Invasion of Rugose spiraling whitefly (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) across Bangladesh coastal region causes widespread damage to coconut plants.

Rugose spiraling whitefly (RSW), Aleurodicus rugioperculatus Martin, a native pest of coconut in Central America, has recently been introduced to South-East Asia. Little is known about the spread of RSW in Bangladesh, the effect this pest has on coconut plants, or the full range of its plant hosts. To fill this knowledge gap, we conducted surveys across the southern coastal coconut producing region of Bangladesh.