3212
Author
Hernández-Suárez, Estrella
Author
Martin, Jon H.
Author
Gill, Raymond J.
Author
Bedford, Ian D.
Author
Malumphy, Christopher P.
Author
Betancort, J. Alfredo Reyes
Author
Carnero, Aurelio
text
Zootaxa
2012
2012-02-29
3212
1
76
journal article
11755334
Parabemisia myricae
(Kuwana)
(
Figures 33
&
82
)
Bemisia myricae
Kuwana, 1927: 249–251
.
Parabemisia myricae
(Kuwana) Takahashi, 1952: 24
.
Distribution in the Canary Islands:
TENERIFE: Valle Guerra. GRAN CANARIA: Arucas.
Elsewhere:
Palaeartic Region: Crete,
Cyprus
,
Egypt
,
Greece
,
Italy
,
Sardinia
,
Sicily
,
Spain
,
Tunisia
,
Turkey
,
Japan
; Ethiopian Region:
Ivory Coast
; Oriental Region:
Hong Kong
,
India
,
Sri Lanka
,
Taiwan
; Autro-Oriental Region: Malay Peninsula; Pacific Region: Hawaii; Neotropical Region:
Mexico
,
Trinidad
; Neartic Region:
USA
(
California
,
Florida
).
Host plants in the
Canary Islands
:
Citrus sinensis
.
Other host plant listed:
P.myricae
has been listed from hosts in 14 plant families by
Mound & Halsey (1978)
, but favoured hosts are
Citrus
spp.
and
Persea americana
, especially in the Mediterranean basin (
Martin
et al
., 2000
)
Comments:
Commonly called the “Japanese bayberry whitefly”,
P. myricae
is a notable pest of subtropical plants, especially citrus crops and avocado, and was introduced into several countries in the Mediterranean Basin (Bink- Moenen & Gerling, 1990). It was first discovered in mainland
Spain
in 1990, in the citrus areas of Málaga (
Garrido, 1994
). It was recorded for the first time in the
Canary Islands
in 1997 by the local inspection services (
Anonymous, 1997
). This whitefly species is sometimes responsible for serious crop damage when it first arrives in a new geographical area, but usually soon settles into the background as natural controls become established. Pupal cases are colourless and cryptic, and are very difficult to see if not in high numbers. In the field, the eggs are laid on the leaf border, each producing a characteristic protuberance. Individuals of
P. myricae
excrete large quantities of honeydew but do not secrete visible waxy material (
Fig. 82
).