P',n'ker. R. and Gerson, U., 1994. Dispersal of the broad mite, Polyphagotarsonemus latus (Banks) (Heterostigrnata: Tarsoqemidae), by the greenhouse whitefly, Triateurodes vaporariorum (Westwood) (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae). Exp. Appl. Acarol., 18: 581-585.Key words: Greenhouse whitefly, broad mite.The greenhouse whitefly, Trialeurodes vaporariorum (Westwood), (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae) was found to disperse the broad mite, Polyphagotarsonemus latus (Banks) (Heterostigmata: Tarsonemidae). Mite presence on whiteflies was highly aggregated. This is the second whitefly species reported to disperse the broad mite, suggesting some recognition of the insects by P. latus.The broad mite, Polyphagotarsonemus latus (Banks) (Heterostigmata: Tarsonemidae) is a major, cosmopolitan pest of many crops. Its biology and control were reviewed by Gerson (1992), while damage and chemical control in Australia were discussed by Gough and Qayyum (1987). Long-distance dispersal of the pest is through human transport of infested plants, by prevailing winds, and on insects, especially whiteflies (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae). Natarajan (1988) andFlechtmann et al. (1990) reported that sweet potato whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius), served as a vector of the broad mite in India and in South America, respectively. Flechtmann et al. (1990) provided scanning electron microscopic (SEM) evidence showing many mites clasping the leg of a single B. tabaci. Herein we report on the dispersal of P. latus by another species of whitefly. The broad mite was reared on potted potato plants in a greenhouse under conditions of 18-28°C, close to saturation humidity and prevailing mid-summer, south
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