Host preference and performance of Bemisia argentifolii (Homoptera : Aleyrodidae) on weeds in central Italy

Author(s): Calvitti, M (Calvitti, M); Remotti, PC (Remotti, PC) Source: ENVIRONMENTAL ENTOMOLOGY Volume: 27 Issue: 6 Pages: 1350-1356 Published: DEC 1998 Times Cited: 11 (from Web of Science) Cited References: 35 [ view related records ] Citation Map

Abstract: Several herbaceous weed species of the Mediterranean nora found around cultivated greenhouses of central Italy were used in a comparative study of the developmental rate of Bemisia argentifolii (Bellows & Perring). The relative importance of various weed hosts in local population dynamics of the whitefly was investigated using a choice test and the construction of age specific Life tables. Among the 18 weed species studied, 11 were readily accepted in the choice test. After 72 h, the whiteflies clearly showed a preference for 2 species-Sonchus oleraceous L. and Solanum nigrum L. -on which nearly 53% of the released whiteflies were found. Approximately 90% of the remaining population preferred Conyza canadensis L. (Cronq.), Euphorbia elioscopia L, E. peplus L., and spontaneous clover trifolium repens L. Only a very low number of insects (similar to 4.5% of the total) were recorded on the remaining weeds-Ricinus communis L., Euphorbia characias L., Euphorbia maculata L., Euphorbia dendroides L. Ranking of host plant quality determined by the life table statistics coincided with the ranking of host preference assessed by the choice test. The intrinsic growth rate for whiteflies varied from 0.11 on S. oleraceous to 0.004 of Euphorbia dendroides. These experiments demonstrated that in the absence of cultivated hostplants such as tomato, squash, or the ornamental plant poinsettia, the whitefly B, argentifolii may find suitable hosts where it can complete its development. Accession Number: WOS:000078027000008 Document Type: Article Language: English Author Keywords: Bemisia argentifolii; life tables; weed hosts KeyWords Plus: SWEET-POTATO; TABACI; ISRAEL; COTTON Reprint Address: Calvitti, M (reprint author), CRE Casaccia, ENEA, Div Agr, Innovat Dept, Via Anguillarese 301, I-00060 Rome, Italy. Addresses: 1. CRE Casaccia, ENEA, Div Agr, Innovat Dept, I-00060 Rome, Italy Publisher: ENTOMOL SOC AMER, 9301 ANNAPOLIS RD, LANHAM, MD 20706 USA Web of Science Categories: Entomology Research Areas: Entomology IDS Number: 156XE ISSN: 0046-225X