Overwintering and population dynamics of Bemisia tabaci biotype B in greenhouse during the spring in northern China

Abstract

Since the sweetpotato whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) biotype B invaded southern China in the mid-1990s, it had spread to most other regions of the country, and become an important pest in agricultural and horticultural production. Investigations on overwintering of B. tabaci biotype B and its spring reproduction in northern China were conducted to determine the main factors that might contribute to an understanding of the population dynamics of this pest for developing improved pest control strategies. A cold hardiness test showed that when exposed for 10 h at −10 °C, mortalities of eggs, nymphs, and adults reached to 86.6%, 88.4%, and 100%, respectively, suggesting that it is probably impossible for feral populations of B. tabaci to survive in the winter under natural environmental conditions in northern China. A survey on vegetables, ornamental plants and weeds in greenhouses at Hebei Province and Beijing in northern China revealed at least 14 species of plants on which B. tabaci fed during the winter and spring. Lycopersicon esculentum Mill, Brassica alboglabra Bailey, Ficus carica L., Euphorbia pulcerrima Wild, and Hemelia patens Haence were the main host plants. Further research on the population dynamics of B. tabaci on three major greenhouse hosts; tomato, cucumber, and melon, indicated that densities remained at a low level during the winter, but increased steadily from February to March until migration into field crops in April. It is concluded that the control of the insect in greenhouse in winter and spring can play an important role for seasonal management of this pest in northern China.