Dialeurodes sens

Martin, Jon H. & Lau, Clive S. K., 2011, The Hemiptera-Sternorrhyncha (Insecta) of Hong Kong, China-an annotated inventory citing voucher specimens and published records, Zootaxa 2847, pp. 1-122 : 14-18

Dialeurodes sens . lat. undetermined sp. 3

Single sample in BMNH, from Cratoxylum cochinchinense at Pak Sha O (NT), resembles Massilieurodes but with no marginal modification at tracheal openings.

Dialeurodes sens . lat. undetermined sp. 4

Single sample in BMNH, from Ficus microcarpa at Wanchai, HK Island. Puparia very large with a cluster of tubercles on each side of pro- and metathorax, above legs.

Dialeurodes sens . lat. undetermined sp. 5

Two samples in BMNH, both from Ficus superba var. japonica , from Tanner Hill and Aberdeen Country Park. Puparia large and with protuberant very fine combs of teeth at tracheal openings at margin.

Dialeurodes sens . lat. unexamined sp.

Several specimens present in TARI on a Takahashi slide (Shu-Pei Chen pers. comm.) but have not been examined by the authors. The data are only “ Hong Kong, 9.iii.1940 ” and it does not appear to have been mentioned in either of Takahashi’s two 1941 papers treating HK Aleyrodidae .

Dialeuropora brideliae ( Takahashi, 1932)

see D. decempuncta (Quaintance & Baker, 1917)

Dialeuropora decempuncta (Quaintance & Baker, 1917) (Fig. 11)

Extremely common in HK, with vouchers in BMNH and PPRD from Aporusa dioica , Achronychia pedunculata , Bridelia tomentosa , Celtis sp. , Glochidion eriocarpum , G. zeylanicum , Litsea glutinosa , L. monopetala , Macaranga tanarius , Machilus sp. , M. chinensis , and an undetermined euphorbiaceous shrub. Also BMNH vouchers from Persea americana and Piper sarmentosum in Hainan and from Bridelia tomentosa in Macau. Material in USNM, intercepted from HK on Bridelia noxica , had been determined as D. brideliae (Takahashi) but an electronic image (Greg Evans, pers. comm.) clearly shows lanceolate spines in the outer submargin, and the determination is here corrected to D. decempuncta despite the absence of large simple pores (this phenomenon was discussed by Martin, 1999: 72).

Highly characteristic iridescent blue waxy rods under leaves (Fig. 11) indicate the presence of this species, whose feeding stages are almost invisible otherwise.

Indoaleyrodes laos ( Takahashi, 1942)

Only two HK specimens in BMNH, both from Aporusa dioica at Pak Sha O (NT). One agrees very closely with the description, whereas the other has much-extended dorsal sculpture overlying the thoracic tracheal folds, and the puparium stage of this species is clearly variable.

Lipaleyrodes see Bemisia

Massilieurodes formosensis ( Takahashi, 1933)

Reported from HK on Maesa sp. by Takahashi (1941a) but no known voucher material. Four HK samples from Maesa perlarius present in BMNH. Puparia of M. formosensis appear to vary significantly and other HK vouchers, from Aquilaria sinensis , Berchemia floribunda , Ilex cinerea , Schefflera heptaphylla [= S. octophylla ] and an undetermined shrub, are provisionally determined.

Specimens from Maesa with tubercles along the median line of the dorsum, and without a pair of submarginal setae situated on the caudal ridges between vasiform orifice and caudal setae (see Jensen, 2001: 284, 296), may possibly be a variant but are here thought to represent a different species—see undetermined sp. 3, below.

Massilieurodes undetermined sp. 1

Sample from Symplocos crassifolia , and single specimen from? Celtis sp. , are assigned to Massilieurodes but appear likely to be outside the range of variability of M. formosensis .

Massilieurodes undetermined sp. 2

Single sample in BMNH, from undetermined host.

Massilieurodes undetermined sp. 3

Specimens from Maesa perlarius with tubercles along the median line of the dorsum, and without a pair of submarginal setae situated on the caudal ridges between vasiform orifice and caudal setae (see Jensen, 2001: 284, 296), may possibly be a variant of M. formosana but are here thought to represent a different species.

Neomaskellia andropogonis Corbett (1926)

The authors have collected two large HK samples. One colony, on Saccharum spontaneum at Ho Pui Reservoir (NT) (BMNH, PPRD), agrees extremely closely with syntypes from Sri Lanka. The other colony, on? Neyraudia reynaudiana near Pak Tam, Sai Kung Peninsula (NT) (BMNH, USNM), has the same array of “bright” pores submedially on abdominal segments IV-VII but these are very much smaller and less prominent. Whilst it is possible that the? Neyraudia sample may represent a separate species, that is considered unlikely. The description and illustration of N. hainanensis Chou & Yan (1988) exactly agrees with the syntypes of N. andropogonis and it was placed as its junior synonym by Martin & Mound (2007).

Orchamoplatus mammaeferus (Quaintance & Baker, 1917)

In December 2003 the authors discovered large colonies of this species on amenity plantings of “croton” ( Codiaeum variegatum cultivars) in the Braemar Hill district of HK Island. Immediate eradication action was undertaken by AFCD in all local parks and other accessible areas. There has not been any further detection of this species since 2003. Numerous vouchers are in BMNH and PPRD. Orchamoplatus is a Pacific / Australasian genus, with only O. mammaeferus now also found in the Austro-oriental and Oriental regions.

Parabemisia myricae (Kuwana, 1927)

Small samples in BMNH, from Aporusa dioica , Citrus reticulata , Elaeocarpus dubius , Ficus sp. , Stephania longa and an unidentified host. Interception material in USNM from HK, on Mangifera indica (Greg Evans, pers. comm.). This species gained some notoriety as a pest of citrus crops and avocado in areas of new introduction (e.g. Mediterranean / Middle East, California, Florida, Hawaii), and is often called the Japanese bayberry whitefly, but it appears to be uncommon in HK.

Parabemisia undetermined sp. 1 (Fig. 9)

This species is very common on Smilax spp in HK. It is a most striking whitefly in life, with puparia readily visible against the smooth greyish lower surfaces of leaves—each individual secretes a peripheral fringe of very long white rays and its dorsal surface is dusted with pretty white, mealy material; the puparia are numerous but are usually rather evenly distributed over each leaf. Vouchers in BMNH, both on slides and dry. A sample from Stephania longa at Pak Sha O (NT) comprises puparia that were extremely cryptic in life, but were probably teneral—these appear to belong to this same species.

Parabemisia undetermined sp. 2

Single sample in BMNH, from Maesa perlarius at The Peak. Puparia have very long submarginal setae and rather short vasiform orifice, but the lingula is not of the “D”-shaped Pealius - type.

Parabemisia undetermined sp. 3

Single sample in BMNH, from Aporusa dioica at Shing Mun arboretum (NT). This species is close to P. myricae but the vasiform orifice characters differ.

Parabemisia undetermined sp. 4

Specimens from huge colony of pale puparia without obvious secretions, covering lower surfaces of numerous leaves of Gnetum luofuense in Aberdeen Country Park ( HK Island). This colony was clearly defunct by the time it was collected and few specimens are in good condition. However, this does appear to be a further species of Parabemisia .

Pealius chinensis Takahashi (1941)

Described from HK by Takahashi (1941b) but no known type material. Species not represented in BMNH .

Pealius fici Mound (1965)

See Pealius undetermined sp. 1

Pealius liquidambari ( Takahashi, 1932)

Single sample in BMNH, from Liquidambar formosana at Nai Chung (NT).

Pealius machili Takahashi (1935)

Sampled from very large colony on Annona squamosa at Mong Tseng village, Tin Shui Wai (NT). This is rather tentatively determined, differing slightly from the species’ description. Slide-mounted and dry vouchers in BMNH and PPRD. Sumalde & Salinas (2000) reported “ Pealius near machili Takahashi ” from the same host (local name “atis”) in the Philippines, and this closely matches the HK material.

Pealius psychotriae Takahashi (1935)

Three samples in BMNH, all from Alocasia odora (Araceae) . Specimens have been compared with syntypes and the determination is considered to be sound.

Pealius rhododendri Takahashi (1935)

Three samples in BMNH, from Rhododendron pulchrum . Two other samples, from Boehmeria nivea and an undetermined shrub, match samples from rhododendron that have longer-than-usual submarginal setae, and these are also determined as rhododendri .

Pealius undetermined sp. 1

Hill et al. (1982) and Lee & Winney (1981) both reported Pealius fici Mound (1965) from HK. A single slide with four specimens is in BMNH, from Ficus microcarpa at HK University and sent to London by Hill, with “ cf. fici Mound ” written on the slide in Mound’s handwriting. This is almost certainly the source of the published records, but these puparia have prominent dorsal pore-tubercles and a much broader and more reticulate post-vasiform orifice pit, along with characteristic pigmentation that is lacking in P. fici . These records of P. fici are erroneous, it having been described from Nigeria and not otherwise recorded from outside Africa. A further sample of this HK species is now in BMNH, from the same host in Wanchai ( HK Island).

Pealius undetermined sp. 2

Single puparium in BMNH, from Ficus superba japonica in Aberdeen Country Park ( HK Island).

Pealius undetermined sp. 3

Single puparium in BMNH, from Desmos chinensis in Sai Kung Peninsula (NT).

Pentaleyrodes hongkongensis Takahashi (1941)

Described from HK by Takahashi (1941b) from undetermined Lauraceae , but with no known type material. HK material of several samples in BMNH and PPRD, from Litsea sp. or spp, L. rotundifolia var. oblongifolia and Machilus chinensis .

Rhachisphora koshunensis ( Takahashi, 1933)

see R. machili ( Takahashi, 1932)

Rhachisphora machili ( Takahashi, 1932)

One sample in BMNH, from Machilus sp. , contains puparia that match the description and other studied specimens of R. machili . Two further samples, both from Litsea glutinosa (BMNH & PPRD) , display a mixture of features of R. machili and R. koshunensis ( Takahashi, 1933) . A single specimen from Cinnamomum parthenoxylon at Pak Sha O (NT) is also provisionally determined. It appears that R. machili may be a variable species, or that these two species are part of a species-group.

Rhachisphora takahashii sp. nov. (Figs 37-42)

Background. This species was reported from HK, as an undescribed species of Rhachisphora feeding on Gordonia sp. , by Takahashi (1941a: 353). Takahashi gave some descriptive detail, closely comparing it with R. maesae ( Takahashi, 1932) , but he did not formally describe it “since the specimens are incomplete”, and there is no known voucher material. However, there are now several HK samples of what is undoubtedly this species, also from Gordonia axillaris , along with 3 specimens from Schima superba , all material collected by the authors and deposited in BMNH, PPRD and USNM. Both hosts are members of the plant family Theaceae . We have pleasure in completing the description of this species here: in naming it we dedicate it to the late Dr Ryoichi Takahashi.

Puparium. Elongate-oval, strongly dimorphic, 1.55–1.81 mm long, 1.05–1.32 mm wide (female), 1.23– 1.31 mm long, 0.80–0.91 mm wide (male), widest opposite transverse moulting sutures. Abdomen with pronounced rhachis with 5 pairs of lateral arms extending towards submargin (Fig. 41), with similar developments posterior to vasiform orifice parallel to puparial axis and defining a caudal furrow that is punctuated by coarse granular markings (Fig. 40). Anterior edges of basal parts of lateral rhachis arms marked by cuticular thickening that may be distinctly dentate (Fig. 42). Entire dorsum bearing evenly-distributed geminate pore / porettes (Figs 37, 38, 41, 42). Thoracic (Fig. 39) and caudal (Fig. 40) tracheal openings at margin each in form of an invagination with two mesally-directed teeth. Vasiform orifice rather elongate-cordate as shown, lingula in some specimens unfolded and excluded beyond vasiform orifice, finely spinulose, digitiform (Fig. 38). Puparial c haetotaxy —Anterior and posterior marginal setae present, long and fine; all dorsal setae short, spiniform; 13 pairs in outer submargin including caudal pair (Fig. 40) situated anterolateral to caudal tracheal pore; single submedian pairs in posterior-cephalic area, meso- and metathorax, and abdominal segments II–III (Fig. 37) or II–IV; eighth abdominal pair antero-lateral to vasiform orifice (Fig. 38).

Comments. The photographic image here (Fig. 41), along with our drawings of R. takahashii (Figs 37- 40), Takahashi’s drawing of maesae (Fig. 43) and our own brief descriptive notes should serve to define R. takahashii . As stated by Takahashi, R. takahashii is extremely similar to R. maesae but displays a reduced submedian chaetotaxy (abdominal submedian pairs only on segments II–III or II–IV, compared with segments II–VI in maesae ), and maesae has a prothoracic pair of spiniform setae (absent in takahashii ). As Takahashi also observed, the dorsal setae in R. takahashii are not truly lanceolate, somewhat more slender than in maesae , gradually tapering from base to acute apex. Puparia of R. takahashii possess an additional pair of rhachis “arms” on abdominal segment VII (Fig. 41) as compared with R. maesae (Fig. 43). Ko, in Ko et al. (2002) described R. taiwana from the same two hosts and Litsea acuminata : however, this Taiwan species differs in possessing many tiny dorsal capitate “seta-glands” (which are absent from both maesae and takahashii ), and also lacks sclerotic teeth on the antero-mesal edges of the abdominal rhachis arms (present in both maesae and in takahashii , figs 43 and 42 respectively).

Material examined. Holotype puparium (female), HONG KONG: HK, Tai Tam Reservoir Road, 06 December 1999, on Gordonia axillaris (Theaceae) , J.H. Martin #7312 ( BMNH). Paratypes, HONG KONG: 10 puparia, 1 third-instar nymph, same data as holotype ( BMNH, USNM); 4 puparia, Lantau I., hillside east of Shek Pik Reservoir, 15 November 1996, on Gordonia sp. , Martin #6819 ( BMNH); 1 puparium, HK, slopes of High West, 28 November 1999, on G. axillaris, Martin #7302 ( PPRD); 2 puparia, HK, Pok Fu Lam Country Park, below The Peak, 12 December 2001, on G. axillaris, Martin #7565 ( BMNH); 7 puparia, 1 emerged adult male, NT, Ma On Shan Country Park mountain trail, 09 December 2003, on G. axillaris, Lau & Martin, Martin #7919 ( BMNH); 3 puparia, NT, Plover Cove Country Park, near Bride’s Pool, 26 November 2005, on Schima superba, Martin #8203 ( BMNH).

Rusostigma radiirugosa (Quaintance & Baker, 1917)

Reported from HK by Takahashi (1941a), the sole specimen discussed by Takahashi located in TARI (Shu- Pei Chen, pers. comm.). No HK material present in BMNH.

Rusostigma undetermined sp. 1

Single HK voucher specimen in BMNH, from Gnetum luofuense at Pok Fu Lam Country Park, HK Island. This specimen is damaged by a centrally located and very large parasitoid emergence hole, but it is still clear that it does not match any of the four described Rusostigma species listed by Martin & Mound (2007).

Singhiella chinensis (Takahashi, 1941)

Takahashi (1941a) described this species from HK, as Aleuroputeus chinensis , but no type material known. Four HK samples in BMNH from Machilus spp , and one sample from Persea kadooriei .

Singhiella citrifolii (Morgan, 1893)

Five samples in BMNH from Citrus spp , and one sample from Randia spinosa . Interception material in USNM from HK, on several hosts (Greg Evans, pers. comm.). A slide in PPRD, under Dialeurodes citrifolii . Also known from Citrus sp. in Macau ( BMNH). Still widely known as Dialeurodes citrifolii despite Jensen’s (2001) nomenclatural change.

Singhiella simplex (Singh, 1931)

S. simplex was originally described within Aleurocanthus from very limited Indian material on the Indian banyan, Ficus bengalensis . The HK and south China banyan is F. microcarpa . David & Subramaniam (1976: 206) described Pealius indicus , also from F. bengalensis in India, and this has been placed as a junior synonym of S. simplex (see Martin & Mound, 2007, for synonymy details). David & Subramaniam noted that puparia of P. indicus occurred on both the upper and lower leaf surfaces, an unusual habit for whiteflies. HK vouchers are in BMNH and PPRD of three samples from Ficus microcarpa , two samples noted as feeding on the upper surfaces of leaves. Puparia developing on the upper surfaces have extremely short dorsal setae, whereas those from the lower surfaces tend to have varying numbers of setae very long and stout— hence Singh’s original mistaken placement of the species in Aleurocanthus . HK specimens bear close resemblance to paratypes of P. indicus in BMNH: given the proven variability of S. simplex the HK samples are provisionally determined as S. simplex . Three BMNH specimens from F. superba japonica in HK and six puparia from F. microcarpa at Xiamen Botanic Gardens, Fujian Province (coll. Andrew Polaszek) are also provisionally determined as this species.

Singhiella undetermined sp. 1

Single 3-specimen sample in BMNH, from undetermined shrub on The Peak, HK Island. These puparia differ from S. chinensis in possessing a distinct pore at each of the tracheal openings at the margin, along with long and stout dorsal disc setae (including the 8 th abdominal setae).

Singhius hibisci (Kotinsky, 1907)

10 small samples from HK in BMNH, from Aporusa dioica ,? Breynia sp. ,? B. fruticosa ,? Bridelia tomentosa , Clerodendrum fortunatum and Litsea glutinosa . One voucher slide in PPRD. There is considerable variation in the nature and size of dorsal setae (but not chaetotaxy), and puparia from upper and lower leaf surfaces of the same plant differ from each other. All of these specimens are assigned to S. hibisci .

Singhius russellae David & Subramaniam (1976)

Two HK samples in BMNH, from? Bridelia sp. and? Euphorbiaceae . These specimens are devoid of thoracic tracheal pores on the puparial margin, and this absence is the main diagnostic character for this species. Also from Bridelia tomentosa in Macau ( BMNH).

Tetraleurodes acaciae (Quaintance, 1900)

Three HK samples in BMNH, from Erythrina speciosa (also a slide in PPRD), Leucaena leucocephala , and an undetermined mimosoid host. Also known from Erythrina sp. in Hainan ( BMNH). This is a legume-feeding introduction from the neotropics. Villacarlos et al. (2003) reported this species from Gliricidia sepium in the Philippines (vouchers in BMNH): it is likely to occur more widely in Asia than these sparse records indicate.

Tetraleurodes graminis Takahashi (1934)

Single sample of just three specimens in BMNH, from the blade of an undetermined grass on waste ground by the old Sheung Shui KCR railway station ( NT) in 1979 (coll. Martin) .

Trialeurodes ricini (Misra, 1924)

Two specimens in BMNH, from Macaranga tanarius at Mai Po Marshes ( NT). Material in PPRD recorded from “grass blade” should be regarded as an unsafe host record—see Appendix 4. Puparia of this species secrete a tough, transparent leathery covering that requires mechanical removal to reveal the dorsal surfaces. It may be distinguished from the similar T. floridensis -group by the presence of thorn-like leg-base spines in T. ricini .

Trialeurodes vaporariorum ( Westwood, 1856)

T. vaporariorum is cosmopolitan and highly polyphagous and has long been known as a worldwide pest, particularly of herbaceous crops under glass, leading to its often-used common name, glasshouse or greenhouse whitefly. It was assumed by Westwood (almost certainly correctly) to be a New World native, with the descriptive material suspected of having been imported into England from Mexico. Curiously, there is no HK material in BMNH. However, interception material is in USNM from HK, on several hosts (Greg Evans, pers. comm.).

Tuberaleyrodes machili Takahashi (1932)

Single HK sample in BMNH, from Machilus chinensis at The Peak.

Vasdavidius concursus Ko (1998) (Fig. 13)

Seven HK samples in BMNH, from Miscanthus sp. , M. sinensis , Saccharum ? spontaneum (also slides in PPRD and USNM) and undetermined grasses. There is some variation in the puparial morphology but only one species is thought to be involved. Feeding nymphal stages are extremely cryptic on the grass blades, each with a delicate secreted fringe of glassy rays.

Vasdavidius setiferus (Quaintance & Baker, 1917)

Single sample in BMNH, from undetermined grass at TLF. The only named (apparently the usual) host for this whitefly species is Imperata sp or spp.

Viennotaleyrodes megapapillae (Singh, 1932)

Single sample in BMNH, from Millettia sp at Pok Fu Lam Country Park, HK Island.