Host plants and natural enemies of Bemisia tabaci (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) in China

Abstract

The sweetpotato whitefly, Bemisia tabaci, has been a destructive pest in China for over the past two decades. It is an extremely polyphagous insect, being recorded feeding on hundreds of host plants around the world. Potential host plants and natural enemies of B. tabaci in the south, southeast, middle, north and northwest of China were investigated during the last decade. In total 361 plant species from 89 families were recorded in our surveys. Plants in the families Compositae, Cruciferae, Cucurbitaceae, Solanaceae and Leguminosae were the preferred host species for B. tabaci, which therefore suffered much damage from this devastating pest due to their high populations. In total, 56 species of parasitoids, 54 species of arthropod predators and seven species of entomopathogenic fungi were recorded in our surveys. Aphelinid parasitoids from Encarsia and Eretmocerus genera, lady beetles and lacewings in Coleoptera and Neuroptera were found to be the dominant arthropod predators of B. tabaci in China. The varieties of host plant, their distribution and the dominant species of natural enemies of B. tabaci in different regions of China are discussed.

Comparison of biological parameters between the invasive B biotype and a new defined Cv biotype of Bemisia tabaci (Hemiptera: Aleyradidae) in China

“…However, it was not considered as a serious pest until outbreaks occurred in the mid-1990's which was due to the invasion of biotype B belonging to the Middle East-Asia Minor 1 genetic group (Qiu et al 2003a;Wu et al 2003) and the subsequent invasion of Q biotype belonging to the Mediterranean genetic group (Chu et al 2006). Since then, the B and Q biotypes have caused serious damage to a wide range of vegetable, fiber and ornamental crops in more than 20 provinces in China (Zhang et al 2005;Qiu et al 2006;Li et al 2011). In addition to the invasive B and Q biotypes, some native populations of B. tabaci have also been recorded as being capable of causing serious damage among which the Cv biotype classed as belonging to the Asian II 7 genetic group in Dinsdale et al (2010) and De Barro et al (2011), is one of the most common whitefly species in South China (Qiu et al 2006(Qiu et al , 2009a.…”

Volatile organic compounds emitted by bottlebrush species affect the behaviour of the sweet potato whitefly

“…The taxonomy of B. tabaci constitutes a complex matter: the presence of biotypes or cryptic species genetically distinguishable is actively debated (De Barro et al 2011;Horowitz and Ishaaya 2014). B. tabaci is a pest of great economic importance, attacking crops in the field as well as in greenhouses, and its host plant list includes hundreds of species, with the number increasing as the pest invades new countries (Mound and Halsey 1978;Li et al 2011). B. tabaci can cause significant damage to crops due to the feeding activity, honeydew production and physiological disorders induction; moreover, in many cases, it can transmit serious plant pathogenic viruses (Schuster et al 1995;Gilbertson et al 2011).…”

Diversity of Tomato Leaf Curl Virus (Tolcv), Bemisia tabaci and its Transmission

“…B. tabaci moves readily from one host species to another and is estimated as having a host range of around 600 species (Asteraceae, Brassicaceae, Convolvulaceae, Cucurbitaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Fabaceae, Malvaceae, Solanaceae etc. (Li et al, 2011).…”