THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 145 



NOTES ON CUBAN WHITE-FLIES WITH DESCRIPTION OF 

 TWO NEW SPECIES. 



BY E. A. BACK, VIRGINIA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. 



From an economic standpoint, there are probably no insects in 

 Florida so detrmiental to interests of citrus growers as the citrus white 

 fly (Aleyrodes citri Riley and Howard), and the cloudy-winged white-fly 

 ( Aleyrodes nubifera Berger), which cause an annual estimated loss to the 

 citrus industry of that state of over $1,125,000.* 



For several years, the writer, with others, was engaged in an investi- 

 gation of these insects and during that time many reports of white-fly 

 infestations of Citrus in Cuba were brought to our attention. Considering 

 the wide spread distribution of the citrus and cloudy-winged white-flies in. 

 Florida and the large amount of citrus nursery stock that had been 

 shipped into Cuba from Florida nurseries, it was to be expected that these 

 two species must necessarily have been introduced long ago. As a result 

 of the demand by Florida citrus growers for an examination into the 

 while-fly situation in foreign countries in hopes of discovering a parasite 

 or other enemy that would be of assistance in controlling white-fly pests 

 in Florida, the writer, while still in the employ of the Bureau of Ento- 

 mology, U. S. Dept. Agric, made an investigation during October and 

 November of 19 10 in Cuba and Mexico. 



During this search several species of white-flies were collected in 

 Cuba. Heretofore only Aleyrodes howardi and nubifera have been cor- 

 rectly recorded from Cuba. A more extended collection will, beyond 

 doubt, bring to light many species not listed here, but already recorded 

 from other islands of the West Indies. 



It is very generally believed throughout Cuba and Florida that the 

 two great white-fly pests of Florida are present in abundance in Cuba. 

 This is largely due to the fact that all aleyrodids whenever seen, no matter 

 whether on guava or other vegetation, are thought to be the citrus 

 white-fly. As a matter of fact, the citrus white-fly which causes the 

 greatest loss of all white-flies now known has never been found in Cuba, 

 and the cloudy-winged white-fly, next in injuriousness, only in slight 

 numbers. While nine species are here recorded from Cuba, none are at 

 present serious pests because of the work of parasites and fungus diseases. 



The Citrus White-fly, Aleyrodes citri Riley and Howard. 



There is no authentic record of this havoc-working species in Cuba. 



* White-flies Affecting Citrus in Florida, Morrill & Back, Bulletin 92, B. E., 

 U. S. Dept. Agric. 



Mav, 1912 



