LAUSR

The greenhouse whitefly, Trialeurodes vaporariorum Westwood, is an important pest in tropical and subtropical areas and greenhouses worldwide. It is a vector of plant pathogens (Crinivirus and others) including tomato chlorosis virus (Watanabe et al. 2018, J. Appl. Entomol 142: 1008–1015). The existence of cryptic species or species complexes in whiteflies has been recognized, particularly in the sweetpotato whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (Brown 2010, Pp. 31–67, In P. A. Stansly and S. E. Naranjo [eds.], Bemisia: Bionomics and Management of a Global Pest. Springer, Berlin; Lee et al. 2013, PLoS One 8(5): p.e63817). These species complexes include morphologically identical populations that are reproductively isolated (i.e., they are valid biological species) and can differ in vectorial efficiency, insecticide resistance, and life history parameters (Alemandri et al. 2015, J. Econ. Entomol. 108: 405–413; Surendran et al. 2019, J. Entomol. Sci. 54: 87–93). Cryptic species can be detected through experimental hybridization or from allele sequences of markers such as cytochrome oxidase 1 (CO1) (Boykin and De Barro 2014, Front. Ecol. Evol. 2: 45; Kapantaidaki et al. 2015, J. Heredity 106: 80–92). In May 2018 and 2019, conspicuous outbreaks (swarms) of whiteflies were observed in urban and agricultural areas of Saltillo, Coahuila, Mexico, including the Universidad Autónoma Agraria Antonio Narro (UAAAN) (W 1018217.98 , N 2582115.80 , 1,746 m above sea level). The objectives of the present work were to confirm the identification of this whitefly population, using morphology and CO1 sequencing, and to detect host plants species (i.e., those supporting emergence of adults) among the local, common field vegetation.