Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata (1998) 87, 15-28

Mark S. Hoddle, Roy G. van Driesche, Joseph S. Elkinton and John P. Sanderson (1998)
Discovery and utilization of Bemisia argentifolii patches by Eretmocerus eremicus and Encarsia formosa (Beltsville strain) in greenhouses
Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata 87 (1), 15-28
Abstract: The ability of two species of aphelinid parasitoids to find and attack Bemisia argentifolii was determined. Experiments were conducted with whitefly patches on single leaf poinsettia plants randomly distributed in canopies of four commercially grown poinsettia crops at an early and late stage of plant growth. Eretmocerus eremicus found experimental patches in canopies of small and large plants more quickly and frequently, and killed more nymphs following patch discovery than Encarsia formosa (Beltsville strain). E. eremicus exhibited a Type I functional response in small and large canopies while E. formosa (Beltsville strain) showed a Type II functional response in small canopies and a weak linear response in large canopies. In greenhouses treated with E. eremicus, canopy size increased 4.6x and nymphs per plant increased 14.2x between small and large canopy experiments. Consequently, area of search for this parasitoid increased 83%, number of wasps counted on patches decreased 74%, and proportion of nymphs killed in artificial patches decreased 47% between small and large canopies. In greenhouses treated with E. formosa Beltsville strain, canopy size increased 7.3x and nymphs per plant increased 25.4x between small and large canopy experiments. Consequently for E. formosa Beltsville strain, area of search increased 11%, number of wasps counted on patches decreased 86%, and proportion of nymphs killed in artificial patches decreased 47% between small and large canopies.
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Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Mark S. Hoddle, Roy G. Van Driesche

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
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	Euphorbia (crop)
Encarsia formosa (parasitoid)	Bemisia tabaci biotype MEAM1	Euphorbia (crop)
Eretmocerus eremicus (parasitoid)	Bemisia tabaci biotype MEAM1	Euphorbia (crop)