First Report of Three Invasive Whitefly Species (Aleyrodidae: Hemiptera) from West Bengal, India

Invasive insect pests are alien or exotic organisms. These are introduced species to an environment outside their original or native habitat and have an immense power of dispersal and adaptation. Invasive species are responsible for reducing or minimizing the productivity of the crops and thereby creating huge economic losses. Due to the small size and the ability to be attached to the host plants, the invasive whitefly species have been introduced to several countries through movement of different plants during trade. Eight such species have invaded and been reported from India. But only three such species – Spiralling whitefly (Aleurodicus dispersus Russell), Rugose spiralling whitefly (Aleurodicus rugioperculatus Martin) and Bondar's nesting whitefly (Paraleyrodes bondari Peracchi) – have been reported from West Bengal, till date. Moreover, as per available literature, there is no report of the other invasive species from West Bengal. Based on the present study, the existence of three invasive whitefly species – Solanum whitefly, Aleurothrixus trachoides (Back), Palm infesting whitefly, Aleurotrachelus atratus Hempel and Woolly whitefly, Aleurothrixus floccosus (Maskell) – is reported for the first time from West Bengal. Mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase sub unit I (COI) gene sequencing was done for molecular characterization of these species to confirm their identity. Regarding host plant preference, woolly whitefly and solanum whitefly showed clear affinity towards guava and chilli, respectively, whereas palm infesting whitefly preferred coconut. This report is going to be the first ever document of invasion by the above-mentioned three exotic whitefly species from West Bengal.