First Miocene whiteflies and psyllids (Hemiptera: Sternorrhyncha: Aleyrodoidea and Psylloidea) from Aotearoa New Zealand

Abstract

A new genus and species of fossil whiteflies (Aleyrodidae) and a psyllid (Psyllidae) were discovered in the Hindon Maar Complex, a Fossil-Lagerstätte within the Dunedin Volcanic Group in Otago, South Island of New Zealand. These represent the first fossil records of these sternorrhynchan families (Hemiptera) from New Zealand. Miotetraleurodes novaezelandiae gen. et sp. nov., is described from specimens of puparia attached to angiosperm leaves. It is assigned to the subfamily Aleyrodinae and represents the first fossil whitefly from New Zealand and the third genus known from puparia globally. The forewing of a psyllid (Psyllidae: Hemiptera) was found in the same stratum, and represents the first fossil record of any fossil taxa of the superfamily Psylloidea in New Zealand.