Aleurolobus teucrii n. sp. is described from southern Italy and the Maltese Islands (Central Mediterranean). The species seems to be monophagous on Teucrium fruticans L. A key to the European species of this genus (A. niloticus Priesner et Hosny, A. olivinus (Silvestri), A. wunni (Ryberg) and A. teucrii n. sp.) is provided.peer-reviewe

Mifsud, David

Palmeri, Vincenzo

English

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Boll. Lab. Ent. agr. Filippo Silvestri 52 (1996): 89-95 DA VID MIFSUD Department of Agriculture, Research and Deve-lopment Centre, Plant Health Division, Gham-mieri, Marsa, Malta VINCENZO PALMERI Istituto di Difesa delle Piante, Univer-sita degli Studi di Reggio Calabria, Gal-lina di Reggio Calabria, Italia A new species of Aleurolobus Quaintance et Baker (Homoptera, Aleyrodidae) from Southern Europe In the past twenty years, taxonomic and ecological studies on whiteflies (Ho-moptera, Aleyrodidae) have been conducted in several Mediterranean coun-tries, often accompanied by the description of new species (BINK-MoENEN, 1992; BINK-MoENEN & GERLING, 1990; IACCARINO, 1981, 1982, 1985, 1989; MIFSUD, 1995; RAPISARDA, 1982, 1986). During a field trip to the Island of Gozo (Malta), carried out by one of us (D. Mifsud) mainly for collecting Sternorrhyncha, and in the course of the studies which are carried out by the Institute for Plant Protection of the University of Reggio Calabria (Italy), in order to define the whitefly fauna of Southern Italy, pupal cases of a new species of a whitefly where collected on Teucrium fruticans L., the description of which is given here. The finding of any new species is significant since the whitefly fauna of the mediterranean basin has been so well described. Aleurolobus teucrii n. sp. DESCRIPTION Pupal case (Fig. I) generally oval in shape, widest at abdominal segments II-III and slightly concave posteriorly. Colour dark brown to black, with little wax on dorsum disposed in a typical pattern (Fig. II, 1). Sexually dimorphic: female pupal case 0.97-1.13 mm long and 0.64-0.73 mm wide (on average 1.55 times as long as wide); male pupal case 0.81-0.90 mm long and 0.44-0.57 mm wide (on average 1.62 times as long as wide). Margin irregular but with a fairly regular pattern of papilla-like crenula-tions immediately mesad of marginal line, distributed 3-6.5 every 100 fJ.m of marginal length. Thoracic tracheal pores not differentiated. Posterior margin - 90-Fig. I - Pupal case of Aleurolobus teucrii n. sp.: dorsal (right) and ventral (left) surface. - 91 -Fig. II - Aleurolobus teucrii n. sp. -. 1. Female pupal case on the leaf upperface of Teucriumfruti-cans L .. 2. Posterior part of abdomen with the vasiform orifice (from a slide mounted spe-ciemen). 3. Different larval stages and a pupal case on the leaf underface of Teucrium fruticans L. - 92-indented at region of caudal tracheal opening, with irregular fine teeth. Ante-rior and posterior marginal setae present, 20-50 (lm and 30-85 (lm long respec-tively. Submarginal region broad, narrowing anteriorly, separated from dorsal disc by a furrow interrupted at caudal area. Seven pairs of stout submarginal setae distributed ad follows: three anterior pairs (4-16 (lm long) and four posterior pairs (7-30 (lm long), the latter ones roughly inserted on abdominal segments V-VII. Another set of six pairs of stout setae (7-25(lm long) are present on inner submarginal fold: one pair on cephalus, one pair on each thoracic seg-ment, one pair between abdominal segment III-IV and sometimes another pair on abdominal segment V. Dorsal disc with geminate pore+porettes scattered throughout. Eye spot absent. Three pairs of stout median setae (8-25 (lm long) occuring on cephalus and on each of abdominal segments I and VIII. Abdominal segments roughly subequal in length, medially with abdominal sutures almost reaching submargi-nal furrow. Vasiform orifice rounded posteriorly (subcircular to subcordate) with transverse ridge on its floor (Fig. II, 2), 58-68 (lm long and 58-66 (lm wide in the females, 48-56 (lm long and 47-60 (lm wide in the males. Opercu-lum almost filling vasiform orifice, 39-59 (lm long and 47-57(lm wide in the females, 37-54 (lm long and 40-52 (lm wide in the males, Lingula 30-60 (lm long. Caudal furrow weakly differentiated, 91-113 (lm long in the females and 56-72 (lm long in the males. Caudal furrow length/vasiform orifice length ratio = 1.4-1.7 in the females and 1.1-1.3 in the males. Caudal furrow length/pu-pal case length ratio=0.09-0.11 in the females and 0.07-0.09 in the males. Ventral region with weakly evident abdominal tracheal fold. Thoracic tra-cheal fold areas not differentiated. Antennae in female puparia reaching up to one-third of mesothoracic legs; those in male puparia usually reaching more than two-thirds of mesothoracic legs. Adhesive sacs and ventral abdominal se-tae present, the latter are 20-50 (lm long. TYPE MATERIAL - HOLOTYPE - Female pupal case, Maltese Islands: Gozo, Xlendi Valley, 16.111.1994, on Teucriumfruticans, S. Aquilina, D. Mifsud & G.W. Watson coll., deposited in the Natural History Museum (London). P ARATYPE - 17 female and 18 male pupal cases, same data as holotype; 2 female pupal cases, Maltese Islands: Malta, Mellieha, 5.11.1995, on T. jruticans, D. Mifsud colI.; 6 female and 2 male pupal cases, Maltese Islands: Malta, Mistra, 10.11.1995, on T. fruticans, D. Mifsud colI.; 20 female and 5 male pupal cases, Maltese Islands: Gozo, Ghajnsielem, 18.11.1995, on T. fruti-cans, D. Mifsud coll.; 11 female and 4 male pupal cases, Italy: Taormina, Santa Maria della Rocca, 28.VII.1995, on T. fruticans, V. Palmeri coll.; 8 female and 9 male pupal cases, Italy: Taormina, Santa maria della Rocca, 8.11.1996, on T. fruticans, V. Palmeri coll.: 11 female and 17 male pupal cases, Italy: Taormina, Santa Maria della Rocca, 2.IV.1996, on T. fruticans, V. Palmeri coll. All material was deposited in the Natural History Museum (London), D. Misfud private collection; Istituto di Difesa delle Piante, Universita di Reggio Calabria, Italy; United - 93-States Department of Agriculture, Maryland (USA); Istituto di Entomologia Agraria, UniversitA di Catania, Italy. DISCUSSION - Aleurolobus teucrii n. sp. is easily discernible from other spe-cies described up to now and belonging to the same genus because of the pecu-liar chaetotaxi, the atypical marginal indentetions, the absence of eye spots, the sub cordate edge of the vasiform orifice, as well as its general aspect. It is very similar to A. pauliani Cohic (Come, 1969; BINK-MoENEN, 1983), from which it differs for the presence of eye spots and for the different number of median setae. ETYMOLOGY - The name of this new species is derived from the plant from which the material was collected. BIOLOGY - Adults, larvae and eggs of Aleurolobus teucrii were collected on Teucriumfruticans L. (Tubiflorae, Labiatae), a plant diffused in the Western Mediterranean, and very common (from 0 to 600 m above sea level) on seaward-facing limestone outcrops (PIGNATI'I, 1982). The close trophic linkage between Aleurolobus teucrii and Teucrium fruti-cans suggests a wider diffusion of the insect, probably coinciding with that one of the host plant. The fIrst biological observations show this whitefly colonizes both surfaces of the small leaves (Fig. II, 3), which can be completely covered by larvae. No evident signs of damages of the plants have been noted up to now. KEY TO THE EUROPEAN SPECIES OF ALEUROLOBUS QUAINTANCE ET BAKER BASED ON PUPAL CASES* 1. Vasiform orifice rounded posteriorly; with a regular row of papilla-like crenulations imme-diately mesad of true margin of pupal case (Fig. I). On Teucnum fruticans ............... . ............ ...................... ........................ ..... .......... ............ ...... Aleurolobus teucni n. sp. Vasiform orifice more acute posteriorly (subtriangular); characteristcs of pupal case margin not as above ............................................................................................................ 2 2. Caudal setae not evident; pupal case almost circular in outline. On Oleaceae ............ . ......................................................................... , .......... Aleurolobus olivinus (Silvestri) Caudal setae present, normally extending beyond posterior margin of pupal case, this being oval in outline ......................................................................................................... 3 3. Crescent-shaped «ocular» markings present in cephalic region. Marginal teeth usually squa-red, parallel-sides. 10 pairs of submarginal setae present. Polyphagous but in Europe recor-ded only on Capparis ..................................... Aleurolobus niloticus Priesner et Hosny «Ocular» markings absent. Marginal teeth more rounded. Usually 14 pairs of small setae present on submargin. On Asarum european & Clematis sp ....................................... . .............. ................... ... ......... ............ ... ..................... ... .... Aleurolobus wunni (Ryberg) * RAPISARDA (1985) provided a key for the identification of the Italian Aleurolobus spp. upon which this key is based. - 94-Acknowledgements - We would to thank Mr. J.H. Martin, Natural History Museum, Department of Entomology, London, United Kingdom, and Prof. C. Rapisarda, Istituto di Entomologia Agra-ria, Universita di Catania, Italy, for the critical estimate of type material and the constructive suggestions. SUMMARY Aleurolobus teucrii n. sp. is described from southern Italy and the Maltese Islands (Central Mediterranean). The species seems to be monophagous on Teucrium fruticans L. A key to the European species of this genus (A. niloticus Priesner et Hosny, A. olivinus (Silvestri), A. wunni (Ryberg) and A. teucrii n. sp.) is provided. RIASSUNTO Una nuova specie del genere Aleurolobus Quaintance et Baker (Homoptera Aleyrodidae) dell 'Europa meridionale Nel presente lavoro si fornisce la descrizione di Aleurolobus teucrii sp. n., trovato in Italia meridionale e nelle isole Maltesi (Mediterraneo centrale). La specie ha una posizione alquanto isolata nell'ambito del genere cui viene ascritta, essendo morfologicamente vicina solo ad A. pau-Ziani Cohic; essa sembra essere monofaga su Teucrium fruticans L., cui non arreca comunque danni evidenti. II lavoro e corredato da una chiave delle specie europee del genere Aleurolobus, cioe: A. niloticus Priesner et Hosny, A. olivinus (Silvestri), A. wunni (Ryberg) eA. teucrii sp. n. REFERENCES BINK-MoENEN, R.M. - 1983 - Revision of the African whiteflies (Aleyrodidae) mainly based on a collection from Tchad. - Entomologische Vereniging 10: 210 pp. BINK-MoENEN, R.M. - 1992 - Whiteflies from mediterranean evergreen oaks (Homoptera: Aleuro-didae). - Systematic Entomology 17: 21-40. BINK-MoENEN, R.M. & D. GERLING - 1990 - Aleyrodidae of Israel. - Boll. Lab. Ent. agr. Filippo Silvestri 47: 3-49. Comc, F. - 1969 - Contribution a !'etudes des aleurodes africains (5 note). - Anuls Univ. Abidjan (E) 2: 1-156. IAc~ARINo, F.M. - 1981 - Aleirodidi nuovi 0 poco noti per l'ltalia. - Boll. Lab. Ent. agr. Filippo Silvestri 38: 143-157. IACCARINO, F.M. - 1982 - Descrizione di Aleuroviggianus adrianae, n. gen. n. sp. (Homoptera: Aleurodidae). - Boll. Lab. Ent. agr. Filippo Silvestri 39: 37-45. llCCARINO, F.M. - 1985 - Nuovi generi e specie di Aleirodidi per la fauna italiana. - Boll. Lab. Ent. agr. Filippo Silvestri 42: 165-141. IACCARINO, F.M. - 1989 - Descrizione di Paraleyrodes minei n. sp. (Homoptera: Aleurodidae), nuovo aleirodide degli agrumi, in Siria. - Boll. Lab. Ent. agr. Filippo Silvestri 46: 131-149. MIFSUD, D. - 1995 - Whiteflies from the Maltese Islands (Homoptera: Aleurodidae). - The Central Mediterranean Naturalist 2 (3): 61-78. PIGNA'ITI, S. - 1982 - Flora d'ltalia. vol. 2. - Edagricole, Bologna: 732 pp. - 95-RAPISARDA, C. - 1982 - Appunti morfologici ed ecologici su alcuni Aleirodidi (Homoptera: Aleuro-didae) della fauna siciliana. - Boll. Lab. Ent. agr. Filippo Silvestri 39: 71-95. RAPISARDA, C. - 1985 - Presenza in Italia di Aleurolobus niloticus Priesner & Hosny, nuovo parassita delle piante di cappero (Homoptera: Aleurodidae). - Boll. Zoo!. agr. Bachic., Ser. II, 18 (1984-85): 75-86. RAPISARDA, C. - 1986 - Trialeurodes (Ericaleyrodes) sardiniae, subgen. n. sp. n.: A new heather-feeding whitefly (Homoptera: Aleurodidae). - Frustula Entomologica, VII - VIII (XX-XXI): 487-499. Author for correspondence: D. Mifsud, Department of Agriculture, Research and Development Centre, Plant Health Division, Ghammieri, Marsa, Malta. Printed on October 24th, 1996 

Aleirodidi nuovi 0 poco noti per l'ltalia.

Aleyrodidae of Israel.

Contribution a !'etudes des aleurodes africains (5 note). - Anuls Univ.

Descrizione di Aleuroviggianus adrianae,

Descrizione di Paraleyrodes minei n. sp. (Homoptera: Aleurodidae), nuovo aleirodide degli agrumi, in Siria.

Flora d'ltalia.

Nuovi generi e specie di Aleirodidi per la fauna italiana.

Presenza in Italia di Aleurolobus niloticus Priesner & Hosny, nuovo parassita delle piante di cappero (Homoptera: Aleurodidae). -

Revision of the African whiteflies (Aleyrodidae) mainly based on a collection from Tchad.

Trialeurodes (Ericaleyrodes) sardiniae, subgen. n. sp. n.: A new heatherfeeding whitefly (Homoptera: Aleurodidae). - Frustula Entomologica, VII - VIII (XX-XXI): 487-499. Author for correspondence:

Whiteflies from mediterranean evergreen oaks (Homoptera: Aleurodidae).

Whiteflies from the Maltese Islands (Homoptera: Aleurodidae).

A new species of Aleurolobus Quaintance et Baker (Homoptera, Aleyrodidae) from Southern Europe.

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A new species of Aleurolobus Quaintance et Baker (Homoptera, Aleyrodidae) from Southern Europe.

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