Pacific Pests, Pathogens, Weeds & Pesticides - Online edition

Pacific Pests, Pathogens, Weeds & Pesticides

Citrus orange spiny whitefly (244)

Click/tap on images to enlarge

Photo 1. Spirals of eggs and larvae of orange spiny whitefly, Aleurocanthus spiniferus.

Photo 2. Underside of citrus leaf infested by orange spiny whitefly, Aleurocanthus spiniferus.

Photo 3. Pupa of the orange spiny whitefly, Aleurocanthus spiniferus. Note the white fringe of wax on the margin.

Summary

  • Widespread distribution. Tropical Asia, Africa, Oceania. On citrus, but also tea and roses. An important pest.
  • Eggs laid in spirals on under surface; 'crawlers' at first, and then flattened dark legless larvae; pupae with fringe of cottony wax.
  • Damage is done by sucking sap, and blackening leaves as fungi grow on honeydew excreta.
  • Natural enemies: parasitoid wasps.
  • Cultural control: prune infested branches; apply nutrients to assist growth; use hot water to destroy ants (ants protect whitefly from biocontrol agents).
  • Chemical control: use soap, white or horticultural oils. Use synthetic pyrethroids to kill ants.

Common Name

Orange spiny whitefly

Scientific Name

Aleurocanthus spiniferus

Photo 4. Pupae and newly hatched adults of the orange spiny whitefly, Aleurocanthus spiniferus.

AUTHOR Grahame Jackson
Information from Gyeltshen J, et al. (2017) Orange spiny whitefly. University of Florida; FDACS-Division of Plant Industry. (https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/IN/IN61800.pdf); and Gyeltshen J, Hodges A (2010) Aleurocanthus spiniferus (Quaintance). Featured Creatures. Entomology & Nematology. University of Florida. (http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/citrus/orange_spiny_whitefly.htm); and from CABI (2020) Aleurocanthus spiniferus (orange spiny whitefly) Crop Protection Compendium. (https://www.cabi.org/cpc/datasheet/4136).

Produced with support from the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research under project PC/2010/090: Strengthening integrated crop management research in the Pacific Islands in support of sustainable intensification of high-value crop production, implemented by the University of Queensland and the Secretariat of the Pacific Community.

Copyright © 2023. All rights reserved.
Web edition hosted at https://apps.lucidcentral.org/pppw