First report of citrus blackfly (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) in the state of Piauí, Brazil.
Silva J. D. C., Beserra-Júnior J. E. A., Girão Filho J. E., Silva R. B. Q., Medeiros W. R., Carvalho D. S., Silva P. R. R.
Author Affiliation: Departamento de Fitotecnia, Centro de Ciências Agrárias, Universidade Federal do Piauí - UFPI, CEP 64049-550, Teresina, PI, Brazil.
Brazilian Journal of Biology 75 : 499-500
Abstract : The occurrence of citrus blackfly (Aleurocanthus woglumi) for the first time in Piauí (Brazil) was observed since September 2010 in a phytosanitary inspection by Agência de Defesa Agropecuária do Piauí, in commercial and home orchards in the municipalities of Altos, Amarante, Angical do Piauí, Barro Duro, Esperantina, Lagoa do Piauí, Piracuruca, Regeneração, Ribeiro Gonçalves, Santa Filomena, Teresina, Uruçuí and Valença do Piauí. In November 2012 and in February 2013, A. woglumi observations were conducted in the municipalities of Teresina and Angical do Piauí, respectively, which were orange orchards of small areas. The leaves of infested plants were examined under a stereoscopic microscope, which confirmed the presence of eggs, nymphs, pupae, and adults of Aleurocanthus sp., identified based on their morphological characteristics. Infested leaf samples were sent to the Instituto Biológico of São Paulo to confirm the identity of the insect at the species level. The cream-white eggs were laid in a spiral arrangement. Eggs with dark colours were found, probably, toward the advanced stages of maturation. Nymphs at different stages of development, pupae, and adults were also found on the young branches. A. woglumi has spread easily since it was first identified in the country in 2001. Among the states that border Piauí, the insect has already been recorded in Maranhão, Tocantins, Pernambuco and Ceará. This is thought to be the first study to show the occurrence of A. woglumi in Piauí, colonizing avocado, mulberry, orange, lemon, mango, pomegranate and tangerine trees.