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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Fort Pierce, Florida » U.S. Horticultural Research Laboratory » Subtropical Insects and Horticulture Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #158577
Title: An extensive survey of Bemisia tabaci (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae) in agricultural ecosystems in Florida

Author
item McKenzie, Cindy
item ANDERSON, PAMELA - INTL POTATO CNTR IN PERU
item VILLARREAL, NATALIE - CIAT, CALI, COLOMBIA

Submitted to: Florida Entomologist
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/16/2003
Publication Date: 9/1/2004
Citation: McKenzie, C.L., Anderson, P.K., Villarreal, N. 2004. An extensive survey of Bemisia tabaci (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae) in agricultural ecosystems in Florida. Florida Entomologist. 87(3):403-407.

Interpretive Summary: An extensive survey of Bemisia tabaci populations in 15 economically important crops and 8 weed species in Florida was carried out from March 2000 through May 2001. Biotype analysis by RADP/PCR indicated the presence of only the b biotype of Bemisia tabaci in all collections. These data suggest that, in Florida, the b biotype of Bemisia tabaci has excluded the native non-b biotypes in agricultural ecosystems.

Technical Abstract: The objective of this work was to conduct an extensive survey of Bemisia tabaci populations in Florida agricultural ecosystems to determine if the b-biotype had excluded non-b biotypes. During the 2000-2001 growing seasons, an extensive survey was conducted in 13 locations, representing 8 different counties and corresponding principal vegetable producing areas in Florida, including 15 economically important agricultural crops and eight weed hosts found in proximity to the crop fields. A total of 9,755 nymph and adult Bemisia tabaci were collected across Florida. The male-to-female sex ratio was approximately 1:3 and did not appear to vary among host plants. RADP/PCR analysis of statewide whitefly samples indicated that only the b biotype of Bemisia tabaci was present in all collections. These data suggest that, in Florida, the b biotype of Bemisia tabaci has excluded the native non-b biotypes in agricultural ecosystems.