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RED BANDED WHITEFLY

Tetraleurodes perseae Nakahara -- Homoptera, Aleyrodidae

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The red-banded whitefly, Tetraleurodes perseae Nakahara (Nakahara, 1995), was first collected in San Diego, California in 1982 (Rose & Wolley, 1984a, 1984b) and was described in 1995. This whitefly is believed to have originated ino Latin America and specimens are known from the Caribbean, Central America, Florida, and Mexico (Nakahara, 1995). The distribution of this whitefly in California avocado orchards extends from San Luis Obispo County in the north to San Diego County in the south. Tetraleurodes perseae can increase to problematic densities over the Autumn to Spring period when plants are producing succulent young leaves that attract adults for reproduction. Although the insect itselt is not especially damaging, the honeydew that it produces can promothe growth of black sooty mold on leaves. The feeding by adult whiteflies can do damage to young leaves, however.

Biological control of Tetraleurodes perseae is desireable if to keep densities low enough as to not cause economic damage. California avocados are produced with minimum insecticide treatments and rely on natural enemies to control most pest species in the orchards. Red-banded whiteflies are under very good control in Mexico by two Encarsia spp. and one Eretmocerus sp. of parasitoid (both Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae). Dr. Mark Hoddle of the University of California maintains that in California, these Mexican parasitoids are absent, but Cales noacki Howard, a parasitoid released for woolly whitefly (Aleurothrixus floccosus [Maskell]) control can parasitize up to 92% of red-banded whitefly nymphs in some coastal areas (Rose & Woolley, 1984a, 1984b). However, this level of control is not sustained in all areas and Tetraleurodes perseae appears to be less effectively controlled by C. noacki in more interior avocado growing areas where summer temperatures are more extreme.

REFERENCES: [Additional references may be found at: MELVYL Library ]

Nakahara, S. 1995. Taxonomic Studies of the genus Tetraleurodes (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae). Insecta Mundi 9: 105-150. 

Rose, M. & Woolley, J. B. 1984a. Previously imported parasite may control invading whitefly. California Agriculture 38: 24-25.

Rose, M. & Woolley, J. B. 1984b. Previously imported parasite may control invading whitefly. California Avocado Society Yearbook 68: 127-131.