Aleurocanthus t-signatus (Maskell)

Gillespie, Peter S., 2012, A review of the whitefly genus Aleurocanthus Quaintance & Baker (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) in Australia, Zootaxa 3252, pp. 1-42 : 37-39

Aleurocanthus t-signatus (Maskell) (Figs 78–80)

Aleurodes T-signata Maskell, 1896: 443–444. Lectotype, Australia, NSW, designated by Dumbleton, 1956: 167. (ANIC) Aleurocanthus T-signatus (Maskell) , Quaintance & Baker, 1917: 353.

Distribution. Qld, NSW, SA

Hosts. CUNONIACEAE : Ceratopetalum gummiferum ( Martin 1999) ; C.apetalum (ASCU). ELAEOCARPACEAE : Sloanea woollsii (ASCU). LAURACEAE : Cinnamomum camphora ( Martin, 1999) ; Persea americana ( Martin 1999, APPD, ASCU). LEGUMINOSAE: Acacia longifolia ( Martin 1999) ; A. armata ( Martin, 1999) ; A. obtusifolia ( Martin, 1999) ; A. sophorae ( Martin, 1999) ; A. suaveolens ( Martin, 1999) ; Acacia spp. ( Martin 1999, ASCU). MYRTACEAE : Lophostemon confertus (ASCU); Tristania sp. (= Lophostemon sp.) (ASCU, Martin, 1999).

FIGURES 78–83. A. t-signatus puparia 78–80: 78, habitus (1000 µm); 79, pupa slide (500 µm); 80, illustration (A) 3rd instar (B) 2nd instar (from Dumbleton 1956); A. valenciae puparia 81–83: 81, habitus; 82, slide (500 µm); 83, illustration (A) margin detail (from Martin 1999).

Comments. As mentioned in Martin (1999) the original name alludes to the T-shaped pattern of the adult wing, a feature not seen by the author. This species has adapted well to more mesic environments with often singleton specimens found on a variety Acacia spp in semi-arid environments, whilst the same species can be found often in considerable numbers on the leaves of the rainforest tree L. confertus , commonly used as a street tree in Sydney. The puparia of this species are easily diagnosed in the field because of the lack of long glandular spines, the peripuparial wax often appearing as a clear glutinous mass embedding the puparium with short tufts of white wax at the cephalothoracic and caudal openings (Fig.78). This species belongs to the ‘ banksiae-valenciae’ group.