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

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.