Journal of Applied Entomology (2010) 134, 498-510

N. Borowiec, S. Quilici, J. Martin, M.A. Issimaila, A.C. Chadhouliati, M.A. Youssoufa, L. Beaudoin-Ollivier, G. Delvare and B. Reynaud (2010)
Increasing distribution and damage to palms by the Neotropical whitefly, Aleurotrachelus atratus (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae)
Journal of Applied Entomology 134 (6), 498-510
Abstract: In recent years, the coconut whitefly, Aleurotrachelus atratus Hempel, has been recorded from various islands in the southwestern Indian Ocean. Field surveys in La Réunion, the Seychelles, the Comoros and glasshouses in Paris have allowed us to record this whitefly on 56 palm species, some of which are endemic and/or threatened species. Most of trees showed low infestation levels, except for the coconut palm that is its main host plant. Such a wide host range has facilitated the rapid geographical dissemination of this whitefly. A field study was conducted in 2006 in La Réunion, to gain a better understanding of the bioecology of A. atratus in a tropical insular ecosystem. The whitefly was found throughout the island, from sea level to 800-m altitude. Five parasitoid species (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) were found associated with the populations of this pest, with Eretmocerus cocois Delvare being the dominant one. A laboratory study showed that the pre-imaginal development of A. atratus is around 48 days at 25-27°C, which is relatively long compared to other whitefly species. With a sex ratio of one male per 1022 females collected in La Réunion, it appears that the whitefly reproduces by thelytoky. It represents a threat to ornamental and agricultural palms as well as to natural palm ecosystems in the absence of effective parasitoids.
(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): Gérard Delvare, Laurence Beaudoin-Ollivier

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
population dynamics/ epidemiology
surveys/sampling/distribution
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
surveys/distribution/isolation

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Aleurotrachelus atratus	Coconut (Cocos nucifera)	Seychelles
	Aleurotrachelus atratus	Coconut (Cocos nucifera)	Comoros Islands
	Aleurotrachelus atratus	Coconut (Cocos nucifera)	Reunion Island
Eretmocerus cocois (parasitoid)	Aleurotrachelus atratus	Coconut (Cocos nucifera)	Reunion Island