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Title: IMPROVED ARTIFICIAL FEEDING SYSTEM FOR REARING THE WHITFLY BEMISIA ARGENTIFOLII (HOMOPTERA: ALEYRODIDAE)

Author
item DAVIDSON, ELIZABETH - ASU TEMPE AZ
item FAY, MICHELLE - ASU TEMPE AZ
item BLACKMER, JACQUELYN
item LAVINE, MARK - UNIV OF WISC MADISON, WI

Submitted to: Florida Entomologist
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/25/2000
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: A previously described method for rearing the silverleaf whitefly has been improved substantially. The most important change was the replacement of the Parafilm membrane with an autoclavable membrane, which resulted in a reduction in contamination problems. Fungal contaminaion was further reduced by the use of an antifungal agent in the petri dish chamber. A reduction insucrose concentration from 30% to 15%, and the choice of fresh BBL or Difco yeast extracts improved hatch rates and development to the 3rd and 4th nymphal stages. Several procedures for surface sterilization of eggs were tested, and both Roccal and Clorox were superior to Lysol and hydrogen peroxide. Eggs could be stored at 4 deg C for up to 1 day in water or on leaf tissue without affecting hatch rates for development. Maintenance of high humidity in the chamber improved the proportion of nymphs that developed to the adult stage. We have also reared a small number of sweetpotato whiteflies to adults, and greenhouse whiteflies to the 3rd and 4th instar on the improved feeding system.

Technical Abstract: An artificial rearing system for Bemisia argentifolii Bellows and Perring has been improved by the selection of an autoclavable membrane, reduction of the sucrose concentration, choice of yeast extract, use of an antifungal agent in the petri dish chamber, choice of surface sterilization agent, egg storage, and maintenance of high humidity in the chamber during nymphal development. We can now produce adult whiteflies of both sexes on these chambers, confirming the utility of these improvements. We have also reared a small number of Bemisia tabaci A-strain to adults and Trialeurodes vaporariorum nymphs to the 3rd and 4th instar on the improved feeding system.