A new species of Aleurolobus Quaintance & Baker, 1914 (Hemiptera, Aleyrodidae) from China infesting Murraya exotica L.

A new whitefly species, Aleurolobus rutae sp. nov., collected on Murraya exotica (Sapindales, Rutaceae) leaves in the Maolan National Nature Reserve, Guizhou, China, is described and illustrated. Some of the individuals were infected with Aschersonia placenta, an entomopathogenic fungus. The insect is circular in shape and characterized by a very wide submarginal region, and the submarginal furrow is almost continu-ous, with only a small break at the caudal furrow. Anterior and posterior marginal setae are absent, but setae are present on the 8th abdominal segment. Thoracic and caudal tracheal folds are discernible.

Automated summary

A new species of whitefly, Aleurolobus rutae sp. nov., was discovered on the leaves of Murraya exotica in Maolan National Nature Reserve in Guizhou, China. It is characterized by its circular shape, wide submarginal region, almost continuous submarginal furrow, and infection with the entomopathogenic fungus Aschersonia placenta.