Whiteflies from the Maltese Islands (Homoptera, Aleyrodidae)

Abstract

Whitefly species collected by the author from the Maltese Islands during 1992-94 are recorded. Prior to this study only two whitefly species were definitely recorded from the Maltese archipelago.During this study thirteen species were found. These were Aleurolobus niloticus Priesner & Hosny; Aleurolobus sp., Aleurothrixus jloccosus (Maskell); Aleurotrachelus rhamnicola(Goux), Aleyrodes proletella (Linnaeus); Bemisia aler (Priesner -& Hosny); Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius); Dialeurodes citri (Ashmead); Siphoninus phillyrea (Haliday); Tetraleurodes hederae Goux; Tetralicia ericae Harrison; Trialeurodes lauri Signoret and Trialeurodes vaporariorum (Westwood). A key based on pupal characters is given. For each species, complete collection data, host plant range, global distribution and additional notes are given where appropriate. Attention is drawn to the possible occurrence of other whitefly species with suitable biogeographical distribution and ecology. These include: Aleurolobus olivinus (Silvestri), Aleurotuba jelinekii (Frauenfeld), Aleuroviggianus adrianae Iaccarino, Aleyrodes elevatus Silvestri and Aleyrodes Ion ice rae Walker.