Life table parameters of the woolly whitefly Aleurothrixus floccosus (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) and its parasitoid Cales noacki (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae)

Abstract

Abstract. Biological parameters of the woolly whitefly Aleurothrixus floccosus (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) and its parasitoid Cales noacki (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) were determined at 25.0 ± 2.0°C, 50.0 ± 10.0% RH and a photoperiod of 14L : 10D on three different Citrus host plants. The percentage survival of A. floccosus ranged between 40.23 and 44.44%. The highest mortality was recorded in the first nymphal instar with mortalities ranging between 36.36 and 39.39%. on C. aurantifolia the total development time was 39.83 ± 0.68 days and the pre-oviposition, oviposition and post-oviposition periods 2.45, 10.68 and 1.68 days, respectively. Adult longevity was 15.0 days and average fecundity 73.27 ± 9.07 eggs. For C. noacki the pre-oviposition period was 0.8 days, oviposition period 4.38 days and post-oviposition period < 1 day. Adult longevity of C. noacki was 5.18 days and average fecundity 31.25 ± 2.87 eggs. The intrinsic growth rate (r m ) of C. noacki (0.160) was significantly greater ( p < 0.05) than that of A. floccosus (0.076). The value of the finite rate of growth (λ) was also significantly ( p < 0.05) greater for C. noacki (1.173) than for A. floccosus (1.079). The larger values of r m and λ recorded for C. noacki under experimental conditions indicate that this aphelinid has the potential to decrease populations of A. floccosus.

Age-specific life tables of Aonidiellaaurantii (Maskell) (Hemiptera: Diaspididae) and its parasitoid Aphytismelinus DeBach (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae)

“…Generation time, the mean time between 2 successive generations, is significantly longer in A. aurantii (51.39 days) than in A. melinus (19.06 days) (Table 4); this is interpreted as favourable for increasing the numbers and efficiency of the parasitoid (La Rossa et al, 2002). The intrinsic rate of increase (r m ), which indicates the ability of a population to increase in abundance from generation to generation, is an essential indicator of the potential of a parasitoid to control its host (Mercado et al, 2014;Persad and Khan, 2002). The r m parameter of A. melinus (0.188) is significantly greater than that of A. aurantii (0.080) at 27 °C (Table 4).…”

Biological, environmental and socioeconomic threats to citrus lime production

“…Chemical control of the woolly whitefly is sometimes difficult due. Thus, biological control may be an effective strategy against this pest, mainly with parasitoid wasps; Giliomee and Millar 2009;Mercado et al 2014).…”

An assessment of population fluctuations of citrus pest woolly whitefly Aleurothrixus floccosus (Maskell, 1896) (Homoptera, Aleyrodidae) and its parasitoid Cales noacki Howard, 1907 (Hymenoptera, Aphelinidae): A case study from Northwestern Algeria

“…Citrus trees are attacked by several insect pests including the woolly whitefly, Aleurothrixus floccosus (Maskell, 1896) and the citrus whitefly, Dialeurodes citri (Ashmead, 1885) causing considerable economic damage (Yigit & Canhilal, 2005;Uygun & Satar, 2008;Giliomee & Millar, 2009;Tello Mercado et al, 2014;Abrol, 2015). The woolly whitefly was introduced accidentally in 1981 in western Algeria from Spain or Morocco (Doumandji & Doumandji-Mitiche, 1986).…”

“…A. floccosus Maskell is characterized with wings covered by white waxy substance. The adult male is slightly smaller than female attaining about 1.5 mm (Tello Mercado et al, 2014). The woolly whitefly produces copious amounts of sticky honeydew from the lower surface of leaves of lemon and other Citrus species (Grout et al, 2012).…”

“…There are few extensive reports which address the biological interaction of the woolly whitefly and its parasitoid C. noacki in the world (Ulusoy et al, 2003;;Telli & Yiğit, 2012;Tello Mercado et al, 2014;Kissayi et al, 2017;Gebreslasie and Meresa, 2018).…”