Aleurocanthus spiniferus (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) in Some European Countries: Diffusion, Hosts, Molecular Characterization, and Natural Enemies

Abstract

After the first record in 2008 in Southeast Italy, the alien invasive and quarantine pest Aleurocanthus spiniferus (orange spiny whitefly—OSW) has gradually spread throughout Europe, infesting several new host plants in addition to the known hosts. Molecular characterization of some Italian populations and a newly found Albanian population highlighted two different haplotypes invading Europe, belonging to one of the haplogroups previously recorded in China. A predator was recorded for the first time in several fields in Italy in association with OSW and other whitefly species. It was successively identified through a morpho-molecular characterization as a Nearctic member of the tribe Serangiini, the ladybird beetle, Delphastus catalinae. This predator represents a promising biocontrol agent to manage A. spiniferus outbreaks in Italy and other invaded countries.

First Report of Aleurocanthus spiniferus on Ailanthus altissima: Profiling of the Insect Microbiome and MicroRNAs

“…Based on taxonomic characters, the insects were identified as A. spiniferus because the number of marginal teeth ranged from 7 to 11, the crenulation sums 205-242 teeth, the ratio of longest spines were (1:9)-(1:17), the wide fringe represented 17.3%-30% of puparia width, cephalic eye spot were weakly defined, placed closer to the third sub-marginal spines rather than to the second ones, and microscopic papillae were situated between the sub-marginal spines [1,4]. Furthermore, the morphological identification was confirmed by a molecular study recently carried out on the same OSW population infesting the tree of heaven [3].…”

“…The orange spiny whitefly (OSW), Aleurocanthus spiniferus (Quaintance, 1903) originated in tropical Asia and has spread to Africa, Australia, and the Pacific Islands. In Europe, it was reported for the first time in Italy [1], and it is spreading all over the Mediterranean Countries [2,3]. Aleurocanthus Quaintance and Baker is a paleotropical genus, currently including about 80 described species [4].…”

Biological and molecular characterization of Aromia bungii (Faldermann, 1835) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae), an emerging pest of stone fruits in Europe

“…Multiple or single introduction of an invasive species can be discriminated by the identification of the haplotypes involved in the invasion process [36][37][38] . Molecular analysis of the Italian (southern Italy) specimens showed no haplotype variability; this could be due to the founder effect (reduced or no genetic variation that occurs when a population is established by a single or a few specimens) 39 .…”

Behavioral effects induced by organic insecticides can be exploited for a sustainable control of the Orange Spiny Whitefly Aleurocanthus spiniferus

“…80% 24 . In addition, the whitefly seems rapidly adapting to the European environment; indeed A. spiniferus is creating new trophic associations with previously unreported host plants, such as grapevine, Parthenocissus sp., Ailanthus altissima, and other cultivated and ornamental plants 21,24,26 . However, such plants can be just transient hosts serving as shelter during periods when the main hosts, i.e.…”

“…Citrus spp. plants, become unsuitable/less suitable 24,26 . Beside the economic losses, the spread of OSW in Italy is considered as having serious environmental consequences.…”