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  3. Bemisia argentifolii

Bemisia argentifolii

Basic information
Scientific name Bemisia argentifolii

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シルバーリーフコナジラミ
Major synonym Bemisia tabaci
Common names Silverleaf whitefly
Higher taxon Aleyrodidae, Aleyrodoidea, Hemiptera
Natural range North America.
Habitat Parasite on various plants.
Invasion information
Range in Japan Almost entire Japan Range in Japan
Origin USA
Date The first record in Japan was in 1989, when this species had already occurred in 22 prefectures.
Route Accidental: Possibly hitchhiking on poinsettia imported from USA.
Impact Damage on agriculture by carrying viruses (TYLCV). TYLCV has infested in Kyushu and Tokai District in Japan. TYLCV infesting in Japan belong to eastern Mediterranean strain.
Native organism(s) affected: Crops such as pumpkin, tomato, etc.
Regulation in Japan Aleyrodidae is designated as Quarantine Pest (the Plant Protection Law)
Introduced range in other countries Worldwide. South Korea, Taiwan, continental China, India, W Asia, Egypt, Tunisia, South Africa, Mauritius, Reunion, Canary Islands, wide area in North and Latin America, Caribbean Islands, wide area in Europe, Australia, New Zealand, many Pacific silands (Hawaii, Guam, New Caledonia, Fiji, French Polynesia, etc.)
Reference Notes
100 of the Japan’s Worst Invasive Alien Species.

This species was found as a strain (strain B, biotype B, new type, poinssetia strain) of Bemisia tabaci, and after described as a distinct species. This species is still treated as a strain of B. tabaci in some literature.