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Title: A SYSTEM TO MONITOR BEMISIA TABACI (HOMOPTERA: ALEYRODIDAE) BIOTYPE B CRAWLER MOVEMENT

Author
item CHU, CHANG CHI
item CHEN, T - U OF A, TUCSON, AZ
item ALEXANDER, PATRICK
item HENNEBERRY, THOMAS

Submitted to: Journal of the Agricultural Association of China
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/26/2003
Publication Date: 6/1/2004
Citation: Chu, C., Chen, T.Y., Alexander, P.J., Henneberry, T.J. 2004. A system to monitor bemisia tabaci (homoptera: aleyrodidae) biotype b crawler movement. Journal of the Agricultural Association of China 5(3): 264-274.

Interpretive Summary: The crawler of silverleaf whitefly is a weak link in the development of whiteflies. We have designed a system that can monitor its movement on upper and lower leaf surfaces at the same time. The system can record its movement in millimeters per second for hours, limited only by the tape length. Results may be used to develop whitefly resistant cotton varieties.

Technical Abstract: We designed a system to monitor the movement and behavior of sweetpotato whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae) biotype B first instar nymphs (crawlers) in the laboratory. The system could trace crawler movements and record the activity in millimeters of distance traveled per second during selected recording periods limited only by the length of commercial videotapes. It provided real time visual information on the behavior of B. tabaci crawlers that may help explain reasons for the abaxial leaf surface habitat, susceptibility of plant species to infestation, and other behavioral characteristics. With minor modifications, the system may be useful for the study of crawler movement under field conditions as well as other smaller insect species such as aphids.