Biological Control of the Orange Spiny Whitefly, Aleurocanthus spiniferus [Homoptera:Aleyrodidae] on Chuuk and Yap in Micronesia

The orange spiny whitefly, Aleurocanthus spiniferus (Quaintance) (Homoptera:Aleyrodidae) was first reported on Yap in 1986 and on the island of Moen in Chuuk State of Federated States of Micronesia in 1948. A parasitoid, Encarsia smithi (Silvestri) (Hymenoptera:Aphelinidae), was introduced to Moen, on Nov. 1, 1989 and to Yap on Sept.26, Oct. 3 and Oct. 10, 1990 from Guam. In Moen, the establishment of the parasitoid was confirmed on Sept.5,1990 with a large reduction in population of the orange spiny whitefly. Similarly, in Yap, establishment of E. smithi was confirmed at the two release sites on March 13, 1991 and in most of the island on Septemher 20,1991 in Yap.