Aleurocanthus spiniferus

Last updated

Aleurocanthus spiniferus
Aleurocanthus spiniferus from CSIRO.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hemiptera
Suborder: Sternorrhyncha
Family: Aleyrodidae
Genus: Aleurocanthus
Species:
A. spiniferus
Binomial name
Aleurocanthus spiniferus
(Quaintance, 1903)

Aleurocanthus spiniferus, the citrus spiny whitefly, is an insect native to Asia. It is considered an invasive pest, notably affecting citrus and tea plants. They are part of the whitefly family.

Contents

A. spiniferus is indigenous to parts of tropical Asia, where it was first discovered in Japan c. 1903, soon after which it spread around the world. Wherever it is found, it has become a highly destructive pest. Two populations of A. spiniferus are known: the citrus spiny whitefly, as well as the tea spiny whitefly, named for the kind of plant they infest. [1]

Description

Adult whiteflies typically lay their eggs in groups on plants (e.g. citrus), usually on a leaf. Eggs give rise to crawlers (their first instar, or developmental stage). These go through two sessile nymphal instars, becoming pupa (their fourth instar, when they closely resemble related whiteflies), then finally adults. [2]

The initiation and duration of the life cycle, as well as the number of generations per year is highly dependent on the surrounding climate. [2] [3] A mild temperature along with high humidity provides an ideal environment for successful growth and development. Kuwana et al. (1927) were able to record about 4 generations per year, with as many as 7 generations under the best laboratory conditions. [3] (This study demonstrated the variability of life-cycle duration.)

Varieties have been shown to be exclusive in terms of the plants they lay eggs on. The females of the tea-infesting variety only lay eggs on tea plants, not citrus. [1]

Distribution and habitat

The citrus spiny whitefly is indigenous to parts of tropical Asia, including Japan where it was first discovered (c. 1903). In the 1920s, Japan conducted a biological control program to control the pest. [4] It had spread to Jamaica by 1922, [4] and ultimately reached various Pacific Islands (Guam in 1951; Oahu in 1974) [4] as well as multiple continents including Europe (in Italy and Greece), Africa, Australia, and the Americas. [5] [6] [7]

A. spiniferus can be observed on not only citrus but also on rose, grape, peach, pear, and guava plants, all of which were observed with the fly in Guam in 1951. [2] [1]

Ecology

A. spiniferus directly damage trees via the ingestion of their sap. Infested plants suffer indirect damage [8] from the flies' excretion of honeydew on their leaf surfaces, which promotes the development of sooty mold on the leaves, branches, and fruit. This interferes with the plant's health, including its ability to conduct photosynthesis.[ citation needed ]

Management

Many whitefly species have become serious pests, especially when first introduced to new geographical regions, where they typically outcompete other pests. [6] This is amplified in the absence of natural enemies, e.g. its[ whose? ] parasitoid wasp, E. smithi, the introduction of which has been successfully employed as a form of biological pest control in response to A. spiniferus outbreaks. [6] [3] [9] [10] [11] [12] The wasp method was aided by their[ whose? ] ability to migrate and adapt to new environments, as well as populate those new areas.

Colour preference is another method researchers use to monitor population dynamics, or for this instance, to control insect numbers in crop protection. [13] [14] Whiteflies have been shown to prefer the colour yellow, therefore methods using this information have been used to create a sticky trap that can aid in controlling these outbreaks.[ citation needed ]

Overall, chemical controls have been attempted in response to the outbreaks such as spraying pesticides, which can be considered effective but not without detriment. The presumptively high concentrations of pesticides can result in insecticide resistance, and toxic pesticides could be consumed by humans, e.g. via the drinking of contaminated tea. [14]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hemiptera</span> Order of insects often called true bugs

Hemiptera is an order of insects, commonly called true bugs, comprising over 80,000 species within groups such as the cicadas, aphids, planthoppers, leafhoppers, assassin bugs, bed bugs, and shield bugs. They range in size from 1 mm (0.04 in) to around 15 cm (6 in), and share a common arrangement of piercing-sucking mouthparts. The name "true bugs" is often limited to the suborder Heteroptera.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Whitefly</span> Family of insects

Whiteflies are Hemipterans that typically feed on the undersides of plant leaves. They comprise the family Aleyrodidae, the only family in the superfamily Aleyrodoidea. More than 1550 species have been described.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scale insect</span> Superfamily of insects

Scale insects are small insects of the order Hemiptera, suborder Sternorrhyncha. Of dramatically variable appearance and extreme sexual dimorphism, they comprise the infraorder Coccomorpha which is considered a more convenient grouping than the superfamily Coccoidea due to taxonomic uncertainties. Adult females typically have soft bodies and no limbs, and are concealed underneath domed scales, extruding quantities of wax for protection. Some species are hermaphroditic, with a combined ovotestis instead of separate ovaries and testes. Males, in the species where they occur, have legs and sometimes wings, and resemble small flies. Scale insects are herbivores, piercing plant tissues with their mouthparts and remaining in one place, feeding on sap. The excess fluid they imbibe is secreted as honeydew on which sooty mold tends to grow. The insects often have a mutualistic relationship with ants, which feed on the honeydew and protect them from predators. There are about 8,000 described species.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Silverleaf whitefly</span> Species of true bug

The silverleaf whitefly is one of several species of whitefly that are currently important agricultural pests. A review in 2011 concluded that the silverleaf whitefly is actually a species complex containing at least 40 morphologically indistinguishable species.

<i>Pseudococcus viburni</i> Species of true bug

Pseudococcus viburni is a close relative of the grape mealybug and a pest of the vineyards around the world.

<i>Eurygaster integriceps</i> Species of true bug

Eurygaster integriceps is a species of shield bug in the family Scutelleridae, commonly known as the sunn pest or corn bug. It is native to much of northern Africa, the Balkans and western and central Asia. It is a major pest of cereal crops especially wheat, barley and oats.

<i>Aleurocanthus</i> Genus of true bugs

Aleurocanthus is a genus of whiteflies in the family Aleyrodidae.

<i>Aleurocanthus woglumi</i> Citrus pest from India, now worldwide

Aleurocanthus woglumi is a species of whitefly in the family Aleyrodidae. It is a pest of citrus crops, and is commonly known as the citrus blackfly because of its slate-blue colour. It originated in Asia, but has spread to other parts of the world. The parasitic wasps, Encarsia perplexa and Amitus hesperidum can help control the pest.

<i>Encarsia perplexa</i> Species of wasp

Encarsia perplexa is a tiny parasitic wasp, a parasitoid of the citrus blackfly, Aleurocanthus woglumi, which is a global pest of citrus trees. It was originally misidentified as Encarsia opulenta, but was recorded as a new species in 1998. It is a native of Asia but has been introduced to many other parts of the world as a means of controlling the citrus blackfly.

<i>Amitus hesperidum</i> Species of wasp

Amitus hesperidum is a tiny parasitic wasp. It is a parasitoid of the citrus blackfly, Aleurocanthus woglumi, an important pest of citrus trees. It is a native of Asia but has been introduced to many other parts of the world as a means of controlling the citrus blackfly.

<i>Encarsia</i> Genus of wasps

Encarsia is a large genus of minute parasitic wasps of the family Aphelinidae. The genus is very diverse with currently about 400 described species and worldwide distribution. The number of existing species is expected to be several times higher because many species are still undescribed. Encarsia is a very complex genus, with specimens showing both inter- and intra-specific variations, making morphological classification difficult.

Ablerus macrochaeta is a parasitoid wasp that attacks the silverleaf whitefly and Aleurocanthus inceratus. The latter is a serious pest of sweet potato in China.

Encarsia inaron is a parasitoid wasp used in the control of ash whitefly, Siphoninus phillyreae. The ash whitefly is an insect from Europe that feeds on the sap of plants, and which has become a pest in North America. E. inaron was acquired from Italy and Israel and brought to California in 1989.

<i>Planococcus citri</i> Species of true bug

Planococcus citri, commonly known as the citrus mealybug, is a species of mealybugs native to Asia. It has been introduced to the rest of the world, including Europe, the Americas, and Oceania, as an agricultural pest. It is associated with citrus, but it attacks a wide range of crop plants, ornamental plants, and wild flora.

Ryoichi Takahashi was a Japanese entomologist. His research focused on hemiptera, including aphids, whiteflies, and scale insects. He published more than 420 articles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spotted lanternfly</span> Species of planthopper indigenous to China

The spotted lanternfly is a planthopper indigenous to parts of China and Vietnam. It has spread invasively to Japan, South Korea, and the United States. Its preferred host is tree of heaven, but it infests crops including soybean, grapes, stone fruits, and Malus spp. In its native habitat, L. delicatula populations are regulated by parasitic wasps.

Aleurotrachelus atratus better known as the palm-infesting whitefly is an invasive species that affects coconut palms. Originally, this species was only prevalent in Brazil and was known to feed on coconuts native to this country. Now, the species has migrated to the tropics and subtropics and is invasive in many other countries. Aleurotrachelus is one of the largest genus, containing 74 species.

Aleurodicus cocois, commonly known as the coconut whitefly, is a species of whitefly in the family Aleyrodidae; it feeds on coconut and other palm trees in South America and the Caribbean region.

<i>Planococcus ficus</i> Species of mealybug

Planococcus ficus, commonly known as the vine mealybug, is a species of mealybug, belonging to the family Pseudococcidae, native to tropical and subtropical regions. The vine mealybug is found in Europe, Northern Africa, Southern Africa, the Americas, and the Middle East. The vine mealybug is invasive to weedy plants in many different regions of the world.

<i>Orchamoplatus citri</i> Species of whitefly

Orchamoplatus citri, commonly known as the Australian citrus whitefly, is a whitefly species in the genus Orchamoplatus. It is found across Australia and New Zealand, primarily foraging on the leaves of citrus trees.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Kasai, Atsushi; Yamashita, Koji; Yoshiyasu, Yutaka (2010). "Tea-Infesting Population of the Citrus Spiny Whitefly, Aleurocanthus spiniferus (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae), does not Accept Citrus Leaves as Host Plants". Japanese Journal of Applied Entomology and Zoology. 54 (3): 140–143. doi: 10.1303/jjaez.2010.140 . ISSN   0021-4914.
  2. 1 2 3 Gyelshen, Jamba; Hodges, Amanda (2005). "Orange Spiny Whitefly" . Retrieved November 24, 2018.
  3. 1 2 3 Kuwana I, Ishii T. 1927. On Prospaltella smithi Silv., and Cryptognatha sp., the enemies of Aleurocanthus spiniferus Quaintance, imported from Canton, China. Review of Applied Entomology, vol 15: 463.
  4. 1 2 3 Gyeltshen, Jamba; Hodges, Amanda; Hodges, Greg S. (2019). "Orange Spiny Whitefly, Aleurocanthus spiniferus Quaintance (Insecta: Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae)". EDIS. 2005 (6). doi:10.32473/edis-in618-2005. ISSN   2576-0009.
  5. ↑ El Kenawy, Ahmed; Baetan, Raul; Corrado, Isabella; Cornara, Daniele; Oltean, Ion; Porcelli, Francesco (2015). "Aleurocanthus spiniferus (Quaintance) (Orange Spiny Whitefly, Osw) (Hemiptera, Aleyrodidae) Invaded South of Italy". Bulletin of University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca. Agriculture. 72 (1). doi: 10.15835/buasvmcn-agr:11148 . ISSN   1843-5386.
  6. 1 2 3 Kanmiya, K., Ueda, S., Kasai, A., Yamashita, K., Sato, Y., & Yoshiyasu, Y. 2011. Proposal of new specific status for tea-infesting populations of the nominal citrus spiny whitefly Aleurocanthus spiniferus (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae). Zootaxa, vol 2797: 25-44.
  7. ↑ Tang, Xiao-Tian; Tao, Huan-Huan; Du, Yu-Zhou (2015). "Microsatellite-based analysis of the genetic structure and diversity of Aleurocanthus spiniferus (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) from tea plants in China". Gene. 560 (1): 107–113. doi:10.1016/j.gene.2015.01.050. ISSN   0378-1119. PMID   25662872.
  8. ↑ Chen, Zhi-Teng; Mu, Li-Xia; Wang, Ji-Rui; Du, Yu-Zhou (2016). "Complete Mitochondrial Genome of the Citrus Spiny Whitefly Aleurocanthus spiniferus (Quaintance) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae): Implications for the Phylogeny of Whiteflies". PLOS ONE. 11 (8): e0161385. Bibcode:2016PLoSO..1161385C. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0161385 . ISSN   1932-6203. PMC   4995055 . PMID   27551782.
  9. ↑ Kishida, Akira; Kasai, Atsushi; Yoshiyasu, Yutaka (2010). "Oviposition and Host-Feeding Behaviors of Encarsia smithi on a Tea-Infesting Population of the Citrus Spiny Whitefly Aleurocanthus spiniferus". Japanese Journal of Applied Entomology and Zoology. 54 (4): 189–195. doi: 10.1303/jjaez.2010.189 . ISSN   0021-4914.
  10. ↑ Uesugi, R.; Sato, Y.; Han, B.-Y.; Huang, Z.-D.; Yara, K.; Furuhashi, K. (2016). "Molecular evidence for multiple phylogenetic groups within two species of invasive spiny whiteflies and their parasitoid wasp". Bulletin of Entomological Research. 106 (3): 328–340. doi:10.1017/s0007485315001030. ISSN   0007-4853. PMID   26782948. S2CID   20582849.
  11. ↑ Berg, M. A.; Greenland, J. (1997). "Classical biological control of Aleurocanthus spiniferus (Hem.: Aleyrodidae), on citrus in Southern Africa". Entomophaga. 42 (4): 459–465. Bibcode:1997BioCo..42..459V. doi:10.1007/bf02769805. ISSN   0013-8959. S2CID   29912618.
  12. ↑ Van Den Berg, M. A.; Hoppner, G.; Greenland, J. (2000). "An Economic Study of the Biological Control of the Spiny Blackfly, Aleurocanthus spiniferus (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae), in a Citrus Orchard in Swaziland". Biocontrol Science and Technology. 10 (1): 27–32. Bibcode:2000BioST..10...27V. doi:10.1080/09583150029350. ISSN   0958-3157. S2CID   85062399.
  13. ↑ Ping, P., Min, T., Yujia, H., Qiang, L., Shanglun, H., Min, D., Xiang, H., & Ying, Z. 2010. Study on the effect and characters of yellow sticky trap sticking Aleurocanthus spiniferus and Empoasca vitis in tea garden. Southwest China Journal of Agricultural Sciences, vol 23: 87-90.
  14. 1 2 Wang, Y.; Gao, N.; Shi, L.; Qin, Z.Y.; He, P.; Hu, D.Y.; Tan, X.F.; Chen, Z. (2015). "Evaluation of the attractive effect of coloured sticky traps for Aleurocanthus spiniferus (Quaintance) and its monitoring method in tea garden in China". Journal of Entomological and Acarological Research. 47 (3): 86. doi: 10.4081/jear.2015.4603 . ISSN   2279-7084.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.