ZOOTAXA 83: 1-10 (2002) ISSN 1175-5326 (print edition)

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Copyright © 2002 Magnolia Press
ZOOTAXA 83
ISSN 1175-5334 (online edition)

A new species of South American whitefly (Sternorrhyncha:

Aleyrodidae) colonising cultivated bay laurel

J. H. MARTIN1 & C. P. MALUMPHY2

1
Department of Entomology, The Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD, UK
2
Central Science Laboratory, Sand Hutton, York, YO41 1LZ, UK

Abstract

Aleuroplatus biluminiporus sp. nov. is described here from fresh bay laurel (Laurus nobilis) leaves
imported into Britain from South America. Its taxonomic affinities are discussed. The potential
problems posed to the herb and ornamental plant industry by this species are considered.

Key words. Whiteflies, South America, bay laurel, Laurus nobilis, Lauraceae, quarantine assess-
ment

Introduction

During the latter half of 2001, the Plant Health and Seeds Inspectorate found large num-
bers of larval and puparial stages of whiteflies on fresh leaves of cultivated bay laurel
(Laurus nobilis (L.), variety ‘Kiska’), at an importer’s premises in the county of Hereford
& Worcester, England. The leaves were imported for processing in food products and for
sale as a fresh, excised-leaf, herb. The leaves had been harvested from plantations in
savannah near Bogotá, Colombia. Examination of puparial specimens, prepared for
microscopic examination, revealed the presence of two whitefly species. Small numbers of
larval stages of an unrecognisable Paraleyrodes species were present, but most specimens
belonged to an undescribed Aleuroplatus species, clearly belonging to a group of similar
South American species (see comments following the description, below). The presence of
two New World whitefly species is consistent with the origin of the imported leaves. How-
ever, the host plant species is not a South American native, originating instead in the Med-
iterranean region (Uphof, 1968; Harrison et al., 1985).
Several other live species belonging to the hemipterous sub-order Sternorrhyncha
were also present in low numbers on the imported bay laurel leaves, including two species

Accepted: 9 October 2002; published: 21 October 2002 1

ZOOTAXA of soft scales (Coccus hesperidum Linnaeus and Platinglisia vitrea (Cockerell)) and three
83 species of armoured scales (Diaspis boisduvalii (Signoret), Hemiberlesia palmae (Cocker-
ell) and Lindingaspis sp.). There were also live mites belonging to the families Phy-
toseidae, Tetranychidae and Tydeiidae.
Bay laurel is cultivated in the UK as an ornamental shrub, most frequently planted out-
doors in gardens, and less often used as an indoor plant. The leaves (fresh or dried) are also
marketed by the food industry as “bay leaves”, for culinary use. None of the Sternorrhyn-
cha found appeared to be causing visible damage but the Aleuroplatus puparia are highly
visible, being black with whitish waxy secretions (Fig. 5A), which would lower the market
value of the leaves, particularly when intended for sale as a fresh herb. The Colombian
supplier of the bay leaves has introduced regular spraying with dilute lemon grass oil, in
direct response to notification of the whitefly contamination. The spraying has apparently
reduced whitefly numbers.

Specimen depositories

BMNH The Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD, UK
CSL Central Science Laboratory, Sand Hutton, York, YO41 1LZ, UK
USNM United States Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, Maryland 20705, USA (Ster-
norrhyncha collections of the United States National Museum of Natural History,
Washington DC)

Aleuroplatus biluminoporus sp. nov.

(Figs 1 - 5)

PUPARIUM (Figs 1- 3, 5) [Many of the microscopic characters are difficult to discern in

mature specimens, even when partially bleached, and recently-moulted individuals are to
be preferred for accurate diagnosis.]
Habitus. Scattered under leaves, not in distinct feeding groups. Newly moulted pupar-
ial stage rapidly becomes completely black, shiny. With increasing maturity, a wide
peripheral waxy fringe develops, along with a submedian tuft of similar, pure white, wax
(Fig. 5A) but subdorsum remains exposed, black.
Margin. Outline (Fig. 2) ovoid, distinctly widest opposite transverse moulting sutures,
characteristically indented between caudal and posterior marginal setae; 0.93 - 1.15 mm
long, 0.72 - 0.90 mm wide, 1.25 - 1.34 times longer than wide (n=20). Anterior and poste-
rior marginal setae present, fine, posterior pair the longer. Margin evenly crenate, 11-15
(typically 12-13) rounded teeth occupying 0.1 mm of margin; marginal teeth with glandu-
lar bases whose precise appearance is dependent on maturity; margin not modified at tho-

2 © 2002 Magnolia Press MARTIN & MALUMPHY

racic and abdominal tracheal openings, but tooth-base glands more elongate between ZOOTAXA

caudal setal bases (Fig. 1C). 83

FIGURE 1. Aleuroplatus biluminiporus sp. nov. Puparium with expanded detail of (A) margin &
submargin, (B) vasiform orifice region, (C) caudal margin and setae, (D) subdorsal thick-rimmed
“bright” pores, (E) submedian geminate pore / porettes.

Dorsum (Fig. 1). Chaetotaxy comprises paired 8th abdominal and caudal setae only,
fairly stout but acute, caudal pair up to 0.10 mm long, 8th abdominals slightly shorter than
vasiform orifice. Longitudinal moulting suture almost smooth, not keeled, reaching pupar-
ial margin; transverse moulting sutures very shallowly “W”-shaped, terminating slightly
over half way to puparial margin. Dorsal disc generally smooth, with paired finely granu-
lar patches in positions of submedian abdominal and thoracic depressions. A pair of
clearly-defined pale, ovoid, cephalic “eyespots” each have a distinct thickened rim

A NEW ALEUROPLATUS © 2002 Magnolia Press 3

ZOOTAXA mesally; subdorsum with a small number of pale thick-rimmed “bright” pores, distributed
83 as shown (Fig. 1D), always 2 present on each side abdominally; although “eyespots” and
bright pores are pale, they may still be difficult to see in mature specimens with very dark
venters (see Venter, below). Submedian zone punctuated by close-set pore / porette gemi-
nate pairs distributed as shown (Fig. 1E); inner submargin with an uneven single row of
characteristic pores (Fig. 1A) which are probably atypical geminate pore / porette pairs, 60
& 62 on each side in holotype, the pores placed within a narrow band of poorly-formed
reticulate markings; between these reticulations and marginal teeth, a row of subrectangu-
lar markings is sometimes distinct (Fig. 1A). Meso-/metathoracic division very distinct;
abdominal segmentation rather faintly marked, submedially only; abdominal segment VII
not reduced in length medially, pockets indistinct. Vasiform orifice cordate, approximately
0.05 mm long and wide, inset from posterior puparial margin by about its own length, fully
occupied by the operculum which obscures lingula unless operculum raised as in (Fig.
5B).

FIGURES 2-3. Aleuroplatus biluminiporus sp. nov. (2) Outlines of two puparia, with cephalic
“eyespots”, moulting sutures, vasiform orifice and caudal setae marked; (3) Detail of puparial ven-
ter.

4 © 2002 Magnolia Press MARTIN & MALUMPHY

 Venter (Fig. 3). Cuticle of mature individuals heavily sclerotised and sculptured, com- ZOOTAXA

pletely opaque, black - a characteristic that leads to difficulties in examining dorsal fea- 83
tures in slide-mounted complete specimens. A wide subdorsal band, anterior to
mouthparts, lateral to legs and on either side of the submedian zone is coarsely punctate;
the wide submarginal band with irregular folds and slightly darker rounded markings; the
median band rather granular and corrugate. Thoracic and caudal tracheal folds indicated
only by faint pairs of boundary lines, but not otherwise differentiated. Each leg with an
apical pad; antennal bases placed antero-mesal to fore legs. A narrow, pale, inverted “V”-
shaped band is present, running from foreleg apices anteromesally, skirting the mouth-
parts.

FIGURE 4. Aleuroplatus biluminiporus sp. nov. Third-instar larva with expanded detail of (top to
bottom) cephalic seta, mesothoracic seta, abdominal margin, geminate pore / porette and vasiform
orifice / eighth abdominal seta.

THIRD-INSTAR LARVA (Fig. 4). Cuticle pale, with staining required for microscop-
ical study on slides, not visibly waxy in life. Outline ovoid, marginal indentation between
posterior marginal and caudal setae very slightly indicated; individuals 0.66 - 0.70 mm
long, 0.49 - 0.50 mm wide, widest opposite hind leg bases (n=3). Margin evenly crenulate,
16-17 teeth per 0.1 mm. Anterior and posterior marginal setal pairs present, fine, acute.

A NEW ALEUROPLATUS © 2002 Magnolia Press 5

ZOOTAXA Dorsal chaetotaxy comprises paired cephalic (45 µm, apically blunt), mesothoracic (20
83 µm, apically blunt), metathoracic (30 µm, apically blunt), 8th abdominal (35 µm, apically
blunt) and caudal (70 µm, apically acute) setae (n=1). Meso-/metathoracic and abdominal
segmentation pronounced. An inner submarginal row of about 12 pairs of geminate pore/
porettes present, with others scattered subdorsally; a single bright pore (sometimes a pair)
present on each side, close to foreleg and on abdominal segment III. Vasiform orifice cor-
date, posteriorly elevated, 0.04 mm long and wide; trapezoidal operculum fully occupies
orifice, but spinulose lingula visible through operculum. Ventrally with legs triangular,
apices directed laterad, each with a subcircular apical pad; antennae small and thorn-
shaped with their apices directed mesad; ventral abdominal setae situated anterior to vasi-
form orifice; ventral cuticle very fine, diaphanous.
SECOND-INSTAR LARVA. Specimens were in poor condition; they were slide-
mounted in Heinz mountant for study. Pale, outline ovoid; individuals 0.43 - 0.44 mm
long, 0.28 – 0.30 mm wide, widest opposite hind leg bases (n=5). Margin relatively
smooth. Anterior and posterior marginal setal pairs present, fine, acute. Dorsal chaetotaxy
comprises paired cephalic (19-32 µm, apically blunt), mesothoracic (17-34 µm, apically
blunt), metathoracic (17-36 µm, apically blunt), 8th abdominal (23-32 µm, apically blunt)
and caudal (46-51 µm, apically acute) setae (n=5). Head with a small, bulbous central pro-
jection. Abdominal segmentation pronounced. An inner submarginal row of about 8-10
pairs of geminate pore/porettes present; a single bright pore present on each side, close to
mesothoracic setal-base. Vasiform orifice cordate, posteriorly elevated, 0.03 mm long and
wide; trapezoidal operculum fully occupies orifice; lingula spinulose. Ventrally, similar to
third instar; direction of antennae unclear on study material.
FIRST-INSTAR LARVA (Fig. 5C – F). Pale brown, with distinct marginal white-wax
pallisade layer. Outline ovoid, lozenge-shaped (Fig. 5 C); body length 0.31 - 0.32 mm
long, 0.16 - 0.17 mm wide (n=2). Margin finely crenulate; with 9 pairs of setae (including
caudal pair). Dorsal chaetotaxy comprises paired cephalic, mesothoracic, metathoracic and
8th abdominal setae (all apically blunt). Head with a dorsal, bulbous, finely spiculate pro-
jection; paired, spiculate marginal flanges extending from head and thoracic segments
(Fig. 5 D), and triangular spiculate lateral projections from abdominal segments (Fig. 5 E).
Vasiform orifice cordate, posteriorly elevated; trapezoidal operculum fully occupies ori-
fice (Fig. 5 F).
OVUM. Habitus (Fig. 5 G). Golden brown. Scattered, or in small groups, on the
undersurface of the foliage. Elliptical, usually laid almost horizontally. The lower surface
is strongly convex and the upper surface slightly concave, resembling a short ‘banana’.
The chorion is smooth and shiny with little wax evident. Each egg is firmly attached to the
leaf surface by a slender pedicel extending from the lower surface, near the base of the
egg, inserted into the leaf via a stoma (Fig. 5 G). Egg length 0.21 mm, width 0.12 mm
(n=2); pedicel length 0.07 mm.

6 © 2002 Magnolia Press MARTIN & MALUMPHY

 ZOOTAXA

KEY 83
A FOR
LABELS

B C

D E

F G

FIGURE 5 (A-G). Aleuroplatus biluminiporus sp. nov. A. Habitus photograph of puparium. B.

Scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of puparial vasiform orifice, with operculum raised. C. SEM
of first-instar larva, habitus position. D. SEM of first-instar larva, thoracic marginal flanges. E.
SEM of first-instar larva, abdominal marginal projections. F. SEM of first-instar larva, vasiform
orifice. G. SEM of a group of eggs.

A NEW ALEUROPLATUS © 2002 Magnolia Press 7

ZOOTAXA MATERIAL EXAMINED. HOLOTYPE, puparium, ex-Colombia at England, Here-
83 ford and Worcester, Evesham, Blackminster, on Laurus nobilis ‘Kiska’, 30 July 2001, A.
Kirby, CSL reference 2001/3620 (BMNH). PARATYPES, 39 puparia, 2 third-instar lar-
vae, 1 second/third instar intermoult, same data as holotype (BMNH, CSL, USNM).
ADDITIONAL MATERIAL: many older puparia, dry and still attached to leaf tissue,
part of the original and subsequent quarantine interceptions (BMNH, CSL).
ETYMOLOGY. The name is derived from the presence of 2 pairs of abdominal sub-
dorsal bright pores on each side, which are diagnostic.
COMMENTS. Aleuroplatus biluminiporus clearly belongs to a group of New World
Aleuroplatus species which includes A. oculiminutus and A. oculireniformis (both Quain-
tance & Baker, 1917), A. vinsonioides (Cockerell, 1898), and A. perseaphagus Martin et
al. (1996), as well as undescribed taxa from Central America in the BMNH collection. Of
all the species discussed here, A. vinsonioides is considered the most likely to be confused
with A. biluminiporus, but differs in the puparial margin not being emarginate between
posterior marginal and caudal setae, and in possessing typically 5 pairs of abdominal sub-
dorsal bright pores (only 2 pairs in biluminiporus). It is important to note that, amongst all
the five described species discussed here, A. biluminiporus has only 2 abdominal subdor-
sal bright pores on each side of the insect, compared with typically 5 on each side in all the
others.
The characteristic indentation of the puparial outline on each side, between posterior
marginal and caudal setae, is a character only shared by biluminiporus and perseaphagus.
However, puparia of A. perseaphagus are considerably smaller (maximally 0.72 mm) than
those of biluminiporus (minimally 0.93 mm), and this difference is considered beyond
normal inter-population variation. Further puparial differences are: venter of perseapha-
gus with median area clearly separated from the remainder by a suture-like fold leading
from posterior abdominal spiracles and skirting the legs and antennae (Fig. 3 of Martin et
al., 1996) [in biluminiporus, the venter not so divided (Fig. 3, here)]; undamaged eighth
abdominal setae are lanceolate in perseaphagus, placed very close to segment VII/VIII
boundary [in biluminiporus, eighth abdominal setae are curved but similar to caudal setae,
placed midway between vasiform orifice and suture VII/VIII]; secreted wax in perseapha-
gus is in the form of a neat, narrow marginal fringe and a discrete submedian dorsal
agglomeration, leaving the submargin uncovered (Figs 7 & 8 of Martin et al., 1996) [in
biluminiporus, the marginal fringe is much broader and the dorsal agglomeration is less
neatly defined, comprising longer filaments (Fig. 5 A, here)].
A. oculireniformis has its eighth abdominal setae placed close to the segment VII/VIII
boundary and has kidney-shaped “eyespots” (this latter character possibly not very stable
within a species); A. oculiminutus has its eighth abdominal setae placed closer to vasiform
orifice, but has almost undetectable “eyespots” (again, the eyespot character of question-
able stability), and its submargin bears much more extensive polygonal reticulation than
seen in any of the other described species discussed here.

8 © 2002 Magnolia Press MARTIN & MALUMPHY

Conclusions ZOOTAXA

83
Numerous specimens of live A. biluminiporus have been intercepted in the UK on fresh
bay laurel leaves imported from Colombia. The host range, geographical distribution and
economic importance of A. biluminiporus are unknown so it is not possible to carry out a
detailed phytosanitary risk assessment. Certainly the unsightly puparia of A. biluminopo-
rus would lower the market value of bay laurel when used as a herb and reduce the ame-
nity value when used in ornamental plantings. Heavy infestations of any whitefly species
are likely to affect plants adversely, due to removal of sap and the to the growth of sooty
mould (on the honeydew eliminated by the insects onto the upper surfaces of underlying
leaves) having a deleterious effect on photosynthesis. The authors understand that a spray-
ing regime to control Sternorrhyncha on bay in Colombia, utilising dilute lemon grass oil,
has met with some success.
The risk of A. biluminiporus establishing outdoors in the UK due to the accidental
introduction on fresh bay laurel leaves imported from Colombia is considered to be low
due the following reasons:
Climatic unsuitability. The average monthly minimum and maximum temperatures at
Bogotá are fairly constant throughout the year at about 10°C and 20°C, respectively. The
average minimum and maximum temperatures in Greenwich, London during the winter
months are much lower at about 1.7°C and 6.7°C during January; and higher in the sum-
mer at about 12.8°C and 22.8°C during July. A. biluminiporus may, however, be able to
survive in the UK under artificial conditions or outdoors in urban heat islands.
The majority of the whitefly specimens found on the foliage were probably already
unviable. A small number of adults did emerge from puparia kept in quarantine facilities
(22°C; 12hrs light/dark) at CSL but they did not lay eggs on the bay plants provided.
The majority of the imported leaves are quickly processed for food products. Some of
the leaves are packaged for sale as fresh herbs and any heavily infested leaves are likely to
be removed by quality control.
The number of whiteflies currently being found on the imported leaves has been
demonstrably reduced due to the spraying regime introduced in Colombia.
Bay laurel is not native to the New World, and it is therefore considered likely that A.
biluminiporus may have moved onto it from another lauraceous host, there being several
other Lauraceae-feeding records amongst the suite of Aleuroplatus species discussed here
(Mound & Halsey, 1978; Martin et al., 1996; BMNH collection). It should be noted that, if
given the opportunity, there is a much higher risk of A. biluminiporus naturalising and
becoming a pest of bay laurel in southern Europe, and phytosanitary agencies should be
aware of this potential introduction. Avocado is another valuable lauraceous crop that is
grown widely in the Mediterranean region, although there is no evidence of Persea being
susceptible to A. biluminiporus.

A NEW ALEUROPLATUS © 2002 Magnolia Press 9

ZOOTAXA Acknowledgements
83
This work was partly funded by the Plant Health Division, Department for Environment,
Food and Rural Affairs. We would like to thank Alan Kirby of the Plant Health and Seeds
Inspectorate (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, UK) for collecting the
whitefly samples and Maureen Wakefield of the Central Science Laboratory for taking the
Electron Micrographs. Line drawings were prepared by the first author, and digitised for
Zootaxa by Derek Adams of BMNH.

References

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8, 225-226.
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Books, London, 206 pp.
Martin, J.H., Aguiar, A.M.F. & Pita, M.T. (1996) Aleyrodidae of Madeira - descriptions of three
new species and notes on a pan-Mediterranean species of Aleurotrachelus. Journal of Natural
History, 30, 113-125.
Mound, L.A. & Halsey, S.H. (1978) Whitefly of the World. British Museum (Natural History) / John
Wiley & Sons, Chichester, 340 pp.
Quaintance, A.L. & Baker, A.C. (1917) A contribution to our knowledge of the whiteflies of the
sub-family Aleurodinae (Aleyrodidae). Proceedings of the United States National Museum, 51,
335-445.
Uphof, J.C.Th. (1968) Dictionary of Economic Plants. Cramer, Lehre, 591 pp.

10 © 2002 Magnolia Press MARTIN & MALUMPHY