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Research Project: Exotic Whitefly Pests of Vegetables and Ornamental Plants

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Title: Efficacy of foliar application of flupyradifurone on Bemisia tabaci (MED whitefly) and Amblyseius swirskii, 2017

Author
item KUMAR, VIVEK - University Of Florida
item KAKKAR, GARIMA - University Of Florida
item McKenzie, Cindy
item OSBORNE, LANCE - University Of Florida

Submitted to: Arthropod Management Tests
Publication Type: Other
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/25/2017
Publication Date: 12/8/2017
Citation: Kumar, V., Kakkar, G., McKenzie, C.L., Osborne, L.S. 2017. Efficacy of foliar application of flupyradifurone on Bemisia tabaci (MED whitefly) and Amblyseius swirskii, 2017. Arthropod Management Tests. 42:Gtsx132.

Interpretive Summary: Bemisia tabaci is an invasive pest of many vegetable, ornamental or fiber crops. We evaluated an insecticide called flupyradifurone as foliar application and a predaceous mite for whitefly control, and assessed compatibility of the insecticide with the mite. We found that the predatory mite and flupyradifurone 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 upon 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 of several crops of economic importance. With the overall goal to integrate the predatory mite Amblyseius swirskii in the management program of MED whitefly, the specific objective of this study was to evaluate foliar application of flupyradifurone, a butenolide insecticide for whitefly control, and assess its compatibility with swirskii mite. The trial was conducted on an ornamental host, salvia under greenhouse conditions. Weekly samplings showed overlapping generations of Amblyseius swirskii on host plants throughout the study period indicating foliar application of flupyradifurone at the applied rate was compatible with Amblyseius swirskii. No significant difference in Amblyseius swirskii abundance (eggs and motiles) between mite treated and combination plots (Amblyseius swirskii plus flupyradifurone) were reported on any of the sampling weeks. In flupyradifurone treatment, a significantly lower number of whitefly eggs, nymphs and adults compared to the untreated control was recorded on wk 1-7, wk 2-7, and wk 3-5, respectively. Amblyseius swirskii was as effective in reducing whitefly life stages as flupyradifurone treated plots. Overall whitefly immatures (eggs plus nymphs) mortality in different treatments during seven weeks period, ranged between 72 and 98% for Amblyseius swirskii, 57-90% for flupyradifurone, and 97-100% for combination treatments.