(Homoptera – Aleyrodidae)
Vol. 8
Ru Nguyen, Reece I. Sailer and Avas B. Hamon
1993
Abstract
The following introduction was written by Dr. Reece I. Sailer shortly before his untimely death on September 8, 1986. Since that time we have updated the information through 1987, which substantially increases the amount of current information available.
We dedicate this catalogue to the memory of our friend and colleague.
Ru Nguyen and Avas B. Hamon 1993
This catalog is the result of an initial need for access to published information on the biology and natural enemies of the citrus blackfly, Aleurocanthus woglumi Ashby The information was urgently needed following discovery of the citrus blackfly at Fort Lauderdale, Florida, in January, 1976. While assembling this information, need for a ready means of accessing the literature relating to all species of aleyrodids associated with citrus became evident. One of the more compelling reasons for the extended coverage is the importance of species known to be pests of citrus somewhere in the world but not yet known to occur in Florida. An additional, more immediate concern, relates to natural enemies. While some enemy species are highly host specific, others are known to attack two or more hosts. Thus, a search for natural enemies of the citrus blackfly or any of the other aleyrodids should not be restricted to a single target species. Knowledge of the host plant range of those aleyrodids reported from citrus is also of importance in assessing the likelihood that a species might become a serious pest of citrus should it gain entry to Florida.
To a very considerable degree the problem of finding the literature concerning aleyrodids associated with citrus was alleviated in 1978 with publication of “Whiteflies of the World — A Systematic Catalogue of the Aleyrodidae (Homoptera) with Host Plant and Natural Enemy Data,” by
L.A. Mound and S.H. Halsey. This catalog treats 1156 species in 126 genera and provides type data as well as subsequent records of geographic distribution, host plants, parasites, and predators. Nomenclatorial changes involving new specific and generic synonymy together with replacement names and new combinations are included thus making the publication more than a simple catalog to literature.
By 1978 when Mound’s and Halsey’s Catalog appeared, our survey of the literature relating to the aleyrodids associated with citrus was virtually complete and a manuscript was being typed. Since most of the information to be included in our catalog was now available, we seriously considered abandoning the project. However, after discussing the matter with several people engaged in research or regulatory activities relating to insect pests of citrus, we decided to complete and publish our catalog. This decision was based on the following considerations. (1) From a world viewpoint, citrus is the most important crop at hazard from aleyrodids. By restricting the catalog to those species known to be associated with citrus, access to literature relating to this commodity will be facilitated. Also, as a publication restricted to those species reported from citrus it will likely be more accessible to people with an interest in citrus pests than an all inclusive systematic catalog to the family. (2) By delaying completion of our manuscript until 1987, the catalog provides coverage of the ten-year period, 1977-87, during which a number of publications on citrus blackfly and the citrus whitefly, Dialeurodes citri Ashmead, have appeared. (3) Finally, while the Mound and Halsey catalog lists and cross references parasites and predators, we have also included pathogens.