/Crop Protection Compendium
Datasheet report for Aleurodicus destructor (coconut whitefly)
Pictures
Picture TitleCaption CopyrightTop of page
Identity
Preferred Scientific Name
Aleurodicus destructor Mackie, 1912
Preferred Common Name
coconut whitefly
Other Scientific Names
Aleurodes albofloccosa Froggatt, 1918
Aleyrodicus destructor Mackie, 1912
International Common Names
Spanish: mosca blanca del cocotero
French: aleurode du cocotier
EPPO code
ALEDDE (Aleurodicus destructor)Top of page
Taxonomic T reeTop of page
Domain: Eukaryota
    Kingdom: Metazoa
        Phylum: Arthropoda
            Subphylum: Uniramia
                Class: Insecta
                    Order: Hemiptera
                        Suborder: Sternorrhyncha
                            Unknown: Aleyrodoidea
                                Family: Aleyrodidae
                                    Genus: Aleurodicus
                                        Species: Aleurodicus destructor/Notes on T axonomy and Nomenclature
A. destructor is regarded as a typical representative of the genus Aleurodicus, which is the type genus of the subfamily
Aleurodicinae. The subfamily is defined by characters occurring in the adults (relatively rich forewing venation, based
on a bifurcated vein R, plus the veins M and Cu; legs with paronychium in shape of a large spine; ventral abdominal
wax-producing areas usually arranged in three and four pairs, respectively in males and females) and the pupal cases
(large wax-producing compound pores occurring on the subdorsum; lingula large, tongue-shaped, extending beyond
the posterior margin of a vasiform orifice).
It is considered that the few species of the genus Aleurodicus (including A. destructor) described from southern Asia
and the western Pacific are probably not congeneric with the Neotropical representatives of the same genus ( Martin,
1996 ).Top of page
Description
Egg
Eggs are about 0.31 mm long, elongate in shape, and yellow to brownish, dusted with powdered wax. The stalk is
short, bearing the egg in a prostrate position on the leaf.
Fourth-instar nymph (pupal case)
The pupal case is yellowish to brownish, subelliptical to ovate in shape, sometimes with a narrowed cephalad, 1.3-1.5
mm long and 0.8-1.0 mm wide, covered by a copious secretion of white wax. On infested leaves, specimens of A.
destructor may be completely hidden by wax. The wax rods, emerging from compound pores, are unusually long,
attaining in more perfect specimens a length of 12-15 mm; they are generally broken and intermingled with bands or
plates of wax from the marginal tubes. The subdorsum has wax-producing compound pores; one cephalic (smaller than
the other ones) and six abdominal pairs, the latter ones are similar in size (up to 90 µm in diameter). Only scattered tiny
pores, without a submarginal zone of wide-rimmed pores punctuate the remainder of the dorsal surface. A vasiform
orifice is subcordate, about as wide as it is long. The operculum is subrectangular , about twice as wide as it is long. The
lingula is large, tongue-shaped, and extends beyond the posterior margin of the vasiform orifice and bears four setae,
of which two are much reduced. This is the stage used for identification purposes.
Adults
The vertex is rounded. The antennae have seven segments, of which the third is the longest. Forewings have veins R1,
Rs and M present, sometimes with an indication of the Cu. Legs have the paronychium represented by a large spine.
Male claspers are long and narrow; the penis is recurved and short.Top of page
Distribution
The subfamily Aleurodicinae is mostly Neotropical in distribution. However , A. destructor remains largely restricted to its
native Austro-Oriental-Pacific zoogeographical region.Top of page/Distribution T able
The distribution in this summary table is based on all the information available. When several references are cited, they
may give conflicting information on the status. Further details may be available for individual references in the
Distribution T able Details section which can be selected by going to Generate Report.
Continent/Country/Region Distribution Last
ReportedOrigin First
ReportedInvasive Reference Notes
Asia
Brunei Darussalam
(/cpc/datasheet/108378)Present Mound and Halsey ,
1978 ; Martin, 1985 ;
EPPO, 2014
Cambodia
(/cpc/datasheet/108472)Absent,
invalid
recordEPPO, 2014
Indonesia
(/cpc/datasheet/108455)Present EPPO, 2014
-Irian Jaya
(/cpc/datasheet/108713)Present EPPO, 2014
-Java  (/cpc/datasheet/108714) Present EPPO, 2014
-Sulawesi
(/cpc/datasheet/108718)Present Mound and Halsey ,
1978 ; Martin, 1985 ;
Martin, 1988 ; EPPO,
2014
Laos  (/cpc/datasheet/108481) Absent,
invalid
recordEPPO, 2014
Malaysia
(/cpc/datasheet/108514)Widespread EPPO, 2014
-Peninsular Malaysia
(/cpc/datasheet/108765)Present EPPO, 2014
-Sarawak
(/cpc/datasheet/108767)Present Mound and Halsey ,
1978 ; Martin, 1985 ;
EPPO, 2014
Philippines
(/cpc/datasheet/108535)Present Mound and Halsey ,
1978 ; Martin, 1985 ;
EPPO, 2014
Singapore
(/cpc/datasheet/108557)Widespread APPPC, 1987 ;
Waterhouse, 1993 ;
AVA, 2001
Thailand
(/cpc/datasheet/108580)Present APPPC, 1987 ;
Waterhouse, 1993
Vietnam
(/cpc/datasheet/108604)Present Waterhouse, 1993 ;
EPPO, 2014
Central America and Caribbean
Saint V incent and the
Grenadines
(/cpc/datasheet/108600)Present EPPO, 2014
South America
Brazil  (/cpc/datasheet/108381) Present EPPO, 2014Top of page/Continent/Country/Region Distribution Last
ReportedOrigin First
ReportedInvasive Reference Notes
Oceania
Australia
(/cpc/datasheet/108362)Restricted
distributionEPPO, 2014
-Australian Northern T erritory
(/cpc/datasheet/108619)Present NHM, 1996
-New South W ales
(/cpc/datasheet/108620)Present Mound and Halsey ,
1978 ; Martin, 1985 ;
EPPO, 2014
-Queensland
(/cpc/datasheet/108621)Present Mound and Halsey ,
1978 ; EPPO, 2014
-Victoria
(/cpc/datasheet/108624)Present Mound and Halsey ,
1978
-Western Australia
(/cpc/datasheet/108625)Present NHM, 1907
New Caledonia
(/cpc/datasheet/108517)Present EPPO, 2014
Papua New Guinea
(/cpc/datasheet/108534)Present Mound and Halsey ,
1978 ; Martin, 1985 ;
EPPO, 2014
Solomon Islands
(/cpc/datasheet/108553)Present Mound and Halsey ,
1978 ; Martin, 1985 ;
EPPO, 2014
Vanuatu
(/cpc/datasheet/108605)Present EPPO, 2014
Risk of Introduction
A. destructor is usually considered as a quarantine pest and its spread over the tropics should be limited. Quarantine
authorities in Europe (for example, UK) have occasionally intercepted it, but it has not become established.Top of page
Hosts/Species Affected
The host range of A. destructor is less wide than that of A. cocois or A. dispersus. A. destructor is most likely to be
encountered on palms.Top of page
Host Plants and Other Plants Affected
Plant name Family Context
Acacia (wattles)  (/cpc/datasheet/1994) Fabaceae Wild host
Annona squamosa (sugar apple)  (/cpc/datasheet/5820) Annonaceae Other
Banksia  (/cpc/datasheet/8403) Proteaceae Wild host
Cinnamomum  (/cpc/datasheet/13508) Lauraceae Other
Cocos nucifera (coconut)  (/cpc/datasheet/1 1788) Arecaceae Main
Ficus microcarpa (Indian laurel tree)  (/cpc/datasheet/24130) Moraceae Wild host
Phyllanthus acidus (star gooseberry)  (/cpc/datasheet/46048) Euphorbiaceae Main
Piper nigrum (black pepper)  (/cpc/datasheet/41374) Piperaceae OtherTop of page/Growth Stages
Flowering stage, Fruiting stage, Post-harvest, V egetative growing stageTop of page
Symptoms
A. destructor almost exclusively colonizes the leaves of host plants, on which the adults oviposit and the young larvae
settle after having inserted their mouth stylets. On infested leaves, the occurrence of A. destructor is evidenced by the
dense tangle of white wax filaments that are abundantly secreted by the nymphs (through dorsal compound pores).
Moreover , spots of sticky and transparent honeydew appear in the leaf areas where individuals of A. destructor occur ,
and they soon become covered in black sooty mould. In case of heavy infestations, honeydew may come to cover the
whole aerial part of the plant (leaves, stems and fruits) and this may lead to the plants acquiring an almost completely
black appearance.Top of page
List of Symptoms/Signs
Sign Life Stages Type
Fruit / honeydew or sooty mould
Inflorescence / honeydew or sooty mould
Leaves / honeydew or sooty mould
Stems / honeydew or sooty mouldTop of page
Biology and Ecology
A. destructor is usually a polyvoltine species, having continuous cycles throughout the year , at least where conditions
are optimal and host plants are available.Top of page
Notes on Natural Enemies
The natural enemies of A. destructor are poorly known. Neuroptera (Chrysopa sp.), Coccinellidae (Scymnus sp.) and
Syrphidae (Bacca sp.) are predators of A. destructor ( Costa Lima, 1968 ). The chalcid wasp, Coccophagus sp. is a
parasitoid of A. destructor ( Sorauer , 1956 ).Top of page/Natural enemies
Natural enemy Type Life
stagesSpecificity References Biological
control inBiological
control on
Baccha  (/cpc/datasheet/8173) Predator
Chrysopa
(/cpc/datasheet/16448)Predator
Coccophagus
(/cpc/datasheet/14716)Parasite
Scymnus  (/cpc/datasheet/49353) PredatorTop of page
Impact
A. destructor is an occasional pest in tropical Australia.Top of page
Diagnosis
A preparation of pupal cases in a slide mount (according to the procedures of Martin (1987) ) may be used to confirm
diagnosis. Martin and W atson (1998)  provide a key to species of Aleurodicus on coconut in the Caribbean.Top of page
Detection and Inspection
The leaves, and especially their undersides, must be inspected for the characteristic waxy masses that indicate the
occurrence of a nymphal colony . Sooty mould and honeydew coat surfaces below the colony .Top of page
Similarities to Other Species/Conditions
Several species of the genus Aleurodicus are crop pests. In addition to A. destructor , the Neotropical species A.
pulvinatus, A. cocois and A. dispersus are similar . The latter is easily detectable, having only four pairs of abdominal
compound pores on the dorsum of pupal case. A. pulvinatus, A. cocois and A. destructor all live on coconut and other
palms. They may be distinguished by peculiar characters of the dorsal abdominal compound wax pores; all are similar
in size and very large in A. destructor , but the posterior two pairs are much smaller than the remaining ones in A.
pulvinatus and A. cocois. The lingula has all four setae markedly conspicuous in A. pulvinatus and A. cocois, wheras
two setae are more reduced in A. destructor ( Martin, 1987 ).Top of page/Prevention and Control
Biological control has a key role in achieving lasting control of A. destructor . Chemical applications, which usually
ensure only a temporary suppression, followed by a resurgence of the pest, should be considered only in case of heavy
infestations or when eradication of the insect from a newly colonized area is attempted. The use of oil emulsions
containing organophosphorus insecticides may be considered. Particular attention should be paid to carefully treating
the upper and lower surfaces of leaves.Top of page
References
APPPC, 1987. Insect pests of economic significance af fecting major crops of the countries in Asia and the Pacific
region. T echnical Document No. 135. Bangkok, Thailand: Regional Of fice for Asia and the Pacific region (RAP A).
AVA, 2001. Diagnostic records of the Plant Health Diagnostic Services, Plant Health Centre, Agri-food & V eterinary
Authority , Singapore.
Costa Lima A. Da, 1968. Quarto catalogo dos insetos que vivem nas plants do Brasil seus parasitos e predadores. Rio
de Janeiro, 2 (1): 622 pp.
EPPO, 2014. PQR database. Paris, France: European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization.
http://www .eppo.int/DA TABASES/pqr/pqr .htm (http://www .eppo.int/DA TABASES/pqr/pqr .htm)
Martin JH, 1985. The whitefly of New Guinea (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae). Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural
History), Entomology , 50(3):303-351.  (/cpc/abstract/19850527697)
Martin JH, 1987. An identification guide to common whitefly pest species of the world (Homoptera, Aleyrodidae).
Tropical Pest Management, 33(4):298-322.  (/cpc/abstract/19881 110277)
Martin JH, 1988. Whitefly of northern Sulawesi, including new species from clove and avocado (Homoptera,
Aleyrodidae). Indo-Malayan Zoology , 5:57-85.
Martin JH, 1996. Neotropical whiteflies of the subfamily Aleurodicinae established in the western Palaearctic
(Homoptera: Aleyrodidae). Journal of Natural History , 30(12):1849-1859; 16 ref.  (/cpc/abstract/19971 100768)
Martin JH; W atson GW , 1998. Aleurodicus pulvinatus (Maskell) (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae), and its emergence as a pest
of coconut in the Caribbean. Journal of Natural History , 32(1):85-98; 20 ref.  (/cpc/abstract/19981 109381)
Mound LA; Halsey SH, 1978. Whitefly of the world. A systematic catalogue of the Aleyrodidae (Homoptera) with host
plant and natural enemy data. Chichester , UK: John Wiley and Sons.  (/cpc/abstract/19780557087)
Sorauer P , 1956. Handbuch der Pflanzenkrankheiten. Berlin, Germany , 399 pp.
Waterhouse DF , 1993. The Major Arthropod Pests and W eeds of Agriculture in Southeast Asia. ACIAR Monograph No.
21. Canberra, Australia: Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research, 141 pp.  (/cpc/abstract/19931 169986)Top of page/World Map
Analyzed by: Density
Present, no further details Widespread
Localised
/Africa
Analyzed by: Density
Present, no further details Widespread
Localised
/Asia
Analyzed by: Density
Present, no further details Widespread
Localised
/Europe
Analyzed by: Density
Present, no further details Widespread
Localised
/Pacific
Analyzed by: Density
Present, no further details Widespread
Localised
/North America
Analyzed by: Density
Present, no further details Widespread
Localised
/Central America
Analyzed by: Density
Present, no further details Widespread
Localised
/Date of report: 19 December , 2019South America
Analyzed by: Density
Present, no further details Widespread
Localised