MANAGEMENT OF EXOTIC SPIRALLING WHITEFLY

1. Hiba Baig (M.SC Final)
Department of Plant protection, Aligarh Muslim University,
Aligarh-202002, India
Email: mirzahiba8@gmail.com
Aleurodicus dispersus is a highly polyphagus pest and a native of the Caribbean region and Central America.
It is more commonly known worldwide as “Spiralling Whitefly”because it lays eggs in a typical spiral pattern.
It was introduced and assumed pest status in the Canary Island In 1962,Hawaii 1978 &in American Samoa &Guam
in 1981.
In India ,it was first reported in 1993 from kerala.
DETECTION AND INSPECTION
Introduction
IMPACT
Aleurodicus dispersus are abundant, they are conspicuous
on leaves due to white flocculence.
They are found on the underside of leaves often associated
with sticky honeydew and sometimes sooty mould growth .
Their eggs are found in the spirals which are produced by
the females.
They are found significantly in higher number in upper
canopy than in the middle .
Spiralling Whitefly has a high reproduction and dispersal
rate . It has posted a major threat to banana ,tropical fruit
trees, vegetables and ornamental industries .
Damage due to direct feeding ,cosmetic damage due
to white spirals,and indirect damage from excreted
honeydew that encourages sooty moulds,are all likely to
result in economic impact.
HOST RANGE
Life cycle
Eggs (0.3mm) are diamond shaped, embedded in the silken
spirals produced by females.
Each egg hatches into crawler.It moves out over foliage of
the host plant and transform into sedentary nymph,where it
sucks nutrients from the leaves.
The final instar acts as pupa ,out of which Whitefly
ememerges.
The time from egg to adult can be less than three weeks in
summer,longer in cooler condition.
management
Encarsia haitiensis lays it’s eggs in immature
whiteflies,killing them.
Lace wings and lady bird beetle adults and larvae
attack all stages.
Attempts to control the pest using insecticides are not
recommended.
Horticulture oil,white oil or soap solution can be used.
It is best to spray between 4 and 6 PM to minimise
chances of leaves becoming sun burnt.
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Conclusion:
To build the capacity of farmers and extension staff on
scientific orchard management practices.
With the accidental distribution of Encarsia sp.in india a
visible reduction in the population of spiralling whitefly has
been noticed.
It infests a broad range of horticulture plants including
banana ,Citrus,papaya ,mango ,custard apple,guava
,tomato,capsicum and many ornamental species ,shade trees
and weeds.
It has been recorded on more than 100 plantspecies in
Torres strait and Cape York Peninsula
It is tropical in origin but can also breed in subtropical
conditions ,its host range could be much more
extensive than what is currently known.