Whiteflies detected from imported cut flowers of Pieris japonica (Thunb.) D. Don ex G. Don (Ericaceae) at South Korean ports of entry, with description of a new species of Singhiella Sampson (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae)
Soo-Jung Suh
Plant Quarantine Technology Center/APQA 177, Hyeoksin 8-ro, Gimcheon-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea 39660
Anil Kumar Dubey
Zoological Survey of India, M-Block, New Alipore, West Bengal, Kolkata, India 700053
Abstract
Five whitefly species (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae), including an undescribed species, were detected at South Korean ports of entry on imported Pieris japonica (Thunb.) D. Don ex G. Don plants originating from China and Japan. These species were identified as Aleuroclava hikosanensis (Takahashi), Aleuroclava similis (Takahashi), Aleuroplatus sp. (cf. joholensis), Cockerelliella psidii (Corbett) and Singhiella pieris Suh and Dubey, new species. This new species is described and illustrated with photographs. In addition, the remaining four species are briefly characterized and illustrative photographs are provided to support accurate identification. This study highlights the importance of monitoring ornamental plant imports to prevent the introduction of high-risk invasive species.
Publication
Published