Taxonomy of Whiteflies' Natural Enemies in Tamil Nadu Cotton Ecosystem

Abstract

Native predators and parasitoids were identified against the invasive whiteflies in the cotton ecosystem. Over the past several decades, its control has been increasingly based on the use of its natural enemies. The natural enemies identified include Cheilomenes sexmaculata, Chrysoperla carnea, Diadiplosis sp, Orius insidiosus, two coleopteran beetles, Cybocephalus nipponicus, Delphastus catalinae and two species of Aphelinidae parasitoids, Encarsia guadeloupae and Encarsia dispersa. E. dispersa can be distinguished from E. guadeloupae by a combination of characters, including body colour, colour of the meso-scutellar suture, antennal segments, tarsal formula, etc. The identification of the predators and parasitoids was determined through taxonomical based on key characters. During the survey, several predators and parasitoids were recorded and maximum parasitism was recorded by Encarsia guadeloupae and Encarsia dispersa (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae)