Journal of Economic Entomology (2019) 112, 2597-2603

Yanyan He, Yicong Liu, Ke Wang, Youjun Zhang, Qingjun Wu and Shaoli Wang (2019)
Development and fitness of the parasitoid, Encarsia formosa (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae), on the B and Q of the sweetpotato whitefly (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae)
Journal of Economic Entomology 112 (6), 2597-2603
Abstract: Encarsia formosa Gahan is an important endoparasitoid of the whitefly, Bemisia tabaci Gennadius. In the present study, we compared the fitness and population parameters of E. formosa when parasitizing the two most invasive and destructive whitefly species in China, the B and Q of B. tabaci. We also studied whether natal host influenced on parasitism and host-feeding capacities of E. formosa on B. tabaci B versus Q. Age–stage life table analysis indicated that E. formosa developmental duration was shorter, fecundity was higher, and longevity was greater on B. tabaci B than on Q. The life table parameters, including the intrinsic rate of increase (r), finite rate of increase (λ), net reproduction rate (R₀), and the mean generation time (T), indicated that the fitness of E. formosa on B. tabaci B is higher than B. tabaci Q. We also found that the host species used to rear E. formosa affected the parasitoid's subsequent parasitism and host feeding on B. tabaci B and Q. When E. formosa were reared on B. tabaci B, its subsequent parasitism rate on third-instar nymphs was significantly higher on B. tabaci B than on Q. These results will be useful for managing the biological control of B. tabaci in the field.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Shaoli Wang

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
general biology - morphology - evolution

---

Pest and/or beneficial records:

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