Whitefly Management - General Introduction
In recent years the sweetpotato whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius), has become an important pest of cotton, vegetables and ornamentals especially with the introduction of a new B-strain (now known as the silverleaf whitefly, Bemisia argentifolii Bellows & Perring). Strains of sweetpotato whitefly are morphologically identical, but can differ in host range, reproductive behavior and other characteristics. Largely due to its wide host range, the silverleaf whitefly (sometimes known as the B-strain of the sweetpotato whitefly) is a more aggressive crop pest than the sweetpotato whitefly, which has been displaced by the silverleaf whitefly in many areas. Estimated losses from these pests throughout the United States have approached $1 billion. Neither chemical, biological nor cultural controls used alone have controlled the sweetpotato whitefly or silverleaf whitefly where it has become a predominant pest in field crops. However, the integration of several control tactics can be effective in reducing the overall impact of this pest and may lead to an acceptably low level of whitefly infestation.
To manage whiteflies, it is necessary to know which plants are affected by whiteflies and to understand the nature of its damage to crops, the biology of the whiteflies and their natural enemies, and how to monitor whitefly populations (sites, population dynamics, action thresholds). Also, it is critical to know the limitations of various control tactics, which include cultural controls (such as altered planting practices and physical barriers), host plant resistance, chemical controls, and natural controls.
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of Agriculture, WHITEFLY KNOWLEDGEBASE"