DOI: 10.5061/dryad.2bvq83bq6
title: New host plants, natural enemy complexes, and distribution of Aleurodicus dispersus (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) in India

description: 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 (2.40%)
 was on Nephelium. Teak and cabbage had the largest (168.3 ±14.2 per leaf)
 and smallest (0.07 ±0.07 per leaf) spiralling whitefly populations,
 respectively. Fifty-eight species showed host preferences based on host
 frequencies, incidence (&gt; 75%), and largest population (10
 individuals per leaf); however, they may require additional management
 practices. Given the great and increasing incidence of exotic spiralling
 whitefly on a variety of host plants in India, this species is likely to
 pose a threat to the production of economically important crops in India
 in the near future.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 (2.40%) was on Nephelium. Teak and cabbage had
 the largest (168.3 ±14.2 per leaf) and smallest (0.07 ±0.07 per leaf)
 spiralling whitefly populations, respectively. Fifty-eight species showed
 host preferences based on host frequencies, incidence (&gt; 75%), and
 largest population (10 individuals per leaf); however, they may require
 additional management practices. Given the great and increasing incidence
 of exotic spiralling whitefly on a variety of host plants in India, this
 species is likely to pose a threat to the production of economically
 important crops in India in the near future.