Development and reproduction of ‘B＇ biotype Bemisia tabaci （Gennadius） （Homoptera： Aleyrodidae） on four ornamentals

Abstract Effects of four commercial ornamentals on the development, survivorship and reproduction of the whitefly B biotype Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) were studied in the laboratory (temperature 26 ± 1 °C; relative humidity 75%–90%; L: D 14:10). The total survivorship from egg to adult on hibiscus ( Hibiscus rosa-sinensis L.), poinsettia ( Euphorbia pulcherrima Will), cottonrose hibiscus ( Hibiscus mutabilis L.) and variegated leafcroton ( Codiaeum variegatum'Aucubaefolium' ) were 33.69%, 40.55%, 79.11%, and 29.39%, respectively. The developmental periods from egg to adult varied from 23.12 days on cottonrose hibiscus to 32.13 days on hibiscus. The average longevity of adult females ranged from 6.87 days on variegated leafcroton to 21.07 days on poinsettia. The average numbers of eggs laid per female were 9.20, 25.13, 54.45, and 26.79 on the above respective hosts. The intrinsic rates of natural increase ( r_m ) for B biotype B. tabaci on cottonrose hibiscus was the highest. Based on life table analyses of whitefly populations, cottonrose hibiscus was the most suitable host for B biotype B. tabaci in this study.     

Development and reproduction of Bemisia tabaci （Homoptera： Aleyrodidae） on three bean species

Abstract The development, survivorship and reproduction of Bemisia tabaci B-biotype on three bean species were studied at 26±1°C in the laboratory. The developmental periods from egg to adult varied from 27.80 days on garden beans to 18.20 days on soybeans. The survivorship from egg to adult on soybeans, cowpeas and garden beans was 77.14, 70.14 and 64.28%, respectively. The average longevity of female adults ranged from 12.30 days on soybeans to 9.80 days on garden beans, and the oviposition of B. tabaci varied from 160.85 eggs on soybeans to 98.00 eggs on garden beans. Life table parameters were calculated as biological attributes for Bemisia tabaci populations fed on three bean species. The results indicated that the intrinsic rate of increase (r_m), the finite rate of increase (λ) and net reproductive rate (R₀) were high for populations fed on soybeans, with values of 0.1857, 1.2041 and 82.1576, respectively. The corresponding values were less for populations fed on garden beans, with values of 0.1097, 1.1159 and 31.2661, respectively. The parametric values for cowpeas were intermediate between soybeans and garden beans but no significant difference were observed for the r_m values for soybeans and cowpeas. Experimental evidence in our investigation indicated that Bemisia tabaci is best adapted and shows the greatest preference for soybean of the three bean species tested in this study.     

Functional response and predation of Nabis kinbergii （Hemiptera. Nabidae） to Plutella xylostella （Lepidoptera. Plutellidae）

The functional response of adult Nabis kinbergii （Hemiptera： Nabidae） to density of diamondback moth Plutella xylostella （Lepidoptera： Plutellidae） was investigated under laboratory conditions. Holling＇ s （1959） type Ⅱ model was found to be a good fit for the observed functional response of this predator. The numbers of P. xylostella consumed increased with temperature from 15℃ to 35℃. The maximum number of prey killed was observed at 35℃, with average of 10.3 and 8.3 forth instar larvae consumed by adult females and males of N. kinbergii, respectively. The predation of N. kinbergii on P. xylostella increased with successive immature stages. The number of prey consumed by predators decreased as the body size of prey increased. An average of 131 eggs or 95 larvae of P. xylostella were killed by a single of female adult in 24 hours at 24＂C. The pupae of P. xylostella were observed to be eaten by fifth instar nymphs and adults N. kinbergiiin numbers of less than an average of 0.7 pupae per predator in 24 hours at 24＂C. Predation preference by N. kinbergii was also investigated. The number of P. xylostella and Myzus persicae killed by female N. kinbergii was not significantly different, but males killed significantly more P. xylostella than M. persicae. Both eggs and larvae of P. xylosteUa were killed in significantly greater number than those of Pieris rapae in the same feeding arena.