Invasion of the palm infesting whitefly, Aleurotrachelus atratus Hempel (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) in the India

The highly invasive whitefly Aleurotrachelus atratus Hempel (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) has been found to infest both India and the Oriental area for the first time. In the Karnataka districts of Mandya and Mysore in February 2019, the pest was discovered colonising coconut palms, Cocos nucifera (Arecaceae), and ornamental areca palms, Dypsea lutescens (Arecaceae). Whitefly specimens were gathered from afflicted palm plants, and physical traits helped identify the species. However, four predator species were detected feeding on this invasive plant, including Dichochrysa astur (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae), Cybochephalus spp. (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae), Chilocorus nigrita, and Jauravia pallidula (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae). Infestation intensity and its effects on coconut and other agricultural plants in India are discussed. Citrus whitefly is another name for this pest, which is thought to have originated in the Neotropics but is now widespread across the warmer regions of the world wherever citrus is planted