Abstract: The behavioral sequence of the oviposition process can be quite distinct in the spiralling whitefly Aleurodicus dispersus Russell （Homoptera: Aleyrodidae）: egg spirals covered with silken wax that the adult whitefly deposits on foliage. Females were recorded with a digital camera in order to analyze their oviposition behavior. The morphology of silken wax produced by female adults was examined by stereoscope and scanning electron microscope and its chemical components were determined by GC/MS. One female alone could lay a typical egg spiral. Once another female joined in, the oviposition behavior could take place as first traversing the typical spirals and then around the spirals, only across the pioneer spirals, or directly around the pioneer spirals. The female adults secreted their silken wax with white color and intertwined structure. The main components of oviposition secretion were long-chain saturated hydrocarbons （66.21%） and aromatic esters （26%）, together with several other acids and phenols. Three iodine compounds （10.64%） as well as straight-chain hydrocarbons with carbon atoms ranging from C₈ to C₃₀ were identified in saturated hydrocarbons. Three aromatic esters with carbon atoms ranging from C₁₆ to C₂₄ were found, and the relative content of dibutyl phthalate （21.19%） was greater than others. Possible roles of the silken wax in attracting the crawlers, protecting against natural enemies and providing a barrier to other herbivores are discussed.  

Key words: Aleurodicus dispersus, oviposition behavior, oviposition secretion, morphology, chemical composition