Natura Croatica Issue number: Natura Croatica, Vol. 32 No.2

Aleurocanthus camelliae Kanmiya & Kasai, 2011 (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae), a newly intercepted whitefly species in Croatia

Authors: Mladen Šimala, Maja Pintar, Vjekoslav Markotić

Authors and affiliation

  • Mladen Šimala Hrvatska agencija za poljoprivredu i hranu, Centar za zaštitu bilja, Gorice 68b, 10000 Zagreb
  • Maja Pintar Hrvatska agencija za poljoprivredu i hranu, Centar za zaštitu bilja, Gorice 68b, 10000 Zagreb
  • Vjekoslav Markotić Hrvatska agencija za poljoprivredu i hranu, Centar za zaštitu bilja, Gorice 68b, 10000 Zagreb

Abstract

The Camellia spiny whitefly Aleurocanthus camelliae Kanmiya & Kasai, 2011 (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) was intercepted for the first time during 2022 in consignments with ornamental Camellia spp. seedlings originating from Italy, in seven plant nurseries and garden centres in Croatia. This Eastern Palearctic whitefly species is an important pest, especially in tea cultivation of East Asia. However, in Croatia the species has been detected at very low population densities without any significant damage to the infested ornamental plants of the genus Camellia L. From the infested leaves collected on each location, whitefly puparia and pupal cases were slide-mounted and morphologically identified in laboratory as the species A. camelliae. It is assumed that in the case of spreading and domestication in Croatia, A. camelliae could potentially present a phytosanitary risk for the camellias planted in gardens and parks in the Kvarner area.

Keywords

Aleyrodidae, Aleurocatnhus camelliae, camellia, interception, Croatia

PDF File