Rugose spiralling whitefly, Aleurodicus rugioperculatus Martin (Hemiptera, Aleyrodidae): An invasive foes of coconut

An invasive species, Aleurodicus rugioperculatus Martin (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae), commonly known as the rugose spiraling whitefly (RSW), was observed on coconut palm (Cocos nucifera L.) in Pollachi, Tamil Nadu, India. Mode of entry of RSW into India is unknown, In Tamil Nadu, the incidence of rugose spiraling whitefly, A. rugioperculatus (Hemiptera: Sternorrhyncha: Aleyrodidae) on coconut was first observed in Anaimalai block, Coimbatore during August, 2016. It mainly infests coconut palms and other broad-leaved hosts in its native range. The pest is somewhat superficially similar in its habits and general appearance to spiralling whitefly A. disperses, which itself is an invasive pest that came to India in the mid-1990s. RSW causes stress to the host plant by removing water and nutrients and also by producing honeydew. Presently it is spread all over India and the farmers of our nation are facing hard ships due to this infestation of RSW in coconut ecosystem.