Natural Enemies of the Whitefly, Lipaleyrodes euphorbiae David and Subramaniam (Homoptera:Aleyrodidae)

A severe infestation of the whitefly, Lipaleyrodes euphorbiae David and Subramaniam was observed in 1992 on star gooseberry (Phyllanthus acidus Linnaeus) at Indian Institute of Horticultural Research Farm, Bangalore. The whitefly infestation was higher during January to June than during July to December. Six natural enemies were found associated with the whitefly. Eretmocerus sp., Acletoxenus indicus Malloch, Triommata coccidivora (Felt), Mallada boninensis (Okamoto) and Cheilomenes sexmaculata (Fabricius) are reported for the first time on L. euphorbiae. However, only Eretmocerus sp. and A. indicus were collected in large numbers. No definite trend was observed in the whitefly infestation during 1992-94. Morning relative humidity (%) alone had a negative correlation with the whitefly infestation. The activity of Eretmocerus sp. was observed only from January to March, 93 and the predator A. indicus was found feeding on the whitefly nymphs during December, 92; and April and September-November 1993.