Prevalence of invasive aleyrodidae harbouring horticultural host plants in different ecosystems of Tamil Nadu

Abstract

Aleyrodids are destructive pests in agricultural and horticultural ecosystem and are extremely polyphagous, recorded to feed on more than 320 plant species of 225 genera under 73 families in India. They cause yield loss of more than 50% by direct and indirect damage effects. Potential host plants of Aleyrodids in the agro climatic zones of Tamil Nadu, viz., north eastern zone, north western zone, Western zone, Southern Zone and High rainfall zone were investigated in the survey. In this Western Zone of Tamil Nadu had registered the highest number of Aleyrodid species. In total, 21 plant species belonging to 14 families were recorded as hosts of Aleyrodids viz., Aleurothrixus floccosus, Aleurotrachelus trachoides, Bemisia tabaci, Aleurodicus disperses, Aleurodicus rugioperculatus, Paraleyrodes bondari and Paraleyrodes minei. The number of Aleyrodid harbouring host plant in each zone, type of host plant and grade of infestation rate also discussed.