New distribution record of Acacia whitefly, Tetraleurodes acaciae (Quaintance) on Gliricidia sepium (Fabaceae) in coconut system from Kahikuchi, Assam

Abstract

The acacia whitefly, Tetraleurodes acacia (Quaintance) Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae), was reported for the first time on the green leaf manure, Gliricidia sepium (Jacq.) Steud. (Fabales: Fabaceae) from Kahikuchi, Assam in North-East India from coconut system. Prompt field identification of the acacia whitefly (T. acaciae) is critical because G. sepium forms the backbone of organic nitrogen management in sustainable coconut farming systems. The species identity was confirmed through both morphological and molecular analyses, and the partial mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (COI) gene sequence was submitted in GenBank under accession number PX765615.1. Black puparium, U-shaped rim surrounding the vasiform orifice, submarginal gland tubercles as well as abdominal tubercle with depression are the key characteristic features of puparium identification of T. acaciae. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that T. acaciae formed a close sister clade with Crenidorsum michellae Takahashi, which also constituted genetically distant subgroups with Aleurothrixus floccosus (Maskell), Aleurotrachelus spp. and Aleurocanthus spp.