Annals of the Entomological Society of America (1999) 92, 430-434

Lawrence A. Lacey, L. Millar, A.A. Kirk and T.M. Perring (1999)
Effect of storage temperature and duration on survival of eggs and nymphs of Bemisia argentifolii (Homoptera : Aleyrodidae) and pupae of the whitefly parasitoid Encarsia formosa (Hymenoptera : Aphelinidae)
Annals of the Entomological Society of America 92 (3), 430-434
Abstract: Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) and Bemisia argentifolii Bellows and Perring are found on a broad range of plant hosts in the tropics and subtropics and in greenhouses in many temperate zones. Their distribution indicates a strong limitation by cold temperature. The effects of incubation temperature and duration on the survival of B. argentifolii eggs and red-eyed nymphs, and on the survival of Encarsia formosa Gahan, an aphelinid parasite of the whitefly, were studied. Eggs stored at 10°C for 3-28 d on rooted cabbage leaves responded with 94-56% hatch, respectively, whereas the viability of eggs incubated at 5°C declined rapidly after 3 d. Control eggs on rooted cabbage leaves held at 24°C had 96% hatch. Considerably lower survival was observed on nonrooted leaves and leaf disks. Survival of red-eyed nymphs incubated at 2, 5, and 10°C for 3-13 d declined rapidly at all 3 temperatures. Pupae of E. formosa held at 10°C for 3-13 d responded with 90-55% eclosion, respectively, whereas survival of those held at 2 and 5°C declined rapidly after 3 d. Results of our studies indicate that short-term storage of whitefly parasitoids in cold temperatures is possible without excessive detrimental effect. The role of cold temperature storage of eggs in intermittent rearing of Bemisia colonies is discussed.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Database assignments for author(s): Lawrence A. Lacey, Thomas M. Perring, Alan A. Kirk

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
environment - cropping system/rotation
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
environment/habitat manipulation

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Bemisia tabaci biotype MEAM1	Cabbage (Brassica oleracea)
Encarsia formosa (parasitoid)	Bemisia tabaci biotype MEAM1