Abstract
Rugose spiraling whitefly, Aleurodicus rugioperculatus Martin is found infesting oil palm plantation in the West Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh, India in 2017. Adults are tiny sized white flies with brown colour bands on the wings. Presence of wary filaments covering the eggs and immature stages on the undersurface of the leaves is the characteristic feature of identity. Secretion of honeydew and formation of black sooty mold layer on the lower leaves of same plant and or on other plants including weeds in the ground are good indication of the pest incidence. Coconut is the most preferred host plant followed by oil palm and other horticultural plants viz. banana, guava, heliconia, papaya while pineapple and palmyra are free from the pest incidence. Application of 0.1 per cent neem oil (I 0000 ppm) mixed with I per cent RIN detergent powder proved to be effective in suppressing the pest. Keywords: Rugose spiraling whitefly, oil palm, Andhra Pradesh, parasitoid, sooty mold.
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