First report of Aleuroclava guyavae in Italy
The presence of an unusual whitefly, Aleuroclava guyavae (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae) is reported for the first time in Italy. In November 2006, A. guyavae was observed on Ficus sycomorus and other Ficus species in the glasshouses of the Botanic Garden in Padova, Veneto Region. It was then also found on Citrus limon grown under glasshouse, as well as on several woody plants (Pittosporum tobira, Prunus armeniaca, Photinia) growing outdoors in the provinces of Padova, Vicenza and Treviso. However, in all cases only low populations were observed with no visible damage to the plants. There is very little information about A. guyavae in the literature. It is an Asian species which was reported so far, in Taiwan on Psidium guajava and in Hong Kong (China) on Cinnamomum. According to the authors, this is the first record of A. guyavae in Italy and in Europe.
Sources
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Pellizari G, Šimala M (2007) First record of Aleuroclava guyavae (Takahashi, 1932) (Hemiptera, Aleyrodidae) in Europe. Bollettino di Zoologia Agraria e di Bachicoltura Serie II 39(2), 91-95.
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