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Research Project: Exotic Whitefly Pests of Vegetables and Ornamental Plants

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Title: Effect of Eretmocerus eremicus and soil application of cyantraniliprole on Bemisia tabaci (MED whitefly), 2016

Author
item KUMAR, VIVEK - University Of Florida
item HOUBEN, KATHERINE - University Of Florida
item McKenzie, Cindy
item OSBORNE, LANCE - University Of Florida

Submitted to: Arthropod Management Tests
Publication Type: Other
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/15/2016
Publication Date: 3/8/2017
Citation: Kumar, V., Houben, K., McKenzie, C.L., Osborne, L.S. 2017. Effect of Eretmocerus eremicus and soil application of cyantraniliprole on Bemisia tabaci (MED whitefly), 2016. Arthropod Management Tests. 42:E tsw l45.2pp. 2017. (Report)

Interpretive Summary: Bemisia tabaci is an important pest of many horticultural and field crops. We evaluated an insecticide called cyantraniliprole and a parasitic wasp for whitefly control. We found that the wasp and cyantraniliprole can be used alone or in combination for effective whitefly control. These treatments are efficient alternatives to neonicotinoid insecticides frequently used by the growers for whitefly control.

Technical Abstract: Bemisia tabaci is a polyphagous pest known to feed on over 900 plant taxa, and is an effective vector of more than 100 plant damaging viruses. Among different biotypes of this cryptic species complex, MEAM1 and MED whitefly are the two most destructive members posing threats to several crops of economic importance. With the overall goal to find effective alternates to neonicotinoid insecticides for the MED whitefly management program, the specific objective of this study was to evaluate a whitefly parasitoid, Eretmocerus eremicus, and a diamide insecticide, cyantraniliprole, for whitefly control, when applied alone or in combination. Eretmocerus eremicus is among the parasitoids which utilize their prey for both food and site of reproduction resulting in suppression of the pest population on the plant. In the current study, whitefly parasitization by wasps was insignificant, and thus parasitized immatures and emerged wasps) were not included in the analysis. Cyantraniliprole was effective in suppressing MED whitefly life-stages throughout the study period. Significantly lower numbers of whitefly eggs and nymphs were recorded on all the sampling dates in the two insecticide-treated plots (cyantraniliprole, and cyantraniliprole + Eretmocerus eremicus) compared to the untreated control (except for wk1 for nymphs in cyantraniliprole only treatment). Eretmocerus eremicus as a predator was as effective in reducing whitefly life stages as cyantraniliprole treated plants and provided significant suppression in whitefly eggs and nymphs on all the sampling dates. All the treatments provided significant suppression in whitefly adults only towards the end of the study.