Skip to main content
ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #81861

Title: RESPONSES TO AZADIRACHTIN AND PYRETHRUM BY TWO SPECIES OF BEMISIA (HOMOPTERA: ALEYRODIDAE)

Author
item TOSCANO, NICK - UNIV OF CA, RIVERSIDE, CA
item YOSHIDA, HARVEY - UNIV OF CA, RIVERSIDE, CA
item HENNEBERRY, THOMAS

Submitted to: Journal of Economic Entomology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/1/1997
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Choice and no-choice tests revealed that neither silverleaf whitefly (SLW) nor sweetpotato whitefly (SPW) females preferred to alight and oviposit on bean plants treated with pyrethrum. The number of SLW females that alighted on control versus azadirachtin-treated plants was not significantly different in all but 1 instance. When given a choice, significantly fewer SPW females landed on azadirachtin-treated plants at observation hours 6, 8, and 24. In no-choice trials, numbers of SPW females alighting on control versus azadirachtin-treated plants were equivalent throughout the entire test period. Moreover, although SLW oviposited equal numbers of eggs on control and azadirachtin-treated plants in choice and no-choice trials, SPW females laid significantly fewer eggs on plants treated with azadirachtin. Percentage nymphal establishment of SLW on control versus azadirachtin-treated plants was not significantly different in choice and no-choice trials. Although the percentages of established SPW nymphs were the same on control and azadirachtin-treated plants in the no-choice test, a significantly lower percentage of nymphs were found on treated plants in the choice trials.

Technical Abstract: The effects of pyrethrin and azadirachtin on the ovipositional responses of Bemisia argentifolii Bellows and Perring and Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) were determined in the laboratory. Choice and no-choice tests revealed that neither B. argentifolii nor B. tabaci females preferred to alight and oviposit on bean plants treated with pyrethrum. In contrast, the number of fB. argentifolii females that alighted on control versus azadirachtin- treated plants was not significantly different in all but 1 instance. When given a choice, significantly fewer B. tabaci females landed on azadirachtin-treated plants at observation hours 6, 8, and 24. In no- choice trials, numbers of B. tabaci females alighting on control versus azadirachtin-treated plants were equivalent throughout the entire test period. Moreover, although B. argentifolii oviposited equal numbers of eggs on control and azadirachtin-treated plants in choice and no-choice trials, B. tabaci females laid significantly fewer eggs on plants treated with azadirachtin. Percentage nymphal establishment of B. argentifolii on control versus azadirachtin-treated plants was not significantly different in choice and no-choice trials. Although the percentages of established B. tabaci nymphs were the same on control and azadirachtin-treated plants in the no-choice test, a significantly lower percentage of nymphs were found on treated plants in the choice trials.