Life cycle and morphometry of Rugose spiraling whitefly, Aleyrodicus rugioperculatus Martin (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) on coconut

Abstract

The present study investigated the biology and morphometric analysis of rugose spiralling whitefly (RSW), Aleyrodicus rugioperculatus on coconut under mini net house condition at Department of Agricultural Entomology, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University-Coimbatore during 2019-2020. The biology of rugose spiralling whitefly was studied by clip cage method and morphometrics were done using Leica image analyser. Total lifecycle of rugose spiraling whitefly was 56.23 ± 2.20 days. Developmental period of egg, nymphal, pupal and adult period was 8.47 ± 0.26, 17.46 ± 0.76, 10.30 ± 0.29 and 20.00 ± 1.00 days, respectively. In morphometrics, Length and width of egg (0.31 ± 0.01 mm and 0.11± 0.02 mm), nymphal (0.94 ± 0.01 mm and 0.82 ± 0.01 mm), pupal (1.23 ± 0.01 mm and 1.00 ± 0.01 mm) was recorded. A nymphal parasitoid, Encarsia guadeloupae can be potential natural enemy for effective management of rugose spiraling whitefly.

Microscopy‐based morphological characterization of rugose spiraling whitefly, (Aleurodicus rugioperculatusMartin)‐an exotic pest on coconut in India

“…The first instar of RSW is a mobile with a functional leg and antennae, with a translucent golden color across the dorsum. Similar observations were made by previous workers (Elango et al, 2019; Pradhan et al, 2020; Saranya et al, 2021). From the second instar onwards the nymphal stage of RSW is sedentary (Mohan et al, 2017) and grows with a progression in wax secretion too.…”

“…The present study thus described morphology of key ultra‐structures in all the life stages of A. rugioperculatus using SEM images as well. The eggs of RSW are laid in a semicircular to irregular spiral fashion covered by white flocculent waxy deposits on the abaxial surface of leaves, hence this species is named spiraling whitefly (Mohan et al, 2017; Saranya et al, 2021). Individual eggs were smooth, elliptical, and translucent whitish in color (Elango et al, 2019).…”

“…To the best of our knowledge, the adult of RSW is not characterized so far and very few information is alone available with respect to the morphological ultra‐structure's characteristics of A. rugioperculatus . Previous researchers documented few identifying features to distinguish RSW from other whiteflies, such as their larger size, (almost three times more than ordinary whitefly), sluggish nature, presence of a pair of irregular light brown bands on fore wings, and dark reddish brown eyes, and males being smaller in size and are with a pair of pincer‐like claspers on the caudal end of the abdomen (Elango et al, 2019; Jethva et al, 2020; Kumar et al, 2013; Mohan et al, 2017; Pradhan et al, 2020; Saranya et al, 2021; Stocks & Hodges, 2012; Sundararaj & Selvaraj, 2017).…”