Nealeurodicus bakeri (Bondar) Bondar, 2004

John H. Martin, 2004, Whiteflies of Belize (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae). Part 1 — introduction and account of the subfamily Aleurodicinae Quaintance & Baker, Zootaxa 681, pp. 1-86 : 56-57

Nealeurodicus bakeri (Bondar) comb. nov.

( Figs 34–35, 116, 131)

Radialeurodicus bakeri Bondar, 1923a: 21 –24. Syntypes, Brazil [probable syntypes examined]. Ceraleurodicus bakeri ( Bondar) Costa Lima, 1928 : 137 [by inference].

DISTRIBUTION. Neotropical Region — Belize, Brazil, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Panamá, Trinidad.

COMMENTS. Although definite syntypes of this species have not been examined, four puparia on one slide were donated to BMNH by Bondar, and these are probably syntypic. The reason for making this statement is that the date borne on the slide label is “ 7.xii.1923 ”, exactly the same date as is borne on the labels of a number of other slides donated to BMNH at the same time, and registered in 1924. It is likely that this is not a date of collection, but a date of selection for donation or a date of receipt at BMNH, neither precluding the material being part of Bondar’s original series.

This species is distinguished from other species of Nealeurodicus by the presence of small, circular compound pores on the cephalic segment and abdominal segments II, IV and VIII, the pair on segment IV being displaced a little further away from the median line ( Fig. 35). The dorsal disc is punctuated by 4­ to 5­locular simple pores, but such pores are absent from the median part of abdominal segment VIII between the vasiform orifice and the pockets (Fig. 116); additionally, there is a small cluster of bright pores present on each side of the vasiform orifice, and irregularly distributed minute composite pores (usually 2– 5 within an outer boundary) (Fig.116). The puparial secretions are robust and may be detached and slide­mounted ( Fig. 34), but are not obvious to the naked eye (Fig. 131).

N. bakeri is represented in BMNH by material from the countries listed above; recorded host plants include palms and several broadleaf families (see Appendix 2), and no clear host preferences are shown.