Whiteflies of Belize (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae). Part 1 introduction and account of the subfamily Aleurodicinae Quaintance & Baker

Abstract

A field survey of sternorrhynchous Hemiptera in Belize, principally conducted within the Chiquibul Forest Reserve, has revealed in excess of 180 species of whiteflies, over 40 of which belong to the subfamily Aleurodicinae. Provided here are a key to all the neotropical genera of Aleurodicinae, an illustrated account of all definable Belize species of Aleurodicinae, and a review of literature that is relevant to systematic studies of New World species in both whitefly subfamilies. Four appendices provide a check list of Belize members of the Aleurodicinae, a list of their known host plants in Belize, a list of nomenclatural changes proposed by this work, and a protocol for the field collection and subsequent laboratory preparation of whitefly specimens. As detailed in Appendix 3, this account proposes one revised subfamilial placement, three new generic synonymies, six new specific synonymies and 12 new combinations; 18 new species are here described.