Aleurothrixus floccosus: an Invasive Pest Attacks Different Species of Citrus Trees in Alexandria Governorate, Egypt

Since 2022, the woolly whitefly, Aleurothrixus floccosus (Maskell) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) has been recorded as an invasive pest infesting different species of citrus trees which were peculiar and previously undetected. The infestations were observed on orange ( Citrus sinensis ), lemon ( C. limon (, grapefruit ( C. paradise ), mandarin ( C. reticulata ), and lime ( C. aurantiifolia ) in the campus of the Faculty of Agriculture (El-Shatby), Alexandria University, Egypt. A. floccosus arises frequently and causes a number of disorders; the leaves' lower surface was covered with a white mass of wax and an amount of honeydew which, served as a substrate for the black sooty mold growing. Following the initial observation, numerous reports of this particular insect emerged from different areas within the Alexandria governorate. However, no infestation with A. floccosus was noticed following a qualitative survey of various citrus varieties in some regions of Al Beheira governorate. These results highlight the need for further and intensive investigation and preventive. The morphological identification, damage symptoms and distribution of A. floccosus was reported in the present article.