Whitefly Ecology

The spiraling whitefly, Aleurodicus dispersus Russell is a highly polyphagous pest and it has been established as a key pest on several cultivated crops and horticultural plants in India. Previously not that much systematic study was carried out on this pest in the Kolhapur district. Hence, detailed studies were carried out on distribution, host range, the intensity of damage, biological control, and biology of the most abundant natural enemy of A. dispersus on several host plants. The spiraling whitefly, A. dispersus was recorded from Southern and Northeastern states of India and reported for the first time from Western Ghats regions in Kolhapur district, Maharashtra. In Kolhapur district, the intensity of damage of A. dispersus was extreme in Karveer, Panhala, and Kagal tehsils.