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Title: BIOCONTROL-WHITEFLY: A WHITEFLY, PARASITE, AND PREDATOR POPULATION DYNAMICSMODEL

Author
item DeGrandi-Hoffman, Gloria
item Naranjo, Steven
item LI, DONGHUI - APHIS-PPQ, PHOENIX, AZ
item GOULD, JULI - APHIS-PPQ, PHOENIX, AZ

Submitted to: Ecological Modelling
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/1/1996
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: A computer simulation model of whitefly population dynamics was constructed. The model simulates the interaction among whiteflies, weather factors, parasites, and predators and predicts the influence on whitefly population dynamics. Temperature and migration were found to be the most important factors influencing whitefly population growth. Parsites, especially those with host feeding behavior, could reduce whitefly population sizes only if migration was not included in the simulation. Pesticide sprays and augmentative releases of parasites had limited and short-lived effects on reducing whitefly populations when migration was included.

Technical Abstract: A temperature-based mathematical model that simulates Bemisia biotype B (= B. argentifollii Bellows and Perring), parasite, and predator population dynamics (BIOCONTROL-WHITEFLY) is described. The model, called BIOCONTROL- WHITEFLY, also simulates pesticide applications and augmentative releases of parasites and predators and their effects on Bemisia populations. Predictions from BIOCONTROL-WHITEFLY on Bemisia development and population growth at various temperatures on cotton are comparable with literature values. The model predicts that temperature and migration are the most important factors influencing Bemisia population growth and the potential efficacy of biological control agents. Simulations comparing the efficacy of two Eretmocerus species in reducing Bemisia populations and the influence of host feeding are included to demonstrate the capabilities and potential uses for BIOCONTROL-WHITEFLY. Simulations were conducted to determine the effectiveness of augmentative releases of biocontrol agents and pesticide applications in reducing Bemisia populations when immigration occurred. The pesticide application was more effective in reducing the Bemisia population in the short term compared with the augmentative release. However, in the long run neither control strategy resulted in a permanent reduction of the Bemisia population.