FIELD STUDIES OF THE HOST RANGE OF THE CITRUS BLACKFLY, ALEUROCANTHUS WOGLUMI (HOMOPTERA: ALEYRODIDAE)

Abstract

AbstractWe studied the ovipositional behavior of the citrus blackfly (CBF), Aleurocanthus woglumi Ashby, and found several plant species (mango, pink trumpet, and kumquat) to be as attractive as Citrus spp to ovipositing CBF at low densities. There is a significant (P < 0.01) positive correlation between the attractiveness of various host plants in our tests and the frequency of CBF occurrence on these plants in field surveys The host range of CBF increases with increasing CBF density. Oviposition by CBF on preferred hosts appears to occur at all CBF densities and is independent of their frequency in the environment We also found that CBF adults appear to be attracted to plant material reflecting light in the 500–600 nm range and it appears that this is the only long-range attractant operative.