Respiratory System of the White-Fly, Dialeurodes dissimilis Quaint and Baker (Homoptera, Aleuro-didae)

Abstract

ACCOUNTS of the post-embryonic development of the tracheal system of any insect are extremely meagre. The development of the breathing folds (organs peculiar to the Aleurodidse and some of the Coccidse) has never been studied completely in any white–fly. I have carried out a study of the development of the respiratory system of the nymphal stages of the white-fly Dialeurodes dissimilis Quaint, and Baker, which occurs on Ixora parviflora in India, without doing any apparent damage to the host plant. Some extremely interesting and wholely unexpected results have thus come to light. The only previous account of the development of the tracheal system of a white-fly is that of Woodworth¹, which, however, is inaccurate in many respects.