CLASSIFICATION OF THE ALEYRODID.'E-PART I. 



INTRODITCTION'. 



Few groups of insects have been more neglected by entomologists 

 and collectors than the Aleyrodidce. It is believed that compara- 

 tively few of all the species which undoubtedly exist have as yet 

 found their way into collections. The family is widely distributed 

 in the temperate and tropical regions of the world, and it will per- 

 haps, when thoroughly worked, prove to be about as rich in species 

 as the Coccidag or Aphid idos. 



Beginning with MaskelFs paper, which appeared in 1895, there have 

 followed a number of publications dealing with the Aleyrodidae, 

 most of them systematic in character, but some dealing with the 

 biology and habits of certain species of considerable economic im- 

 jiortance. These papers have come from widely separated parts of 

 the world, as New Zealand, the United States, India, Europe, Japan, 

 etc., and indicate an increasing and widespread interest in these 

 insects. 



Until 1907 only two genera for the family were recognized, Aleij- 

 rodes and Aleurodiciis. Since this date, however, three additional 

 genera have been esiiih\\s\\ed^,nAn-\Q\y , Aleiirochiton, Para.leyrodes^a.Ti(\. 

 Udam-oselis, the discovery of which has thrown much light on the 

 probable position of the Aleyrodida? in relation to other families 

 of insects, and on the lines of descent of tHe several subgroups within 

 the family itself. 



The insect collections of the United States National Museum and 

 of the Bureau of Entomology contain a large amount of material of 

 this family received from correspondents from many parts of the 

 country, and have been recently considerably augmented by the 

 large series of specimens attained by Mr. K. S. Woglum, of the 

 Bureau of Entomology, in connection with his search for natural 

 enemies of the citrus white fly {Aleyrodes citri R. Sc H.) in the 

 Orient. The bureau also has, as stated in an earlier publication, 

 through the Irindness of the New Zealand Institute, the temporary 

 custody of the Maskell collection of Aleyrodidae, including nearly 

 all of his types. It has therefore seemed appropriate to undertake, 

 at this time, a revision of the group as a whole, and to determine as 



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