First Report of Invasive Nesting Whiteflies (Paraleyrodes spp.) Infesting Small Cardamom and Management Strategies

Invasion and establishment of Bondar's nesting whitefly, Paraleyrodes bondari Peracchi (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) and nesting whitefly, Paraleyrodes minei Iaccarino (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) were recorded on small cardamom for the first time in different agro-climatic zones in Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu of South India. Identities of the species were confirmed through morphological and molecular characteristics. Partial sequences of cytochrome c oxidase I gene (658 bp) for P. bondari (PV163890) and P. minei (PV163877) were submitted to GenBank, NCBI, India. The incidence of these whiteflies in different agro-climatic zones and their varietal screening in different prevailing varieties and land races of small cardamom indicated that the infestation of P. bondari was higher than P. minei. Seasonal incidence of both P. bondari and P. minei population was peaked during November to March, declined during April to May and were negligible during June to October in Cardamom Hill Reserve, Kerala. Rainy days for P. bondari and P. minei was negatively and significantly correlated with invasive whiteflies population. Field evaluation with few novel insecticides revealed that spinetoram 12% SC @ 0.45 l/ha reduced whitefly populations by > 90% in small cardamom crop.