Aleurothrixus

Quaintance & Baker, 1914

woolly whiteflies

Species Guides

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Aleurothrixus is a of whiteflies ( Aleyrodidae) containing approximately 20 described . The most economically significant species is A. floccosus (), a major pest of citrus and other crops across tropical and subtropical regions worldwide. Several species in the genus have been documented as agricultural pests, with extensive research focused on their using .

Eretmocerus 2023 08 20 12 28 52 3162 iN 181548945 by Alandmanson. Used under a CC BY 4.0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Aleurothrixus: /ˌæl.jʊ.roʊˈθraɪ.kəs/

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Identification

Members of Aleurothrixus can be distinguished from other whitefly by characteristics of the , including the presence of submarginal setae and an uninterrupted submarginal fold at the vasiform orifice. The genus is characterized by woolly, waxy secretions produced by nymphs, which gives the to the most notorious , A. floccosus.

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Habitat

in this are found in tropical and subtropical environments, primarily associated with the foliage of woody plants. They occupy the of plants, with nymphal typically highest on middle and lower canopy leaves while and concentrate on upper canopy foliage.

Distribution

The has a pantropical distribution. A. floccosus has been recorded across Europe (Mediterranean region), Africa, Asia, North America (Mexico, southern USA), Central America and Caribbean, South America, and Oceania. Other such as A. chivelensis have more restricted ranges (e.g., Mexico).

Seasonality

Where studied, A. floccosus exhibits year-round activity in suitable climates. In Greece, were captured from May through mid-December, with winter consisting primarily of third and fourth instar nymphs. In Chile's Atacama Desert, all life stages were present throughout the year.

Diet

Phloem-feeding herbivores. A. floccosus feeds on multiple plants including Citrus , coffee (Coffea spp.), mango (Mangifera indica), guava (Psidium guajava), banana (Musa paradisiaca), and aubergine (Solanum melongena). Host associations for other species in the are less documented.

Host Associations

Life Cycle

Hemimetabolous development with , four nymphal instars, and stages. In A. floccosus, all developmental stages can be present simultaneously throughout the year in favorable climates. Puparial cases remain attached to leaves.

Behavior

Nymphs are and feed on phloem sap, producing conspicuous woolly wax secretions. are mobile and disperse to new plants. show stratified distribution within plant .

Ecological Role

Herbivores that can reach pest densities on cultivated plants. Serve as for diverse including in Aphelinidae (Cales noacki, Eretmocerus spp., Encarsia spp.) and Platygastridae (Amitus spiniferus). Hyperparasitoids such as Signiphora spp. also attack these parasitoids.

Human Relevance

Several are significant agricultural pests, particularly A. floccosus (), which causes direct damage to citrus, coffee, and other crops through sap feeding and honeydew secretion leading to growth. Extensive programs have been implemented using introduced , notably Cales noacki.

Similar Taxa

  • BemisiaBoth are whitefly with pest ; Aleurothrixus distinguished by woolly wax secretions and puparial characters including submarginal setae and uninterrupted submarginal fold at vasiform orifice
  • TrialeurodesBoth Aleyrodidae with agricultural pest ; Aleurothrixus produces more conspicuous woolly wax and has distinct puparial

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