Pest control

Growers warned about

Q-biotype whitefly
Growers in the US are being warned to be cautious about a new imidacloprid (Marathon or Merit), acetamiprid (TriStar)
and thimethoxam (Flagship)”. Resistance and/or
biotype of whitefly which was first reported in March 2005 and one reduced susceptibility had been reported for all of these
active ingredients, but the latter, in other countries.
year later was already present in 21states. Many growers in other Even though this strain has not been tested yet for other
registered whitefly-control insecticides, the paper pre-
parts of the world have managed to co-exist with this Q-biotype but sented during the Short Course notes that this info is
based on lab bioassays, and field control may not neces-
the tremendous impact of the introduction of the B-biotype in the sarily reflect the same results.
Dr. Brown continues, “Determination of the biotype can
early 90’s is still fresh in the minds of US growers. only be done in the laboratory since there is no visible
difference in pupae or adults to the naked eye. Presently
there are several labs in the USA that can identify the B-

By Mauricio Mathias.
mauriciomathias@hotmail.com
CHEMICAL CONTROL
Another important aspect disco-
vered in trials is that in popula-
tions that have both the B- and Q-
biotype, increased pesticide appli-
cations will only increase the pro-
portion of the Q-type. Older
recommendations that insectici-
des should be applied at set peri-
ods are not appropriate anymore
since new products have longer
residual activity of one week or
longer. If one product is not wor-
king, change to another with a
different mode of action, to avoid
building up resistance. This is
why weekly scouting becomes cri-
tical.
U
S growers are being told to be aware of a Q bio-
type of sweet potato whitefly Bemisia tabaci
which is highly resistant to some insecticides.
Its occurrence is not predominant but it’s important to
keep it under watch a panel of experts told delegates at
the OFA Short course in Ohio.
The main reason behind the preventive concern is that
some populations of the Q-biotype have shown them-
selves to be highly resistant to some insecticides. By
monitoring its development it will be possible to see
how populations compete with other biotypes, as well
as observing its general behaviour. So far this biotype
has only been reported in ornamental greenhouses in
the US.
Dr. Judith Brown, a virus specialist with the University
of Arizona (UAZ), published a paper in 2004 on the ori-
gin of certain insect pests, including the Q-biotype. She
explains, “This biotype is native to Spain, and has its
closest relatives in the Mediterranean region where it is
associated with control problems. The Q-biotype was so
named in order to distinguish it, when it became prob-
lematic in greenhouse vegetables in southern Spain.
The initial US report came from Arizona upon sampling
of poinsettias at a retail store, as part of a statewide pro-
gram monitoring pesticide resistance”.
In March 2005, Drs. Brown and Dennehy (UAZ), first
identified the Q-biotype in the US based on a molecular
sequence match with the Spanish whitefly. A report by
UAZ has described the Q-biotype as “virtually immune
to the IGR pyriproxyfen (Distance), having strikingly
reduced susceptibility to the IGR buprofezin (Talus) and
a reduced susceptibility to the neocotinoids insecticides
and the Q-biotypes, among them are the UAZ, UC-
Riverside, and the USDA-Ft. Pierce laboratory, each
using distinct methodology.” Within the EU, see the
European Whitefly Studies Network: www.whitefly.org.
Control measures
As far as chemical control is concerned the panelists
made sure maximum emphasis is put on understanding
that “resistance is a problem”, and every effort has to be
made to rotate products, in order to use chemicals with
different modes of action.” As for any type of whitefly,
other measures apply:
■ Exclude them – make sure they don’t get into your
greenhouse in the first place. It’s necessary that sup-
pliers and neighbour growers are educated about it as
well. Check incoming plant material at a place where
whiteflies won’t escape, quarantine new material.
■ Be proactive – scouting is even more important, and
control should start as soon as whiteflies are detected.
■ Biological control – whitefly populations can be
checked in greenhouses with predators (Orius,
Delphastus, lacewing larvae, etc) or parasitoids
(Eretmocerus, Encarsia, etc), as well as pathogens
(Beauveria bassiana, etc).
The paper also reports that researchers have obtained
significant whitefly reduction by disinfecting infested
cuttings and plants using insect pathogens just prior to
boxing and shipping. And that “a couple of the largest
growers in Florida are currently producing their own
insect pathogens that are used during the season
together with pesticides.” ■

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