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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #181093
Title: PROGRESS IN BIOLOGICAL CONTROL, INTRODUCTION

Author
item HENNEBERRY, THOMAS
item FAUST, ROBERT

Submitted to: Program Review of Interagency Bemisia Classical Biocontrol Program in the U.S.
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/5/2005
Publication Date: 2/25/2008
Citation: Henneberry, T.J., Faust, R.M. 2008. Introduction. Classical biological control of Bemisia tabaci in the United States: a review of interagency research and implementation, Gould, Juli, Kim Hoelmer and John Goolsby (co-editors), Vol 4 Progress in Biological Control (H.M.T. Hokkanen, series, ed.), Springer, Dordrecht, the Netherlands, pages 1-15.

Interpretive Summary: Whitefly biotype B was described in 1889 as a tobacco pest in Greece, the tobacco whitefly. Numerous synonymies and nomenclatural issues have occurred since its first description. Perring (2001) indicates that the existence of a species complex is reaching acceptance by the scientific community. The complex has many biotypes and two described extant, cryptic species. Improved transportation technology and increased frequency of international transport of plant material has contributed to the extension of the geographical range of the whitefly complex. It is globally distributed and occurs on all continents except Antarctica. Losses from the species complex in worldwide agricultural systems have been extensive. Its emergence as a major threat in agricultural production systems has been characterized by outbreaks in many parts of the world. In the 1980s to early 1990s, infestations in the United States were particularly damaging.

Technical Abstract: Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) biotype B (= B. argentifolii Bellows and Perring) was described in 1889 as a tobacco pest in Greece and named Aleyrodes tabaci, the tobacco whitefly (Gennadius 1889). Numerous synonymies (Russell 1957, 1975) and nomenclatural issues (Brown et al. 1995) have occurred since its first description. Perring (2001) indicates that the existence of a species complex is reaching acceptance by the scientific community. The complex has many biotypes and two described extant, cryptic species. Improved transportation technology and increased frequency of international transport of plant material has contributed to the extension of the geographical range of the B. tabaci complex. At present, it is globally distributed and occurs on all continents except Antarctica (Martin 1999, Martin et al. 2000). Losses from the species complex in worldwide agricultural systems have been extensive. Table 1, modified and updated from Oliveira et al. (2001), Cock (1986, 1993), and Ioannou (1997) shows the international scope of B. tabaci as an economic pest. Its emergence as a major threat in agricultural production systems has been characterized by outbreaks in many parts of the world (Gerling and Henneberry 2001). In the 1980s to early 1990s, infestations in the United States were particularly damaging.