Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Distribution, Host Range and Status of Invasive Rugose Spiralling Whitefly, Aleurodicus rugioperculatus Martin (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) in Karnataka

  • Full–Length Research Article
  • Published:
Agricultural Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Rugose spiralling whitefly (RSW), Aleurodicus rugioperculatus Martin (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae), an invasive pest to the Oriental region was found infesting several plantation crops like coconut, banana, guava, Indian almond, sapota, oil palm, mango, cashew, custard apple and several ornamental plants in southern states of India as well as Assam, West Bengal, Maharashtra, Meghalaya, Odisha, Chhattisgarh and Gujarat. Intensive surveys across different agroclimatic zones of Karnataka revealed that infestation of the pest was severe in coastal and southern region of Karnataka compared to northern region. Molecular characterization of partial mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase–I gene (658 bp) and morphological characters of the pest and its natural enemies confirms its identity. During the study, 35 host plants were recorded, and several natural enemies viz., parasitoids, Encarsia guadeloupae, Encarsia dispersa (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae), predators, Pseudomallada astur (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae), Jauravia pallidula, Cheilomenes sexmaculata (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) and Cybocephalus indicus (Coleoptera: Cybocephalidae) were also observed feeding on RSW. The parasitoid E. guadeloupae was the major parasitoid associated with the pest. Natural parasitism by the parasitoids was ranging from 7–80% in the study area.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Capinera JL (2008) Encyclopedia of entomology, 2nd edn. Springer, Netherlands, p 4346

    Book  Google Scholar 

  2. Dubey AK, David BV (2012) Collection, preservation and preparation of specimens for taxonomic study of whiteflies (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae). In: David BV (ed) The whiteflies or mealy winged bugs: biology, host specificity and management. Lambert Academic Publishing, Germany, pp 1–19

    Google Scholar 

  3. Francis AW, Stocks IC, Smith TR, Boughton AJ, Mannion CM (2016) Host plants and natural enemies of rugose spiralling whitefly (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) in Florida. Fla Entomol 99(1):150–153

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Geetha B, Swamiappan M, Loganathan M (1999) New hosts for spiralling whitefly, Aleurodicus dispersus Russell in Tamil Nadu. Insect Environ 5(20):80

    Google Scholar 

  5. Geetha B (2000) Biology and management of spiralling whitefly Aleurodicus dispersus Russell (Homoptera: Aleurodidae). Ph.D. Thesis, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, India.

  6. Gerling D (1990) Whiteflies: their bionomics. pest status and management, Wimborne. UK, Intercept. pp. 348.

  7. Josephrajkumar A, Mohan C, Babu M, Prathibha PS, Hegde V, Krishnakumar V (2020) Diagnosis of invasive whitefly species co–occurring on coconut. Curr Sci 119(7):1101–1105

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Kumashiro BR, Lai PY, Funasaki GY, Teramoto KK (1983) Efficacy of Nephaspis amnicola and Encarsia haitiensis in controlling Aleurodicus dispersus in Hawaii. Proc Hawaiian Entom Soc 24(2/3):261–269

    Google Scholar 

  9. Lenteren JCV, Nell HW, Sevenster LA (1980) The parasite–host relationship between Encarsia formosa (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) and Trialeurodes vaporariorum (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae), IV. Oviposition behaviour of the parasite, with aspects of host selection, host discrimination and host feeding. J Appl Entomol 89:1–5

    Google Scholar 

  10. Mani M, Krishnamoorthy A (1997) Spiralling whitefly in horticultural crops. The Hindu 20(19):28

    Google Scholar 

  11. Mani M, Krishnamoorthy A (1997) Discovery of Australian ladybird beetle (Cryptolaemus montrouzieri) on spiralling whitefly (Aleurodicus dispersus) in India. Insec Environ 3(1):5–6

    Google Scholar 

  12. Mannion C (2010) Rugose spiraling whitefly, a new whitefly in South Florida. Tropical Research and Education Center, University of Florida. p. 5. (Accessed on 10 January 2020).

  13. Mariam A (1999) Biology and management of spiralling whitefly Aleurodicus dispersus (Russell) (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae) on mulberry. M.Sc. (Ag.) Thesis, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu.

  14. Martin JH (1987) An identification guide to common whitefly pest species of the world (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae). Trop Pest Manage 33:298–322

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Metzler HB, Laprade S (1998) Natural enemies of the spiralling whitefly, Aleurodicus dispersus Russell (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae): Parasitoids and Predators. Agron Mesoameric 9(2):41–44

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Nechols JR (1982) Entomology: biological control. Guam Agricultural Experimental Station, pp. 33–49.

  17. Palaniswami MS, Pillai KS, Nair RR, Mohandas C (1995) A new cassava pest in India. Cassava Newsletter 19:6–7

    Google Scholar 

  18. Paulson GS, Kumashiro BR (1985) Hawaiian Aleyrodidae Proc Hawaiian Entom Soc 25:103–129

    Google Scholar 

  19. Selvaraj K, Sundararaj R, Venkatesan T, Ballal CR, Jalali SK, Gupta A, Mrudula HK (2016) Potential natural enemies of the invasive rugose spiralling whitefly, Aleurodicus rugioperculatus Martin in India. J Biol Control 30(4):236–239

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Shanas S, Job J, Joseph T, Krishnan GA (2016) First report of the invasive rugose spiralling whitefly, Aleurodicus rugioperculatus Martin (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) from the Old World. Entomon 41(4):365–368

    Google Scholar 

  21. Stocks IC, Hodges G (2012). The rugose spiralling whitefly, Aleurodicus rugioperculatus Martin, a new exotic whitefly in South Florida (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae). Pest Alert created 7–February–2012, DACS–P–01745.

  22. Sundararaj R, Selvaraj K (2017) Invasion of rugose spiralling whitefly, Aleurodicus rugioperculatus Martin (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae): a potential threat to coconut in India. Phytoparasitica 45(1):71–74

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Venugopal Rao N, Reddy AS, Reddy PS (1990) Relative efficacy of some new insecticides on insect pests of cotton. Indian J Plant Prot 18:53–58

    Google Scholar 

  24. Waterhouse DF, Norris KR (1989) Aleurodicus dispersus Russell. In Biological Control: Pacific Prospects – Supplement 1, ACIAR Monograph No.12, ACIAR, Canberra, Australia. pp. 13–22.

Download references

Acknowledgements

We are grateful to the Director, ICAR–NBAIR, Bengaluru for providing facilities and the Junior Research Fellowship for M.Sc. by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Germplasm Conservation and Utilization, ICAR–National Bureau of Agricultural Insects Resources, Bengaluru, Karnataka, 560024, India

    A. N. Shylesha, K. Selvaraj & B. V. Sumalatha

  2. Department of Agricultural Entomology, College of Agriculture, University of Agricultural Sciences (GKVK), Bengaluru, Karnataka, 560065, India

    Sanjay Kumar Pradhan

Authors
  1. Sanjay Kumar Pradhan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. A. N. Shylesha
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. K. Selvaraj
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. B. V. Sumalatha
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to K. Selvaraj.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

No conflict of interest among authors.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Pradhan, S.K., Shylesha, A.N., Selvaraj, K. et al. Distribution, Host Range and Status of Invasive Rugose Spiralling Whitefly, Aleurodicus rugioperculatus Martin (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) in Karnataka. Agric Res 11, 499–505 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40003-021-00593-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40003-021-00593-5

Keywords

Search

Navigation