Adam H. Putnam, Commissioner - Richard D. Gaskalla, Director

Aleurocanthus woglumi Ashby

Common name: Citrus blackfly

 Adult citrus blackfly
Adult citrus blackfly

Diagnosis: Pupal case spiny (Fig.1), black with a small white fringe, and oval in shape. Eggs on underside of leaves in a spiral pattern (Fig.2) and becoming black in a few days after deposition.

Comments: A. woglumi is not like any of the other black pupal cased whiteflies in Florida because of the dorsal spines on the pupal case. In 1934 this whitefly infested Key West, Florida, but was eradicated 2.5 years later. Early in 1976 an infestation was detected in Broward County, Florida. Attempts to again eradicate this whitefly from Florida failed; however, an attempt at biological control has been very successful. Introductions of Encarsia opulenta (Silvestri) and Amitus hesperidum Silvestri have been successful in controlling this pest. At this point, citrus blackfly is not a major threat to Citrus in Florida.

Fig. 1. Pupal case with dorsal spines
Fig. 1. Pupal case with dorsal spines.

Fig. 2. Egg spiral of citrus blackfly, a few first instars also present.
Fig. 2. Egg spiral of citrus blackfly,
a few first instars also present.

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Created: May 2001 | Updated: March 2006