Diversity and Identification Key of Whiteflies (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) Species on Agricultural Crops in West Java

Abstract

Whiteflies are one of the most important insect group of pests in agricultural crops which can cause direct and indirect damages to plants, i.e. disturb photosynthesis and plant aesthetics, and transmit plant viruses. Whiteflies have been reported in Indonesia since 1900’s. There are 37 whiteflies species that have been recorded in Indonesia, but it is believed that many more are unidentified. The aims of this research was to identify the whiteflies species in agricultural crops and study their diversity at different altitudes. Whiteflies were collected at five areas in West Java: Bogor, Cianjur, Sukabumi, Bandung, and Garut. The identification of whiteflies were using fourth instar nymph or known as pupa. Slide preparation followed Watson’s protocol that has been modified. Morphological characters for such species were recorded for identification. Identification key was constructed in the dichotomous and digital forms using Lucid Phoenix Key program. Diversity of whiteflies was analysed using Shannons’s (H’), Simpson’s (D) and Sorenson’s (C) diversity index. Whitefly natural enemies that were found in the field or parasitized whiteflies were identified. There were 38 whiteflies species found and 10 were still unidentified. About 89.5% whiteflies found were the member of subfamily Aleyrodinae. Whiteflies were more commonly found in the plants with complex architecture (fruit trees) than the plants with simple architecture (vegetables, ornamental plants, etc). Plant with complex architecture can provide more space and food for organism to live. Aleurodicus dispersus and Aleurodicus dugesii are cosmopolitan species that can be found in various types of plants and altitudes. Bemisia tabaci was commonly found in lower altitude, whereas Trialeurodes vaporariorum was mainly found in higher altitude. Both species are become important pests in vegetable crops and transmit plant diseases. The highest whitefly species richness and diversity was found in lowland (0-500 m above sea level (asl)) (H’=2.14; 1- D=5.53). Similarity analysis (C) showed that number of whitefly species found at lowland was 64% similar to midland (501-1000 m asl). The natural enemies that commonly found were coccinellid beetle, aphelinid, and encyrtid wasp.