1. First report on the whitefly, Aleurodicus pseudugesii on the coconut palm, Cocos nucifera in Brazil.
- Author
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de Omena RP, Guzzo EC, Ferreira JM, de Mendonça FA, de Lima AF, Racca-Filho F, and Santana AE
- Subjects
- Animals, Brazil, Food Chain, Hemiptera anatomy & histology, Nymph anatomy & histology, Nymph classification, Nymph physiology, Ovum classification, Ovum physiology, Ovum ultrastructure, Pupa anatomy & histology, Pupa classification, Pupa physiology, Cocos, Hemiptera classification, Hemiptera physiology
- Abstract
The coconut palm, Cocos nucifera L. (Arecales: Arecaceae), is currently grown extensively throughout the intertropical zones of the world, including Brazil, where it constitutes an important source of income for growers. Although whiteflies are not normally considered coconut pests, these insects can damage crops directly by sucking the sap, which weakens the plant; indirect damage may be caused by sooty mold formation over the excreted honeydew and by the transmission of pathogens. Whiteflies have infested coconut plants in the northeastern, northern, and southeastern regions of Brazil. Infested materials were collected and the causative insect was identified as Aleurodicus pseudugesii Martin (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae). This is the first report of A. pseudugesii in Brazil as a pest of the coconut palm.
- Published
- 2012
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