Vasiform orifice ( Figs. 13 F–G). Subcordate; length 75 µm, range 63–88 µm (mean 77), width 63 µm, range 50–70 µm (mean 60); open and pointed posteriorly, floor reticulated; operculum sub-cordate, covering more than half the length of orifice, length 38 µm, range 30–40 µm (mean 35), width 48 µm, range 40–48 µm (mean 45); lingula exposed, not reaching posterior margin of the vasiform orifice, terminal end slightly expanded and bluntly pointed, 38 µm, range 35–50 µm (43); two subapical setae 15–28 µm.

Venter. Thoracic tracheal fold faint, with stippling, caudal fold with stippling. Legs and antennae present, a tiny seta on the basal and terminal segments of legs 2 and 3 ( Fig. 13J ). Ventral setae 20–38 µm (mean 25), distance apart 50–75 µm (mean 68), posterior to the anterior edge of the vasiform orifice, about one quarter to one third its length. Adhesive sacs visible. Anterior spiracles on abdominal segment 2, posterior spiracles near vasiform orifice.

Chaetotaxy. First cephalothoracic setae, 50–90 µm; first abdominal setae, 45–80 µm, eighth abdominal setae, 5 µm, anteriad of vasiform orifice. 8 pairs of cephalothoracic lateral setae, cephalothoracic lateral setae 2, 6 & 8 on subdorsum, 50–90 µm; 5 pairs of cephalothoracic lateral setae (1, 3–5, 7) and abdominal lateral seta 2, 5– 12 µm, submarginal, mesad and close to the boundary of the dense submarginal crenulation; abdominal lateral seta 4, 50– 75 µm; abdominal lateral setae 5–8, 5– 75 µm. Caudal setae 55–90 µm. Anterior marginal setae 5–12 µm, posterior marginal setae 10–35 µm.

Material examined. Lectotype: New Zealand, Canterbury, Christchurch, 1889, W.M.M (Maskell) Aleurodes simplex pupa case. 1889 W.M.M. Lectotype Aleurodes simplex Maskell, 1890 cf. Dumbleton 1957; paralectotypes, 9 puparia on one slide, same data as Lectotype.

Holotype of pittospori : Marlborough Sounds, Pelorus Bridge, 20 October 1950, LJD (Dumbleton), Pittosporum sp.; paratypes of pittospori , 18 puparia on 5 slides, same data as pittospori Holotype.

Other material: 8 puparia (slide #96-139), BP, Rotorua, Forest Research Institute Grounds, 22 Jan 1997, C.F. Butcher, Pittosporum tenuifolium ; 8 puparia (slides 97-138a–c), MC, Christchurch, Riccarton Bush, 26 Sep 1997, RC Henderson, Pittosporum eugenioides underside leaves; 5 puparia (slide 02-165), MC, Banks Peninsular, Hinewai Reserve, 22 July 2002, NA Martin, Pittosporum eugenioides underside of leaves; 10 puparia (slides 03-002a–b), AK, Auckland, Oakley Creek Walkway, 21 Nov 2002, Pittosporum eugenioides leaves; 5 puparia (slide 03-003), AK, Auckland, Oakley Creek Walkway, 21 Nov 2002, Pittosporum tenuifolium leaves; 13 puparia (slides 05-086a–b), AK, Auckland Domain, 12 Mar 2005, NA Martin, on underside of leaves of Pittosporum eugenioides underside of leaf ( NZAC 02003321, NZAC 02003324); 8 puparia (slide 05-209), AK, Green Bay, Portage Rd., South end, 7 Aug 2005, NA Martin, on underside of leaves of Pittosporum eugenioides ( NZAC 02003944); 6 puparia (slide 09-321, MW 120209 -048; slide 09-322, MW 120209 -049b; slide 09-323, MW 120209 -053), NC, Rangiora, Matawai Park, 12 Feb 2009, E Hume, Pittosporum eugenioides ( NZAC 02008240, NZAC 02008237, NZAC 02008234); 8 puparia (slide 09-318, MW 120209 -035b; slide 09-325, MW 120209 -060; slide 09-326, MW 120209 -062), NC, Rangiora, Matawai Park, 12 Feb 2009, E Hume, Pittosporum tenuifolium ; 6 puparia (slide 11-049), AK, Manurewa, Auckland Botanic Gardens, 7 May 2011, NA Martin, Pittosporum bracteolatum underside of leaves ( NZAC 02009070).

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

Host plants. Pittosporum eugenioides A.Cunn. , P. tenuifolium Sol. ex Gaertn. (endemic species) and the Australian species, P. bracteolatum Endl. growing in Auckland Botanic gardens, New Zealand.

Maskell (1890) states that Coprosma lucida is a host plant. This is repeated by Dumbleton (1957). No whiteflies have since been found living on this species of Coprosma (Rubiaceae) .

Distribution. Type locality, Christchurch; A. pittospori Holotype, Pelorus Bridge, Marlborough. New Zealand, South Island: MC, Christchurch and Banks Peninsular; NC, Rangiora, North Island: AK, Auckland City; BP, Rotorua.

Remarks. Superficially, A. simplex looks distinctly different from A. pittospori Dumbleton, 1957 , but the discovery of the tiny abdominal lateral setae reveals that they have an identical number of setae and that the only difference between them is the number of abdominal lateral setae that are large. This can be different on the two sides of the same specimen and between specimens on the same leaf.

Figures

FIGURE 13. Asterochiton simplex (Maskell, 1890) puparium. A. Dorsum, simplex form, line drawing, B. Dorsum, pittospori form (A. pittospori), C. Dorsum (Maskell duplicate material), slide mount, D. Puparium, pittospori form, E. Abdomen VI and VII, F. Vasiform orifice (pittospori form), G. Vasiform orifice, H. Caudal pore, caudal setae and posterior marginal seta, I. Thoracic tracheal pore and fold with stipples, J. Antenna and legs.