Survey of the Parasitoids of Bemisia argentifolii (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae) in Coastal South Carolina Using Yellow Sticky Traps

Abstract

A survey was conducted to identify which native parasitoids of Bemisia argentifolii Bellows and Perring (sweetpotato whitefly strain-B = silverleaf whitefly) are present in coastal South Carolina and to monitor their seasonal abundance. South Carolina is the northern geographic limit of year-round field populations of B. argentifolii in the eastern U.S. Yellow sticky cards were used to monitor the parasitoids. Parasitoid abundance varied over time and among five coastal South Carolina sweetpotato field locations where pesticide was not used. Five species of parasitoids were found (Encarsia pergandiella, E. nigricephala, E. strenua, E. quaintancei, and Eretmocerus sp.). The most abundant species were E. nigricephala and E. pergandiella (89% in 1993; 70% in 1994). No parasitoid fauna of B. argentifolii had heretofore been reported from fields in South Carolina. This background information will aid in developing a biological control component in a management strategy for B. argentifolii.