Zootaxa 843: 1–10 (2005) ISSN 1175-5326 (print edition)

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Copyright © 2005 Magnolia Press
ZOOTAXA 843
ISSN 1175-5334 (online edition)

Aleurodicus talamancensis, a new whitefly species damaging

plantation bananas in Costa Rica, with discussion of a montane
orchid-feeding population (Sternorrhyncha, Aleyrodidae)

JON H. MARTIN
Department of Entomology, Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD, U.K.
E-mail j.martin@nhm.ac.uk

Abstract

A new species of Aleurodicus Douglas is described from Costa Rica. It is a serious pest of planta-
tion bananas in low-altitude areas of Limón Province. A single population from an orchid plant in
high altitude montane forest differs in several respects, but is thought to be conspecific and is dis-
cussed in detail. This new species is discussed in relation to two similar species which together
form the distinctive A. niveus Martin species-group.

Key words. Bananas, plantations, pest, orchid, Aleurodicus talamancensis, A. niveus-group, Costa
Rica

Introduction

Extensive plantations of bananas (Musa cultivated varieties) are grown in the low-lying
coastal plains of Limón Province, Costa Rica. Between 1999 and the time of writing, con-
siderable damage to cultivated banana plants has been caused by a whitefly species whose
immature stages feed on the lower surfaces of the mature leaves and secrete white, waxy
material (Douglas Cubillo, personal communication). These secretions are extremely
unsightly (Fig. 14), adding to the direct damage caused by extensive sap loss, combined
with secondary damage due to the sooty mould that often develops on the excreted honey-
dew. Whiteflies rarely develop on fruits, even when eggs are sometimes laid on fruit sur-
faces (personal observations).
Many whitefly pests that suddently emerge in economically damaging numbers turn
out to be new introductions, a phenomenon that in recent years has frequently concerned

Accepted by L. Mound: 24 Jan. 2005; published: 27 Jan. 2005 1

ZOOTAXA neotropical species moving into other geographical areas (Martin, 1996, 2001, 2004; Mar-
843 tin et al., 1997, 2001). However, such outbreaks do also involve native species, as hap-
pened when Aleurodicus pulvinatus (Maskell) was involved in a damaging outbreak on
coconut palms in the Caribbean (Martin & Watson, 1998). The present outbreak involves
an undescribed Aleurodicus species that is clearly neotropical in origin, belonging to the A.
niveus Martin (2004) species-group.
New World members of the subfamily Aleurodicinae are rarely host-specific, and all
of the seven aleurodicine species recorded from banana by Mound & Halsey (1978) have
also been recorded from other hosts. Several New World aleurodicines are known to be
highly polyphagous, including A. dispersus Russell (1965) (the often-termed “spiralling
whitefly”), A. dugesii Cockerell (1896) (the “giant whitefly” of recent economic litera-
ture), and Lecanoideus floccissimus Martin et al. (1997). Hernández-Suarez et al. (1997)
provided a detailed account of the economic damage caused by L. floccissimus, an acci-
dental introduction into the Canary Islands in the 1990s: they reported that it had colonised
more host species in coastal Tenerife island than A. dispersus had done since being intro-
duced to the Canaries at least 30 years earlier.
As part of a background search of the collection of the Natural History Museum, Lon-
don, one Aleurodicus sample was discovered that had been collected from an orchid grow-
ing at over 2600 metres altitude on Cerro Chirripó, Costa Rica. The puparia of this colony
resemble those from the lowland banana plantations very closely, but are physically larger
(there is no overlap with the size range of banana-feeding puparia) and exhibit other, more
subtle, differences. It is considered that they are conspecific with the banana-feeding pop-
ulations, but see comments following its description, below.
The primary purpose of this communication is to provide a description and name,
Aleurodicus talamancensis sp. nov., for the species now causing significant economic
impact on the banana plantations of Limón Province. The orchid-feeding puparia are also
described in close comparison with what will be regarded as the typical form, from
bananas. A. talamancensis is also compared with the other two described members of the
A. niveus species-group.

Specimen depositories

BMNH — Natural History Museum, London, U.K.

INBio — National Biodiversity Institute, Santo Domingo de Heredia, Costa Rica
USNM — U.S. Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, Maryland, U.S.A. (custodians of
the Sternorrhyncha collections of the United States National Museum of Natural
History, Washington D.C.)

2 © 2005 Magnolia Press MARTIN

Aleurodicus talamancensis sp. nov. ZOOTAXA

(Figs 1–14) 843

HABITUS — In small groups, puparia often develop within the spiral of oviposition wax
left by the parent female (Fig. 13), each puparium with a narrow annulus peripheral wax
and a thin dorsal covering of opaque white wax, often with dark wax-free spots at posi-
tions of large compound pores and thoracic cicatrices (Figs 12-13). In large aggregations
the amount of secreted material leads to the leaves of the host plant appearing greyish or
white (Fig. 14).
PUPARIUM — TYPICAL FORM, FROM BANANA. Margin. Outline broadly
ovoid, 1.05–1.25 mm long, 0.75–0.91 mm wide, generally widest at abdominal segment II/
III (n=25), but one additional examined specimen only 0.98 X 0.67 mm. Margin broadly
lobulate, generally 4–7 shallow lobules per 0.1 mm of abdominal margin, but rather more
per 0.1 mm towards cephalic region. Margin not modified at tracheal openings. Dorsum.
Cuticle brownish, distinctly paler in submedian area and inner subdorsum (Figs 8, 10).
Longitudinal moulting suture reaching puparial margin; transverse moulting sutures dis-
tally curving abruptly anteriad, becoming almost tangential to puparial margin and termi-
nating opposite middle legs (Fig. 2). Cuticle of submedian area somewhat corrugate,
becoming subtly reticulate subdorsally and then more rugose towards submargin. Abdom-
inal segmentation marked by folds which are suture-like submedially but still evident in
subdorsum; segment VII/VIII boundary medially only marked by presence of pockets, and
not by any fold (Fig. 9); median lengths of segments III–V similar to each other and
slightly longer than median lengths of remainder of abdominal segments. Submedian
abdominal depressions narrow and elongate, little more than widenings of intersegmental
divisions. Cephalothoracic segmentation only subtly marked; two pairs of thoracic cicatri-
ces present (scars of compound pores in third-instar larva). Abdominal segments VII and
VIII each bearing an ovoid raised area (Fig. 1) that is lateral to vasiform orifice on segment
VII and posterolateral to vasiform orifice on segment VIII; raised areas on segment VIII
forming caudal furrow, within which lies excluded part of lingula. Vasiform orifice (Figs
1, 9) broadly cordate, a little wider than long, its rim smooth laterally, situated about its
own length from posterior margin of puparium; operculum wider than long, laterally
rounded, its anterior edge straight but posterior edge distinctly emarginate where it over-
lies lingula, opercular surface rather rugose, apparently without a posterior pair of setae;
lingula head spinules loosely clustered, rather than covering surface evenly; lingula pro-
truding beyond vasiform orifice, almost as wide as operculum at point of emergence from
under operculum, apically rounded, laterally emarginate, its two pairs of setae situated
close to apex, distal setal pair stouter and longer than proximal pair, lingular apex closely
approaching puparial margin. Chaetotaxy. Anterior marginal setae not evident. Posterior
marginal setae, 12 pairs of outer submarginal setae (including nominal caudal pair), and
single pairs of submedian pro-, meso- and metathoracic setae present, each long and hair-
like; eighth abdominal setae present but much shorter and finer, situated anterior to vasi-

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ZOOTAXA form orifice (Fig. 1). Pores. Cephalic pair and anterior 4 pairs of abdominal compound
843 pores (situated on segments III–VI) presenting laterally to viewer, 35 µm maximum diam-
eter in holotype, each with an acute, dagger-shaped, axial process protruding about a pore-
length beyond pore rim; a pair of much smaller compound pores, about 16-20 µm in max-
imum diameter, present on each of abdominal segments VII & VIII, each located on outer
edge of its segment’s raised area (Fig. 1). Narrow submargin defined by band of crowded,
wide-rimmed pores (Figs 2–3) that stand proud from puparial surface, inner boundary of
zone confluent with row of submarginal setal bases, pore band not interrupted at posterior
extremity of puparium but often difficult to see there because of marginal down-curling;
when margin completely flattened on slide, extreme outer submargin can be seen to be
devoid of pores (Fig. 3). Dorsal disc with scattered bright pores, most slightly larger than
those of submarginal band, usually 2–3 present in vicinity of each large compound pore,
and 3–6 on each raised area of abdominal segments VII & VIII (Fig. 1). Venter. Ventral
abdominal setae overlain by vasiform orifice, similar to dorsal submarginal setae. Legs
typically robust and two-segmented, smooth, each with one pronounced apical claw, and
with distal segment bearing one or two small lateral setae. Antennae with their bases situ-
ated anterior to fore legs, with basal one-third smooth-sided, remainder corrugate-sided,
antennal apices pointed and reaching articulation of hind legs. Mouthparts typical for
Aleurodicus species, rostrate, elongate-triangular and similar to lingula in dimensions. Tra-
cheal folds absent.
PUPARIUM — COLONY FROM MONTANE ORCHID. Most characters are
shared with the typical, banana-feeding, specimens and only differences are
described below. Margin. 1.37–1.57 mm long, 0.97–1.17 mm wide, generally widest at
abdominal segment I/II (n=26). Dorsum. Raised areas on abdominal segments VII and
VIII (Fig. 4) broader and less well defined than in specimens from banana, with caudal
furrow therefore less evident; submedian abdominal depressions more distinct, with 2–3
contiguous pits on each side of submedian area (Fig. 6); cephalic pair and anterior 4 pairs
of abdominal compound pores up to 65 µm maximum diameter; rim of vasiform orifice
(Fig. 4) a little less sharply defined; operculum with its posterior edge often not emargin-
ate; clusters of surface spinules on lingula head more clearly defined (Fig. 5); lingula api-
cally slightly more acute, and laterally not noticeably emarginate (Figs 4, 11); largest of
the dorsal disc bright simple pores apparently each with a fine transverse septum; usually
more simple pores present in vicinity of each compound pore, the most numerous clusters
typically on abdominal segment VII and cephalic segment, with up to 10 pores (Figs 4, 7).
MATERIAL EXAMINED. Holotype puparium, COSTA RICA, on Musa cultivated
variety (Musaceae), Limón Province, Talamanca Canton, Daytonia Farm, 2004 (D.
Cubillo) (BMNH). Paratypes: 20 puparia, 3 adult males, 4 adult females, same data as
holotype (BMNH, USNM); 5 puparia, same host, Limón Province, Talamanca Canton,
Farm #97, 2004 (Cubillo) (BMNH); 58 puparia, 3 third-instar larvae, 4 adult males, 4 adult
females, same host, Limón Province, Limón Canton, Valle La Estrella, 2004 (Cubillo)

4 © 2005 Magnolia Press MARTIN

(BMNH, INBio); 2 puparia, same host, Limón Province, Matina Canton, Banasol Farm, ZOOTAXA

March 2004 (D. Gerling & D. Cubillo) (BMNH); 5 puparia, same host, Limón Province, 843
30 March 1999 (unknown collector) (BMNH); numerous puparial specimens dry on leaf
tissue, various data as detailed for paratypes (BMNH, INBio).
Other material (not designated as paratypes): 50 puparia (of which 13 on leaf tis-
sue in alcohol), 10 third-instar larvae, 1 second-instar larva, COSTA RICA, San Jose Prov-
ince, Cerro Chirripó, 2600-2800 metres, on ?Maxillaria sp. (Orchidaceae), 17 February
1983 (J H Martin #3873) (BMNH, INBio, USNM).
ETYMOLOGY. This species is named for the Canton of Talamanca, Limón Province,
Costa Rica.
COMMENTS. Many of the observed differences between the banana-feeding and
orchid-feeding puparia are likely to be a result of size variation, with the size range of the
orchid-feeding specimens from Cerro Chirripó not overlapping the size range of all the
examined banana-feeding specimens from Limón Province. Along with larger overall
puparial size, specimens from Cerro Chirripó have their large compound pores almost
twice the diameter (up to 65µm) of those in puparia from the banana plantations (about 35
µm), and there are greater numbers of dorsal disc simple pores in the Cerro Chirripó sam-
ple; also, the posterior edge of the operculum and the sides of the lingula are more emar-
ginate in banana-feeding specimens, which also have a more clearly defined caudal
furrow. Although these differences are considered most likely to be artifacts of differing
physical size, slight doubt does remain. Accordingly, the banana-feeding populations are
regarded as the typical, name-bearing, form of this emergent pest and the montane orchid-
feeding specimens from Cerro Chirripó are not designated as paratypes. This is considered
to be a valid approach, despite the possibility that the hitherto usual hosts of A. talaman-
censis may have been orchids, and that an opportunistic move onto an alternative host,
banana, may have occurred recently.
The author recently described A. niveus and A. rugioperculatus from Belize (Martin,
2004), and these belong to the same group of Aleurodicus species, sharing the characteris-
tically rugose operculum that occupies most of the vasiform orifice, robust and pigmented
puparial cuticle, and a submarginal zone of crowded simple pores of only one type. Both
species have a much wider submarginal pore band than does A. talamancensis, and neither
of them possess lingular spinules arranged in clusters. A. niveus, another orchid-feeding
species, is characterised by its lingular apex being developed into an acute, bifid, process,
and also by the inner boundary of its very wide submarginal zone of simple pores being
concentric with its puparial margin. A. rugioperculatus, from coconut palms and an uni-
dentified broad-leaved host, has its entire lingula head acute-triangular, and the inner
boundary of its submarginal band of simple pores lobe-like.

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ZOOTAXA

843

FIGURES 1–7. Dorsal puparial details of Aleurodicus talamancensis: 1–3, paratypes from banana.
1, posterior detail; 2, submarginal detail and apex of transverse moulting suture; 3, fully-flattened
margin at confluence with longitudinal moulting suture; 4–7, specimens from montane orchid. 4,
posterior detail (to same scale as Fig. 1); 5, surface detail of lingula; 6, abdominal segment IV with
intersegmental divisions and submedian depressions; 7, cephalic compound pore and adjacent
wide-rimmed simple pores, with inset detail of submarginal pore band.

6 © 2005 Magnolia Press MARTIN

 ZOOTAXA

843

FIGURES 8–11. Photomicrographs of slide-mounted puparia of Aleurodicus talamancensis. 8–9,

puparium and posterior detail from banana; 10–11, puparium and posterior detail from montane
orchid.

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ZOOTAXA

843

FIGURE 12–13. Habitus photographs of puparia of Aleurodicus talamancensis. 12, on leaf of plan-
tation banana, Limón Province; 13, on leaf of ?Maxillaria sp. (Orchidaceae), Cerro Chirripó.

8 © 2005 Magnolia Press MARTIN

 ZOOTAXA

843

FIGURE 14. Mature banana leaf completely covered by immature stages of Aleurodicus talaman-
censis.

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ZOOTAXA Acknowledgements
843
The author would like to thank Douglas Cubillo in Costa Rica, for contributing much
study material from banana crops, and for sending the photographic images used for fig-
ures 12 and 14. Douglas Cubillo and Luko Hilje suggested the chosen specific name for
this species. Victor Eastop (BMNH) offered several valuable comments on the draft manu-
script, and these are acknowledged with thanks. Harry Taylor, BMNH Photographic Unit,
prepared the plates presented here from basic images provided by the author and by Dou-
glas Cubillo.

References

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floccissimus (Homoptera, Aleyrodidae): nueva plaga en las Islas Canarias. Phytoma España
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Martin, J.H. (2001) Description of an invasive new species of Neotropical aleurodicine whitefly
(Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) — a case of complete or partial misidentification? Bulletin of Ento-
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10 © 2005 Magnolia Press MARTIN