A new whitefly for NSW - The Ash Whitefly
Author: Peter S. Gillespie

 

Scientific name: Siphoninus phillyreae (Haliday) (Aleyrodidae: Hemiptera)
Common Name: Ash Whitefly
Identification: All whiteflies are best identified by their pupae, small immobile structures 1.5 mm long usually clustered on the underside of the leaves of its host. Ash Whitefly pupae characteristically appear to have greyish bands on a pale/whitish body. Adult Ash Whitefly have slightly mottled wings but otherwise are a pale whitish whitefly indistinguishable from many other different species.

Photos: Courtesy of P. DeBarro, CSIRO
Hosts: In order of preference:

Members of the Oleaceae including  many species of Fraxinus (eg claret ash, golden ash etc), Olea (Olives) and Phillyrea.

Members of the Rosaceae including many species of Crataegus, Malus, Prunus, Pyrus (eg Hawthorn, Apple, Plum, Pear)

Puniaceae: Punica granatum (pomegranate)

A variety of other plants, including various species of citrus, magnolia, crepe myrtle, are likely to be occasional hosts for this pest.
Damage: Heavy infestations lead to wilting, leaf drop, smaller fruit, large quantities of sticky honeydew and sooty mould growing on the host.
Parasites: Coleoptera: Coccinellidae: Clithostethus arctuatus (Italy), Scymnus 
    pallidiventris (Egypt)
Diptera: Drosophilidae: Acletoenus formosus (Italy, France)
Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae: Coccophagus elephilus (Africa), Encarsia 
    gauteri (Spain, USSR), Encarsia inaron, Encarsia siphonini
    (Africa), Prospaltella sp (Italy, France)
Life Cycle: Development only occurs between temps of 10o and 30oC with optimal temps between 20-25oC. Winged adults lay eggs on underside of leaves. Nymphs emerge, rarely moving more than one centimeter. The nymphs feed on tree sap until pupation. Pupation occurs in situ with larvae on undersides of leaves.
Distribution in NSW: Presently  recorded from Wagga, Griffith, Gundagai, Canberra, Coolah, Dunedoo, Binnaway, Tooraweenah, Gilgandra, Nyngan, Mudgee, Orange and Dubbo.


 












Document 8491, submitted 09 October 2000
 This document is made available subject to the conditions
outlined in the disclaimer and copyright statement.

© NSW Agriculture, 2000

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