Encounter with Encarsia cubensis, a new natural enemy of invasive woolly whitefly Aleurothrixus floccosus in Kerala, India: Implications of the findings for horticultural crops

This study documents the first occurrence of Encarsia cubensis Gahan (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) as a parasitoid of the woolly whitefly, Aleurothrixus floccosus (Maskell), in India, with a special emphasis on horticultural crops, particularly guava. Species identification was made using morphological characterization and analysis of the mitochondrial COI gene. Surveys conducted in the field revealed that the parasitism level exceeded 70 per cent; therefore, E. cubensis could be utilised as a biological control agent for the woolly whitefly. This discovery is crucial for the integrated pest management of guava and other horticultural crops, promoting sustainable production.