Diagnosis of Invasive Whitefly Species Co-Occurring On Coconut

As many as four exotic whiteflies of Neotropical origin have been reported from different coconut-growing regions in India in rapid succession in the last four years. The spiralling whitefly, Aleurodicus dispersus Russell was the earliest reported invasive species on coconut from Kerala in 1996. The rugose spiralling whitefly, Aleurodicus rugioperculatus Martin was first reported in 2016 followed by three species (Paraleyrodes bondari, Paraleyrodes minei and Aleurotrachelus atratus) in 2019. At present, all are found to coexist on coconut in South India. In such combined incidences, one species occupies the breeding and feeding niche of another under optimum weather parameters and attempts to displace one or more of its competitors. The Bondar’s nesting whitefly, P. bondari is associated with rugose spiralling whitefly in most districts of Kerala and Tamil Nadu, whereas the nesting whitefly P. minei is interlinked with A. rugioperculatus in Kasaragod, Kerala, and also found to co-occur with the palm whitefly, A. atratus in Mandya, Karnataka. In Kayamkulam, Kerala, P. bondari, P. minei and A. rugioperculatus co-lived for a brief period during 2018. Due to the incursion and subsequent coexistence of these exotic whiteflies which share more or less the same niche with similar habits on coconut, it is imperative to identify them correctly for carrying out further studies on their bioecology, population dynamics and management. Hence an illustrated diagnostic account of these exotic whiteflies is given here to facilitate their visual identification by economic entomologists and field workers. The COI sequences of these exotic whiteflies are also given to enable rapid confirmation of the field diagnosis.