First report of the encyrtid parasitoid, Copidosomyia ambiguous (Subba Rao) Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea: Encyrtidae) on Mallada desjardinsi (Navas) an indigenous predator of the rugose spiralling whitefly, Aleurodicus rugioperculatus Martin in India

Aleurodicus rugioperculatus Martin (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae), commonly known as the rugose spiraling whitefly (RSW), is an invasive pest on coconut palm (Cocos nucifera L) in Southern parts of India. Mallada desjardinsi (Navas) (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) an efficient predator of RSW is being employed on coconut plantations for biological control of RSW. However, under natural conditions the efficiency and multiplication of M. desjardinsi is affected by the encyrtid parasitoid, Copidosomyia ambiguous (Subba Rao). In this study, we report C. ambiguous on M. desjardinsi, in India, indirectly and adversely affecting the biological control of RSW.