New host plants, natural enemy complexes, and distribution of Aleurodicus dispersus (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) in India

A comprehensive survey was conducted throughout India to assess the intensity of damage caused by the exotic spiralling whitefly, Aleurodicus dispersus Russell (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae), and the incidence of damage in different host plants and its natural enemies. Interestingly, the incidence has been found only in 12 geographical regions of India. Results regarding the intensity of damage caused by A. dispersus showed extreme intensity in Tamil Nadu (99.17%), Kerala (97.72%), and Karnataka (95.31%) in India. In Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Himachal Pradesh, spiralling whitefly was found for the first time on guava. Cybocephalus spp., the A. dispersus predator has been observed on cassava. The most abundant parasitoids in cassava were Encarsia guadeloupae Viggiani and Encarsia meritoria Gahan. Out of 147 recorded host plants from 53 families, 56 species were new hosts of A. dispersus. The highest incidence (100%) was noticed on cotton, mulberry, papaya, and cassava, while the lowest (...