Effect of Storage Temperature and Duration on Survival of Eggs and Nymphs of Bemisia argentifolii (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae) and Pupae of the Whitefly Parasitoid Encarsia formosa (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae)

Author： Lacey L. A. Millar L. Kirk A. A. Perring T. M.

Publisher： Entomological Society of America

ISSN： 1938-2901

Source： Annals of the Entomological Society of America, Vol.92, Iss.3, 1999-05, pp. : 430-434

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Abstract

Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) and Bemisia argentifolii Bellows & Perring are found on a broad range of plant hosts in the tropics and subtropics and in greenhouses in many temperate zones. Their distribution indicates a strong limitation by cold temperature. The effects of incubation temperature and duration on the survival of B. argentifolii eggs and red-eyed nymphs, and on the survival of Encarsia formosa Gahan, an aphelinid parasite of the whitefly, were studied. Eggs stored at 10°C for 3–28 d on rooted cabbage leaves responded with 94–56% hatch, respectively, whereas the viability of eggs incubated at 5°C declined rapidly after 3 d. Control eggs on rooted cabbage leaves held at 24°C had 96% hatch. Considerably lower survival was observed on nonrooted leaves and leaf disks. Survival of red-eyed nymphs incubated at 2, 5, and 10°C for 3–13 d declined rapidly at all 3 temperatures. Pupae of E. formosa held at 10°C for 3–13 d responded with 90–55% eclosion, respectively, whereas survival of those held at 2 and 5°C declined rapidly after 3 d. Results of our studies indicate that short-term storage of whitefly parasitoids in cold temperatures is possible without excessive detrimental effect. The role of cold temperature storage of eggs in intermittent rearing of Bemisia colonies is discussed.