India: First whitefly attack on crops in Assam
The pest was first reported in coconut in Belize in 2004, then in Florida in 2009 and later in some south Indian states in 2016.
“During the month of July, the pest infested coconut, arecanut, betelvine, banana, mango, guava, ornamental plants, etc., in several villages of Kamalpur agriculture circle. It was observed that almost all the leaves of coconut and other plants beneath and nearby it have turned brownish-black due to severe growth of sooty mould. All the leaves of the plants were found to be full of whitefly,” Dr Samiran Pathak, principal scientist (entomology) at the Kahikuchi-based Horticultural Research Station told The Assam Tribune.