Skip to main content
ARS Home » Southeast Area » Fort Pierce, Florida » U.S. Horticultural Research Laboratory » Subtropical Insects and Horticulture Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #314786

Title: Biotype Q in North America and whitefly control update

Author
item McKenzie, Cindy
item OSBORNE, LANCE - University Of Florida

Submitted to: Meeting Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/29/2015
Publication Date: 2/19/2015
Citation: McKenzie, C.L., Osborne, L.S. 2015. Biotype Q in North America and whitefly control update. In: Proceedings of the 31st Annual Pest & Production Management Conference, February 19-21, 2015, Orlando, Florida. XXXI:83-110.

Interpretive Summary: Controlling whitefly is still a major issue for nursery and floriculture producers especially concerning is the continuous re-introduction of the highly resistant biotype Q or Bemisia tabaci originating from the Mediterranean. Preventing the importation and or spread of whitefly species, biotypes and resistant strains is everyone’s responsibility. Chemical control is critical to their long term control as are all the other Integrated Pest Management (IPM) techniques including biological control. Misuse of pesticides threatens the long-term viability and sustainability of the ornamental industry. Misuse includes overuse and off-label uses such as using agricultural products with the same active ingredients as certain products that are labeled for ornamental use. A rotation project that tested the whitefly management program to determine the efficacy of different treatment rotations on a mixed population of Bemisia tabaci whitefly is discussed. Twenty four different rotations were evaluated and individual product performance is explained in detail.

Technical Abstract: Whitefly control is still a major issue. We will discuss a rotation project that was published this year and our future plans to extend this work to additional rotation research in order to better manage resistance. This is extremely critical in light of the demands on the industry to reduce the use of certain classes of pesticides. Following are summaries of the North American Distribution survey of Bemisia tabaci (McKenzie et al. 2012) and the population genetic study (Dickey et al. 2013) as a back drop to the current research. We continue to receive samples from concerned growers, however submissions are usually the result of a control failure and not a proactive submission to determine what is present before an insecticide application is made. A disturbing trend from 2011 to 2014 is that each year the percentage of biotype Q detected has increased from a low of 14 percent in 2011 to a high of 42 percent in 2014. We learned from the population genetics study that Biotype Q was introduced at least three times from 2005 to 2011 and we have both the Eastern Mediterranean (Israel origin) and Western Mediterranean (Spain origin) biotype Q whitefly in the United States. Populations can be controlled but we continue to get new introductions so vigilance is warranted. Preventing the importation and or spread of whitefly species, biotypes and resistant strains is everyone’s responsibility. Chemical control is critical to their long term control as are all the other Integrated Pest Management (IPM) techniques including biological control. Misuse of pesticides threatens the long-term viability and sustainability of the ornamental industry. Misuse includes overuse and off-label uses such as using agricultural products with the same active ingredients as certain products that are labeled for ornamental use. The whitefly management program was revised and it is included for your reference.