First record of the invasive woolly whitefly Aleurothrixus floccosus (Maskell) in Nepal

Abstract Wooly whitefly, Aleurothrixux floccosus (Maskell) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) is an invasive insect pest considered as neotropical in origin. This polyphagous insect was recorded for the first time in Nepal on guava ( Psidium guajava L.) from various locations of Kathmandu. The insect was identified studying different morphological characters of the fourth instar nymph and adult at National Entomology Research Center of Nepal Agricultural Research Council. Crenulated margin, continuous submarginal fold, elliptical vasiform orifice, long paired setae on vasiform orifice and long caudal setae was observed on puparium. The wings of adults were pure white with yellow colored body. The antenna of both male and female was seven segmented with relatively very long third segment. Further confirmation was made with DNA barcoding of adult whitefly using mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) gene with sanger sequencing. Nucleotide sequences generated in present study showed 98.12–100% identity with A. floccosus COI nucleotide sequences in NCBI database. Details of identification with damage symptoms and diagnostic characteristics of pupa and adult moths are discussed in the paper.