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Title: BEMISIA ARGENTIFOLII HOSTS IN IMPERIAL AND SOUTHERN SAN JOAQUIN VALLEYS, CALIFORNIA

Author
item NATWICK, E. - UNIV CA COOP HOLTVILLE CA
item SUMMERS, C. - UNIV CA ENTOMOL DAVIS CA
item CHU, CHANG CHI
item HENNEBERRY, THOMAS
item BELL, C. - UNIV CA COOP HOLTVILLE CA
item GODFREY, L. - UNIV CA ENTOMOL DAVIS CA

Submitted to: Southwest Entomology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/2/2000
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: We have surveyed 319 plant species in southern San Joaquin and Imperialy valleys for silverleaf whitefly hosts from 1992 to 1999. Two hundred twenty eight of them were confirmed as hosts of the pest and 102 species can potentially serve as overwintering hosts. The potential overwintering hosts include alfalfa, 22 vegetables such as asparagus, Jerusalem artichoke, kale, lettuce, cabbages, 58 ornamentals such as alder, canna lily, casnip, garden petunia, roses, 5 fruit trees such as almond, apple, fig, citrus, and 16 weeds. These hosts, particular the overwintering species provides opportunity for the pest to survive and reproduce year round.

Technical Abstract: In the Imperial and southern San Joaquin Valleys of California, 319 plant species were examined and 228 were confirmed as hosts of Bemisia argentifolii Bellows and Perring. Of these, 12 were agronomic crops, 45 vegetable crops, 96 ornamental plants, 18 fruit trees, and 57 weed species. Of the 228 host plant species, 102 can potentially serve as overwintering hosts. These potential overwintering hosts include one agronomic crop, 22 vegetable crops, 58 ornamental plants, 5 fruit trees, and 16 weed species. This wide host range provides a continuity of year- round habitats for B. argentifolii reproduction, survival and overwintering.