Class Hexapoda, Order Hemiptera, Suborder Sternorrhyncha, Infraorder Aleyrodomorpha, Family Aleyrodidae, Subfamily Aleurodicinae, genus Aleurodicus

Gillian Watson Ex-California Department of Food & Agriculture

Posted on user's behalf

Whitefly family Aleyrodidae - possibly spiralling whitefly, Aleurodicus

Peter Maddison

Dear Stephan,
I would think of a mealybug for the first picture, maybe together with stuff from whitefly. I do not recognize spiralling whitefly symptoms (Aleurodicus dispersus) that usually are present: circles of eggs, laid by adult females while they walk around in a bit irregular circles. As the size is not indicated, it may also be the cassava whitefly Bemisia tabaci. ID is best done on the last sedentary larval instar (often incorrectly called pupae). Any material of last instar nymphs available? You can collect and take them to Europe when dead (by freezing or heat) and dried. Also material stored in alcohol 70% can be used for ID, but I usually try to stick to the recipe of NHM London:.Aleyrodidae: collect plant material with “pupal” cases, wrap in tissue and put in envelope with all relevant dataEurope does not like it if live material of whiteflies is imported, so if you are not sure the material is dead, ask for an import license for "scientific material" of potential quarantine organisms from your national plant protection organisation.
Hope this helps,
ErnstK.E. Neering Bowlespark 12 6701 DP Wageningen The Netherlands Phone (voice) ++31 317 418623

In India, similar symptoms are seen on many plants. The insect was identified as Rugose Spiraling whitefly, Aleurodicus rugioperculatus. Better check in that angle also. In the first photo it appears that the colony has abandoned. But the presence of waxy floccus material indicates it is RSW. Please check the adult for the brown coloured bands.

Potineni Kalidas