First report from Sicily (Italy) of the orange spiny whitefly, Aleurocanthus spiniferus (Quaintance) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae), and its potential risk for the Italian citrus industry

The orange spiny whitefly, Aleurocanthus spiniferus, is reported for the first time in the district of Catania, Sicily (IT). The pest was observed on ornamental sour orange trees cultivated along roads in the town of Catania as well as in commercial citrus orchards of the Plain of Catania. Italy is the second European citrus-producing country, after Spain, and more than 50% of Italian citrus are produced in Sicily, so the spread in this island of this new pest urgently requires adequate monitoring and control measures to protect this important crop.