BioControl (2011) 56, 277-282

Ajuonu Obinna, Peter Neuenschwander and Sam Korie (2011)
Niche separation between Encarsia dispersaa and Encarsia guadeloupae, two biological control agents of the spiraling whitefly Aleurodicus dispersus, in Benin, West Africa
BioControl 56 (3), 277-282
Abstract: The spiraling whitefly Aleurodicus dispersus (Russell) is an insect pest that causes substantial damage to ornamental plants, shade trees and food crops. It was first observed in Benin in 1993. Two host specific parasitoids, Encarsia dispersa and E. guadeloupae, fortuitously introduced with its host, were recovered in the second half of 1993 in Southern Benin. Survey results from 1993 to 1995 (already published) showed the decline in the population of A. dispersus due to the parasitoids, and the spread from Cotonou (6°10'N) in a northern directions of both parasitoids and their host. Results from similar field surveys from 1996 to 2003 document that the spiraling whitefly and both its parasitoids spread to Natitingou (10°20'N, 540 km) in 1995 and Bembereke (10°14'N) in 1996, whereby E. dispersa arrived within less than a year of its host and quickly became dominant in the two localities on the northern front. In subsequent years, the parasitoids established their geographical niches, with E. dispersa being more abundant (up to 89%) in the coastal south bellow latitude 7°30'N and E. guadeloupae (up to 84%) in the north between latitudes 7°30' and 10°30'N. We conclude that the gradual replacement observed over ten years and over 500 km has to do with longitudinal shifts in the length and severity of the dry season and the higher susceptibility to these conditions by E. dispersa.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Peter Neuenschwander

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
surveys/distribution/isolation
environment/habitat manipulation

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Aleurodicus dispersus		Benin
Encarsia guadeloupae (parasitoid)	Aleurodicus dispersus		Benin
Encarsia dispersa (parasitoid)	Aleurodicus dispersus		Benin