Aleurocyperus Ko & Dubey, 2007, gen. nov.

Aleurocyperus gen. nov.

Type species: Aleurocyperus humus sp. nov.

Diagnosis. Puparia elongate, with thin layer of colourless transparent wax on dorsum, luminous in certain lights, deposition of wax rather prominent at thoracic and caudal tracheal pore openings and in furrows. Margin irregularly crenulate. Longitudinal molting suture ill-defined but present, transverse molting suture reaching submedian area. Anterior and posterior marginal setae present. Paired cephalic, meso-, meta-thoracic and eighth abdominal setae present. First abdominal setae absent. Dorsum with few scattered large pores containing porettes, sometimes with an associated porette. Abdominal segment sutures almost reaching outer subdorsum. Depressions on thoracic segments more clearly visible than on abdominal segments. Seventh abdominal segment not reduced medially. Thoracic tracheal furrows faintly indicated by margin than caudal tracheal furrow. Thoracic tracheal folds with longitudinal ridges, caudal tracheal fold defined with stipples. Vasiform orifice subcordate. Operculum subcordate, filling 1/3rd of orifice. Lingula tip exposed, spinose and included. Antennae short, mesad of and not extending beyond base of prolegs. Ventral abdominal setae present. All four pairs of spiracles visible. One pair of setae visible at base of rostrum.

Etymology. The genus name is derived from Aleuro+ cyperus. The term ‘ Aleuro– ’ represents family of the insect, ‘Aleyrodidae’ and ‘– cyperus ’ is a Latin word represents sedge (Cyperaceae) from which the species was collected.

Remarks. This genus is similar to Aleuropteridis Mound (1961), Aleuromarginatus Corbett (1935) and Extensaleyrodes Bink-Moenen (1983). It differs from Aleuropteridis in (1) dorsal disc not deflexed ventrally, (2) absence of glands at base of marginal teeth, (3) tracheal pores unclearly modified at margin, (4) presence of mesothoracic setae, (5) defined tracheal folds, (6) position of anterior and posterior marginal setae, (7) presence of typical pores on dorsum, (8) shape of operculum, (9) dorsal pores and porettes scattered not arranged in rows, (10) exposed lingula. It differs from Aleuromarginatus in (1) absence of submarginal row of papillae, (2) absence of first abdominal setae, (3) transverse molting suture reaching submedian area, (4) defined thoracic tracheal folds, (5) dorsal disc not with 21 pairs of setae (as in Aleuromarginatus), (6) presence of anterior marginal setae, (7) presence of typical pores on dorsum, (8) apically truncated operculum, (9) a pair of setae at base of rostrum, (10) ill-defined longitudinal molting suture, (11) presence of thoracic tracheal furrows, (12) seventh abdominal segment not reduced medially. It differs from Extensaleyrodes in (1) transverse molting suture reaching outer submedian area, (2) transverse molting suture not curved upward from middle, (3) presence of thoracic tracheal furrows, (4) shape of legs, (5) position of caudal and posterior marginal setae, (6) presence of typical dorsal pores, (7) position of cephalic setae, (8) absence of cephalic subdorsal, first abdominal and abdominal submedian setae, (9) antennae inside of legs, (10) anterior abdominal spiracles distinct.

From other genera of grass-feeding whiteflies, such as Agrostaleyrodes Ko (Ko et al. 2001), this new genus differs in characters of vasiform orifice, absence of raised longitudinal ridges, differentiated tracheal pores, and details of dorsal setae. It differs from Aleurocybotus Quaintance and Baker (1914) in the absence of first abdominal setae and details of dorsal setae and the antenna of male and female not extending beyond posterior margin of proleg. Moreover, it differs from Vasdavidius Russell (2000) in details of dorsal setae, defined tracheal pores, notched vasiform orifice and concealed lingula; and from Corbettia Dozier (1934) in having tracheal pores, absence of chain of small pores on dorsum and prominent marginal setae.