Surveillance, assessment of infestation, biology, host range of an invasive rugose spiraling whitefly, Aleurodicus rugioperculatus Martin and status of its natural enemies in Tamil Nadu
Alagar M, Rajamanikam K, Chinnadurai S, Yasmin A and HP Maheswarappa
Systematic survey has been carried out to assess the intensity of infestation of new invasive rugose spiralling whitefly (RSWF), Aleurodicus rugioperculatus Martin. during the period from June 2018 to March 2020 in major coconut growing districts of Tamil Nadu viz., Coimbatore, Tiruppur, Dindugul, Theni, Tirunelveli, Kanniyakumari and Thanjavur. The intensity of infestation of RSWF was significantly high in Tirunelveli (70.5%) and Kanniyakumari district (75.8%) during 2018-19 and 2019-20, respectively. The natural parasitisation of RSWF by Encarsia guadeloupae was found to be high in Dindugul district (55.9%) and Coimbatore district (65%) during 2018-19 and 2019-20, respectively. The first, second, third and fourth instar nymphal developmental period recorded on chowghat orange dwarf coconut trees were 55, 5.2, 7.8 and 9.2 days respectively. The adult longevity was 20.5 days. The total lifecycle period of the RSWF was 54.9 days in chowghat orange dwarf coconut. A total of 41 plants belongs to 21 families were identified as host plants. In the present study, one species of Aphelinid nymphal parasitoid and 9 species of predators were recorded. Among all-natural enemies, the aphelinid parasitoid, E. guadeloupae plays a major role in suppressing the population of RSWF and the level of natural parasitism was found to be upto 65 per cent.
Alagar M, Rajamanikam K, Chinnadurai S, Yasmin A, HP Maheswarappa. Surveillance, assessment of infestation, biology, host range of an invasive rugose spiraling whitefly, Aleurodicus rugioperculatus Martin and status of its natural enemies in Tamil Nadu. J Entomol Zool Stud 2020;8(3):2041-2047.