Giakoumaki, M.-V.; Milonas, P.; Antonatos, S.; Evangelοu, V.; Partsinevelos, G.; Papachristos, D.; Ramadan, M.M. A Survey in Hawaii for Parasitoids of Citrus Whiteflies (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae), for Introduction into Greece. Insects2023, 14, 858.
Giakoumaki, M.-V.; Milonas, P.; Antonatos, S.; Evangelοu, V.; Partsinevelos, G.; Papachristos, D.; Ramadan, M.M. A Survey in Hawaii for Parasitoids of Citrus Whiteflies (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae), for Introduction into Greece. Insects 2023, 14, 858.
Giakoumaki, M.-V.; Milonas, P.; Antonatos, S.; Evangelοu, V.; Partsinevelos, G.; Papachristos, D.; Ramadan, M.M. A Survey in Hawaii for Parasitoids of Citrus Whiteflies (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae), for Introduction into Greece. Insects2023, 14, 858.
Giakoumaki, M.-V.; Milonas, P.; Antonatos, S.; Evangelοu, V.; Partsinevelos, G.; Papachristos, D.; Ramadan, M.M. A Survey in Hawaii for Parasitoids of Citrus Whiteflies (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae), for Introduction into Greece. Insects 2023, 14, 858.
Abstract
Whiteflies of Aleurocanthus spiniferus and A. woglumi (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) are serious pests of citrus and other important fruit crops. The problem in citrus has initiated the successful introductions of several natural enemies for biocontrol programs in Hawaii and many other countries. Here we summarized the history of infestation and biocontrol efforts of the two whiteflies in Hawaii for possible importation into Greece. Two Platygasteridae (Amitus hesperidum Silvestri, A. spiniferus (Brethes) and three Aphelinidae (Encarsia clypealis (Silvestri), E. smithi (Silvestri), E. perplexa Huang and Polaszek) were released in Hawaii for biocontrol of the citrus whiteflies during the period 1974-1999. The aphelinid, Cales noacki Howard, purposely released for Aleurothrixus flococcus (Maskell) in 1982 was also reported to attack other whiteflies including Aleurocanthus species on citrus. An additional aphelinid parasitoid, Encarsia nipponica Silvestri, native to Japan and China, was accidently introduced and found to attack both citrus whiteflies on the islands. Since the colonization of introduced parasitoids in infested fields on four Hawaiian Islands, no survey was done to evaluate their potential impact. We made two short surveys during September-November 2022 on Kauai, Hawaii, and Oahu Islands to introduce the dominant parasitoids to Greece for the biocontrol of A. spiniferus. Results showed that the infestation level was very low on Kauai, Hawaii, and Oahu Islands with mean infestation level ranged 1.4 - 3.1 on Hawaii and Oahu Islands mostly on pummelo and sweet orange, with no detection on Kauai Island. Only was E. perplexa the dominant parasitoid with parasitism rates ranged 0 -28 % on Hawaii Island and 11-65% on Oahu Island. Starter colony of the parasitoids has been colonized in Greece for evaluation and approval for release. This was the first field survey on Hawaii since the introduction and release of citrus whitefly natural enemies.
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