Vicente Emilio Carapia-Ruiz*
Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos, Escuela de Estudios Superiores de Xalostoc, Av. Nicolas Bravo s/n, 62740 Xalostoc, Morelos, Mexico
*Corresponding author: vicente.carapia@uaem.mx (V.E. Carapia-Ruiz)
Received: 25 February 2024; accepted: 24 June 2024
http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:4751138D-9FD4-4095-A858-3A6A4F6B8A47
Abstract
A new species of whitefly, Aleuropleurocelus tecomastans, is described. The studied specimens were found in the municipality of Acapulco, State of Guerrero, Mexico on Tecoma stans (L.) (Bignoniaceae) leaves. A dichotomous key to identify members of Aleuropleurocelus group ceanothi, defined by a transverse suture of the molt which reaches the submarginal line, is provided. Photographs of morphological pupal structures are given and diagnostic separation to other related species is discussed.
Keywords: Aleyrodinae; Aleuropleurocelus ceanothi; Whitefly
© 2024 Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Instituto de Biología. Este es un artículo Open Access bajo la licencia CC BY-NC-ND
(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
Una especie nueva de Aleuropleurocelus (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) y clave para el grupo ceanothi de Mexico
Resumen
Una especie nueva de mosca blanca, Aleuropleurocelus tecomastans, es descrita. Los especímenes estudiados fueron encontradosen el municipio de Acapulco, Estado de Guerrero, México sobre Tecoma stans (L.) (Bignoniaceae). Se provee una clave dicotómica para identificación de especies de Aleuropleurocelus grupo ceanothi, definido por una sutura transversa de la muda que termina en la línea submarginal. Se proporcionan fotografías de las estructuras morfológicas del pupario y se analiza la separación diagnóstica en otras especies relacionadas.
Palabras clave: Aleyrodinae; Aleuropleurocelusceanothi; Mosca blanca
Introduction
The genus Aleuropleurocelus was described by Drews and Sampson (1956), comprising 8 species and an identification key to all Californian species was included (Drews & Sampson, 1958). Later Dooley et al. (2010) described A. nevadensis Dooley, while Polaszek and Gill (2011) added A. hyptisemoryi Gill to the genus. Nowadays, 19 species of Mexican species of Aleuropleurocelus are known and have been largely studied by Carapia-Ruiz (2023), Carapia-Ruiz (2020a, b), Carapia-Ruiz and Sánchez-Flores (2019a, b), Carapia-Ruiz et al. (2018a, b, 2020, 2023), Sánchez-Flores and Carapia-Ruiz (2018a, b), Sánchez-Flores et al. (2018a, b, 2020, 2021). The genus is segregated into 3 major groups: abnormis (semioval), nigrans, and ceanothi according to Dooley et al. (2010) and Sánchez-Flores et al. (2021).
The ceanothi group, in which the transverse suture of molt ends at the submarginal line is included, A. granulata (Sampson & Drews), and the morphologically related species A. sampsoni Sánchez-Flores & Carapia-Ruiz and A. pseudogranulata Carapia-Ruiz & Sánchez-Flores. While collecting puparia of Aleyrodidae in Acapulco Guerrero, an unknown species of this group with distinctive characters was found. The objective of this contribution is to describe a new species and provide a key to all species of Aleuropleurocelus group ceanothi.
Materials and methods
The specimens were collected on the underside of the leaves of Tecoma stans (L.). in Acapulco, Guerrero. The specimens once taken were retained ethanol and thus transferred to the Laboratorio de Entomología, Escuela de Estudios Superiores de Xalostoc of the Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos, to be fully processed and mounted in permanent preparation with Canada balsam on slides for further study under stereomicroscope and facilitating identification following specialized literature such as Drews and Sampson (1958), Martin (2004, 2005), and Sanchez-Flores et al. (2021). After preparations, specimens were observed under a Motic BA 320 phase contrast optical microscope considering several magnifications: 4X 100X, 400X and 1,000X. The terminology used follows Drews and Sampson (1956) and Martin (2005). The studied specimens are deposited at Colección Nacional de Insectos (CNIN), Instituto de Biología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. México City, Mexico.
Description
Aleuropleurocelus tecomastans n. sp. Carapia-Ruiz
(Figs. 1-9)
http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:113654EB-09
53-4C95-9CFB-3FFFF8B3F8BE
Diagnosis. Pupa boat-shaped, transverse molting suture reaches the submarginal line, dorsum and venter black, eye spots with tubercles, abdominal depressions present, middle area of abdominal segments smooth, abdominal VIII setae anterolateral to the vasiform orifice very small.
General form: pupae in situ. Dorsal and ventral surface of pupae black, a thin fringe of wax is distinguished around the body margin.
Specimens on slides: semioval body (Fig. 1). Deflexed submargin. Margin: with 61-68 pairs of marginal teeth with 2-3 acute terminal protrusions (Fig. 2), submargin with a regular band of small tubercles (Fig. 3); subdorsum: with a band of crescent tubercles (Fig. 4). Cephalothorax: longitudinal molting suture with a row of defined tubercles on each side giving the appearance of a zipper, transverse molting suture ends at the apparent margin (submarginal fold), well defined meso-metathoracic suture (Fig. 5), ocular markings (eye spots) indicated by pale coloration and 5-7 pairs of pale tubercles in the subdorsal area near the submarginal line, cephalic setae absent; mid thoracic zone with 2 pairs of setae, the mesothoracic and the metathoracic. Abdomen: dorsum with abdominal segments I-VIII clearly visible in the middle part (Fig. 6). With abdominal depressions in the middle area of the segments (Fig. 7), cuticle in the middle of the abdominal segments smooth. Vasiform orifice: elongated semicordiform (Fig. 8); elevated; operculum with 4 irregular longitudinal furrows and spinules at the apex, completely covering the lingula and most of the vasiform orifice, ring of the orifice defined in its anterior part, abdominal VIII setae anterolateral to the vasiform orifice very small, caudal protuberance developed. Pores, normally as follows: 8 pairs in the cephalic area, 6 on submedian area and 2 posterior to eye spots; 4 pairs in the mesothorax, 2 on submedian area and 2 in the subdorsal area of the mosothorax; medial area of abdominal segments I, III, V, VII with 2 pairs each segment, segment VIII with 2 pairs; subdorsal area of abdominal segments II, IV, V, with 2 pairs of pores in each segment (Fig. 9).
Figures 1-4. Aleuropleurocelus tecomastans.1) Puparium; 2) marginal teeth; 3) submarginal area; 4) subdorsal area. mt = Marginal teeth, om = ocular mark, sd = subdorsum, sm = submargin.
Venter: legs prothoracic, mesothoracic, metathoracic with apical adhesive sac, thoracic adhesive sacs near the base of the first pair of legs, base of the legs with a wide irregular band of 2-4 spinules, thoracic and abdomen cuticle smooth, well defined abdominal setae of segment VIII, posteriorly present a pair of spiracles. Chaetotaxy: a pair of anterior marginal setae present (near marginal teeth), cephalic setae absent, mesothoracic, metathoracic and caudal setae well developed, very small abdominal VIII setae, located anterolateral to the vasiform orifice, and posterior marginal setae small.
Figures 5-8. Aleuropleurocelus tecomastans.5) Thoracic area; 6) submedia and subdorsal area; 7) depression and pore of abdominal segment IV; 8) vasiform orifice. ad = Abdominal depression, cs = caudal seta, mss = mesothoracic seta, mts = metathoracic seta, o = operculum, pp = pore porete, sd = subdorsum, vo = vasiform orifice.
Measurements. Specimens on slides: body 550-650 µm long by 300-400 µm wide. Submargin approximately 45-55 μm. Cephalothorax: 230-280 μm, longitudinal molting suture, 240-360 μm, transverse molting suture 220-250 μm, the metathorax 30-45 μm long in its middle area, cephalic elongated structures of 8-10 µm long by 3-5 µm wide. Abdomen: abdominal segments length for segment I 22-26 μm, segment II 22-26 μm, segment III 25-30 μm, segment IV 26 -30 μm, segment V 27-32 μm, segment VI 26-29 μm, segment VII 23-27 μm, and segment VIII (from suture VII-VIII to vasiform orifice) 40-50 μm, distance from vasiform orifice to apparent margin 25-35 μm; abdominal depressions segments with approximate length in segment I 3-5 μm long by 10-12 μm wide, in segment II 3-4 μm long by 12-15 μm wide, in segment III 3-4 μm long by 10-13 μm wide, in segment IV 3-4 μm long by 10-14 μm wide, in segment V 5-7 μm long by 10-15 μm wide, in segment VI 5-6 μm long by 9-11 μm wide. Vasiform orifice: 46-50 µm long by 32-38 µm of broad at the widest part; operculum 25-30 μm long by 22-26 μm wide. Venter: Prothoracic legs 75-77 μm long, mesothoracic legs 75-78 μm long, metathoracic legs 85-89 μm long, thoracic adhesive sacs of 16-20 μm in diameter, base of the legs spinules 4 μm long and 2 μm wide. Setae: anterior marginal setae approximately 7 μm long, mesothoracic setae approximately 15 μm long, metathoracic setae approximately 20 μm long, abdominal VIII setae 3-4 μm long, caudal seta approximately 20 μm long, and posterior marginal seta approximately 10 μm long.
Figure 9. Aleuropleurocelus tecomastans. Pores and setae distribution. a8 = VIII abdominal segment seta, cs = caudal seta, ma = marginal anterior seta, mp = marginal posterior seta, mss = mesothoracic seta, mts = metathoracic seta, mtsu = metathoracic suture, pp = pore porete, vo = vasiform orifice.
Taxonomic summary
Type locality: northeast of Acapulco, Guerrero, Mexico
Type material: holotype, puparium: Acapulco, Guerrero, Mexico, in leaves of Tecoma stans (Bignoniaceae), 8-iv-2021, Col. V. E. Carapia-Ruiz, deposited in CNIN (Colección Nacional de Insectos, Instituto de Biología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico), HOM-TIP-170. Paratypes: puparia, same data as holotype, 2 deposited in CNIN, HOM-PAR-171, HOM-PAR-172.
Etymology: the suffix name is based on a combination of the host plant’s scientific name where specimens were associated.
Distribution: Acapulco, Guerrero, Mexico.
Plant associations: Tecoma stans (Bignoniaceae).
Remarks.
Aleuropleurocelus tecomastans is placed within the ceanothi group by the transverse molting suture reaches the apparent margin (submarginal line). The new species is similar in apparence to A. granulate, A. sampsoni,and A. pseudogranulata but can be differentiated by the presence of abdominal depressions which is opposite as shown in A. granulata, A. sampsoni, A. pseudogranulata or A. ceanothi. Also A. asciculatus presents a subdorsal fold which is absent in the other species.
Key to species of Aleuropleurocelus group ceanothi
1. With bands of dense wax on dorsum, pores of double wall on dorsum 2
—Without such bands or pores 3
2. (1) Two bands of dense wax on dorsum (1 thin band on subdorsum and 1 wide band on submedian area ornatus Drews & Sampson
— One band of dense wax on subdorsum sampsoni Sánchez Flores & Carapia-Ruiz
3. (1) Tubercles on submedian surface absent 4
—Tubercles on submedian surface present 8
4. (3) Without evident tubercles on subdorsal surface 5
— With evident tubercles on subdorsal surface 6
5. (4) Longitudinal suture of the molt with tubercles on metathorax laingi Drews & Sampson
— Longitudinal suture of the molt without tubercles on metathorax coachellensis Drews & Sampson
6. (4) Subdorsal fold absent 7
— Subdorsal fold present asciculatus Carapia-Ruiz
7. (6) 2 pair of thoracic adhesive sacs, submarginal band with pores erigonium Carapia-Ruiz
— Without tubercles on the anterior and posterior part of the abdominal segments, abdominal depressions present tecomastans n. sp.
8. (3) With 2 pairs of thoracic adhesive sacs, submedian area with tubercles only on the anterior part of the abdominal segments; marginal teeth without 2 or more evident prostructions 9
— With a pair of thoracic adhesive sacs, submedian area with tubercles on the anterior and posterior part of the abdominal segments; marginal teeth with evident prostructions; transversal suture of the molt curved 10
9. (8) Half posterior of puparium in elliptic form sierra (Sampson)
— Half posterior of puparium in triangular form ceanothi (Sampson)
10. (8) Vasiform orifice semicircular, venter of abdomen with posterior area very narrow, transversal suture of the molt almost straight on median area granulata Sampson & Drews
— Vasiform orifice elongated, clearly more long than wide, venter of abdomen with posterior area triangular in form, transversal suture of the molt curved on median area pseudogranulata Carapia-Ruiz
Acknowledgments
To Paul Brawn and David Ovread of the British Museum of Natural History (BMNH) for facilitating a loan of Aleuropleurocelus to study the specimens.
References
Carapia-Ruiz, V. E. (2020a). Descripción de una especie nueva del género Aleuropleurocelus y nuevos registros para Baja California, México. Southwestern Entomologist, 45, 269–274. https://doi.org/10.3958/059.045.0128
Carapia-Ruiz, V. E. (2020b). Description of a new species of the genus Aleuropleurocelus Drews & Sampson (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) and a new country record for a species of the genus from Mexico. Acta Zoológica Mexicana (nueva serie), 36, 1–7. https://doi.org/10.21829/azm.2020.3612184
Carapia-Ruiz, V. E. (2023). Dos especies nuevas de Aleuro-
pleurocelus de México, Southwestern Entomologist, 48, 641-648. https://doi.org/10.3958/059.045.0425
Carapia-Ruiz, V. E., & Sánchez-Flores, O. A. (2019a). Descripción de una especie nueva del género Aleuropleurocelus Drews y Sampson (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) de California, Estados Unidos. Acta Zoológica Mexicana (nueva serie), 35, 1–4. https://doi.org/10.21829/azm.2019.3501230
Carapia-Ruiz, V. E., & Sánchez-Flores, O. A. (2019b). Descripción de la primera especie pálida del género Aleuropleurocelus. Southwestern Entomologist, 44, 315–319. https://doi.org/10.3958/059.044.0133
Carapia-Ruiz, V. E., Sánchez-Flores, O. A., & García-Ochaeta, J. F. (2023). A new whitefly species, Aleuropleurocelus petenensis sp. nov. (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae), from Guatemala. Acta Zoológica Mexicana (nueva serie), 39, 1–8. https://doi.org/10.21829/azm.2023.3912470
Carapia-Ruiz, V. E., Sánchez-Flores, O. A., García-Martínez, O., & Castillo-Gutiérrez, A. (2018a). Descripción de dos especies nuevas del género Aleuropleurocelus Drews y Sampson, 1956 (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) de México. Insecta Mundi, 0606, 1–13.
Carapia-Ruiz, V. E., Sánchez-Flores, O. A., García-Martínez, O., & Castillo-Gutiérrez, A. (2018b). Descripción de dos especies nuevas del género Aleuropleurocelus Drews y Sampson, 1956 (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) de México. Southwestern Entomologist, 43, 517–526.
Carapia-Ruiz, V. E., Sánchez-Flores, O. A., García-Martínez, O., & Castillo-Gutiérrez, A. (2021). Aleuropleurocelus palidonigrans sp. nov. de Guerrero, México, Southwestern Entomologist, 46, 781–786. https://doi.org/10.3958/059.046.
0320
Dooley, J. W., Lambrecht, S., & Honda, J. (2010). Eight new state records of aleyrodine whiteflies found in Clark County, Nevada and three newly described taxa (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae, Aleyrodinae). Insecta Mundi, 140, 1−36.
Drews, E. A., & Sampson, W. W. (1956). Tetralicia and a new related genus Aleuropleurocelus (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae). Annals Entomological Society of America, 49, 280–283. https://doi.org/10.1093/aesa/49.3.280
Drews, E. A., & Sampson, W. W. (1958). California aleyrodids of the genus Aleuropleurocelus. Annals of the Entomological Society of America, 51, 120–125.
Martin, J. H. (2004). The whiteflies of Belize (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) Part 1 — Introduction and account of the subfamily Aleurodicinae Quaintance and Baker. Zootaxa, 681, 1–119. https://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.681.1.1
Martin, J. H. (2005). Whiteflies of Belize (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae). Part 2 — A review of the subfamily Aleyrodinae Westwood. Zootaxa, 1098, 1–116. https://dx.
doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.1098.1.1
Polaszek, A., & Gill, R. (2011). A new species of whitefly (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) and its parasitoid (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) from desert lavender in California. Zootaxa, 2750, 51–59. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.2150.1.5/biota
xa.org
Sánchez-Flores, O. A., & Carapia-Ruiz, V. E. (2018a). Nueva especie de Aleuropleurocelus Drews y Sampson (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) y clave para especies del grupo de forma oval. Insecta Mundi, 651, 1–12.
Sánchez-Flores, O. A., & Carapia-Ruiz, V. E. (2018b). Description of two new species of the genus Aleuropleurocelus Drews y Sampson (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) from Mexico. Acta Zoológica Mexicana (nueva serie), 34, 1–9. https://doi.org/10.21829/azm.2018.3412145
Sánchez-Flores, O. A., Carapia-Ruiz, V. E., Coronado-Blanco, J. M., & Ruíz-Cancino, E. (2020). Description of Aleuropleurocelus sampsoni sp. nov. (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) from Tamaulipas, Mexico. Florida Entomologist, 103, 274–280. https://doi.org/10.1653/024.103.0219
Sánchez-Flores, O. A., Carapia-Ruiz, V. E., García-Martínez, O., & Castillo-Gutiérrez, A. (2018a). Descripción de una especie nueva del género Aleuropleurocelus de México. Southwestern Entomologist, 43, 257–262. https://doi.org/
10.3958/059.043.0116
Sánchez-Flores, O. A., Carapia-Ruiz, V. E., García-Martínez, O., & Castillo-Gutiérrez, A. (2018b). Descripción de una especie nueva del género Aleuropleurocelus (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) de México. Acta Zoológica Mexicana (nueva serie), 34, 1–6. https://doi.org/10.21829/azm.2018.3412104
Sánchez-Flores, O. A., García-Ochaeta, J. F., Carapia-Ruiz, V. E., Ruiz-Cancino, E., & Coronado-Blanco, J. M. (2021). New species of Aleuropleurocelus Drews and Sampson (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) from Guatemala, with a key to species from the oval group. Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington, 123, 615–621. https://doi.org/10.4289/0013-8797.123.3.614
