First record of the invasive Bondar’s nesting whitefly, Paraleyrodes bondari Peracchi on coconut from India

Abstract

First incidence of the neotropical invasive Bondar’s Nesting Whitefly (BNW), Paraleyrodes bondari Peracchi (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) in India is reported on coconut palms from Kerala. P. bondari constructs unique woolly wax nests on abaxial surface of palm leaflets and possesses “X”-shaped oblique greyish bands on wings. Presence of flower-petal like ovoid facets on abdominal compound pores (33–35 μm) of the puparium and conspicuous single dorsal and ventral horn with a pair of apicolateral processes on the adult male aedeagus confirms the typical morphological identification features. Partial mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase 1 sequences (675 bp) from the Indian specimens shared 100% nucleotide identity with BNW, thus confirming its identity as P. bondari. Co-existence of P. bondari and Aleurodicus rugioperculatus on coconut palms indicate probable simultaneous introduction of both these pests from the New World. The polyphagous nature of the non-native BNW warrants stringent quarantine protocols to prevent its further spread to other coconut growing areas.