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Title: Survey of natural enemies of whiteflies (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) in Egypt with new local and world records

Author
item ABD-RABOU, SHAABAN - Egyptian Ministry Of Agriculture
item Simmons, Alvin

Submitted to: Entomological News
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/2/2014
Publication Date: 6/16/2014
Citation: Abd-Rabou, S., Simmons, A.M. 2014. Survey of natural enemies of whiteflies (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) in Egypt with new local and world records. Entomological News. 124(1):38-56.

Interpretive Summary: Whiteflies are some of the most important global pests of agricultural crops. Natural enemies are useful to help control the many types of whiteflies that attack horticultural plants. A survey was conducted on the natural enemies of whiteflies in Egypt. Fifty-two different types of natural enemies (29 parasites, 8 fungi, and 15 predators) were found attacking 14 types of whiteflies. This is the first report of two parasites, on eight types of whiteflies; this is also the first report of three predators on the pomegranate whitefly (also called ash whitefly). In addition, new local records of natural enemies on whiteflies in Egypt are reported. These results provide knowledge to the scientific and agricultural communities and will help in the development of integrated ways to manage whiteflies.

Technical Abstract: Whiteflies (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) are some of the most problematic global pests of agricultural crops. Natural enemies serve an effective role in controlling populations of different whitefly species. A survey was conducted to identify and record the natural enemies associated with whiteflies in Egypt. Fifty-two natural enemies (29 species of parasitoids, 8 species of pathogens, and 15 species of predators) were found attacking 14 whitefly species in Egypt. New world records are reported herein for two parasitoids [Encarsia lutea Masi and Eretmocerus mundus (Mercet)] on eight species of whiteflies, and for three predators [Chilocorus bipustulatus L., Chrysoperla carnea (Stephens), and Coccinella septempunctata L.] on the pomegranate whitefly (also called ash whitefly) [Siphoninus phillyreae (Halliday)]. In addition, new local records of natural enemies on whiteflies are reported. This is the first report of six predators [C. bipustulatus, Clitostethus arcuatus (Rossi), Orius albidipennis Reuter, Paederus alfierii Koch, Phaenobremia aphidivora (Rübsaamen), and Scymnus syriacus Mulsant] and three entomopathogenic fungi [Aspergillus flavus, Cladosporium herbarum (Pers.), and Paecilomyces fumosoroseus (Wize)] of whiteflies in Egypt. This work helps in defining the natural enemies of whiteflies in and near agricultural communities.