First Report of an Alien Whitefly Predatory Beetle, Delphastus pallidus (LeConte) (Insecta: Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) from South Punjab, Pakistan

Abstract

Delphastus pallidus (LeConte) is an important predatory beetle reported for effective control of whiteflies including Bemisia tabaci, Aleurotrachelus trachoides, Paraleyrodes bondari and Dialeurodes citrifolii. Many other members of genus Delphastus are well known predators of multiple whitefly species such as Delphastus catalinae (Horn). The members of this genus have predatory potential against all the stages of whitefly including eggs, nymphs and adults. This genus was reported in earlier 1950s from Florida on citrus whitefly. The later studies have reported it from Beach and the Mims areas in 1951, Indian Rocks Lake Alfred areas in 1953. It was not reported against cotton whitefly from anywhere of Pakistan. The Pest Warning Quality Control of Pesticides, Punjab team Multan reported it from cotton fields. Samples were collected and got identified from the Department of Entomology, Muhammad Nawaz Sharif University of Agriculture, Multan. After morphological and taxonomic identification, it was identified as Whitefly Predatory Beetle, Delphastus pallidus (LeConte) (Insecta: Coleoptera: Coccinellidae). Extensive surveys during the 3rd week of August 2022 reported its presence in 15 tehsils of cotton zone, South Punjab, Pakistan.