Effect of antibiotic materials on rugose spiralling whitefly, Aleurodicus rugioperculatus Martin (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) oviposition

Abstract

The rugose spiralling whitefly is an invasive sucking pest on horticultural crops found in India. Elimination of endomicrobial communities harboured in hosts through antibiotic treatments adversely affects the fitness parameters of rugose spiralling whitefly. Keeping this in view, the present study aimed to evaluate the ovicidal action of antibiotics against rugose spiralling whiteflies reared on four host plants. Antibiotics with varied modes of action were erythromycin, ciprofloxacin, carbenicillin and cefotaxime and were applied to coconut, banana, sapota and guava leaves for whitefly oviposition. Antibiotic treatment, carbenicillin 100 μg/mL + ciprofloxazin 5 μg/mL significantly (p<0.05) reduced the oviposition and % egg hatchability of whiteflies reared in coconut (13 eggs/spiral and 61.54%), banana (15 eggs/spiral and 60.00%), sapota (15 eggs/spiral and 66.67%) and guava (16 eggs/spiral and 56.25%). The reduction in the number of eggs per spiral and hatchability percentage proved that antibiotic treatments significantly (P<0.05) reduced rugose spiralling whitefly fecundity. Antibiotic material affects the fitness parameters of whitefly by disrupting the endomicrobial communities associated with whitefly. Antibacterial materials have a potential plant protection role in the management of whiteflies by reducing population growth.