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Giant Whitefly
Biological Control Section Project, FY 2006:
Giant Whitefly [Aleurodicus dugesii Cockerell]. T
The Giant Whitefly Biocontrol Project was terminated in FY 2006. There were no significant problems of this pest statewide. Although isolated outbreaks were detected in previous years, the parasitic wasp Idioporus affinis LaSalle and Polaszek (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) always managed to suppress infestations to low levels. The giant whitefly was first detected on Oahu during May 2002, followed by the discovery of I.affinis in March 2003 as a fortuitous biological control introduction. This parasitoid was found in association with the giant whitefly as an accidental introduction from California, where it had been purposely introduced from Mexico as a biocontrol agent.