Skip to main content
ARS Home » Southeast Area » Fort Pierce, Florida » U.S. Horticultural Research Laboratory » Subtropical Insects and Horticulture Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #329463
Research Project: Exotic Whitefly Pests of Vegetables and Ornamental Plants

Location: Subtropical Insects and Horticulture Research

Title: Effect of dinotefuran on Bemisia tabaci (MED whitefly) and Amblyseius swirskii, 2016

Author
item KUMAR, VIVEK - University Of Florida
item KAKKAR, GARIMA - University Of Florida
item McKenzie, Cindy
item OSBORNE, LANCE - University Of Florida

Submitted to: Arthropod Management Tests
Publication Type: Other
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/2/2016
Publication Date: 7/12/2016
Citation: Kumar, V., Kakkar, G., McKenzie, C.L., Osborne, L.S. 2016. Effect of dinotefuran on Bemisia tabaci (MED whitefly) and Amblyseius swirskii, 2016. Arthropod Management Tests.41:G100. (Report).

Interpretive Summary: Bemisia tabaci is a polyphagous pest known to feed upon over 900 plant taxa, and is an effective vector of more than 100 plant damaging viruses. Among different biotypes of this cryptic species complex, Middle Eastern Asia Minor 1 (MEAM1) and MED whitefly are the two most destructive members posing threats of several crops of economic importance. Considering the role of biological control agents in the management program of whitefly pests, the objective of this study was to evaluate a neonicotinoid insecticide (dinotefuran) against MED whitefly, and assess its compatibility with swirskii mite. No significant difference in Amblyseius swirskii abundance (eggs and motiles) between mite treated and combination plots (A. swirskii + dinotefuran) were reported on weeks 1, 2, 3 and 7 and 1, 2 and 7, respectively. Dinotefuran was effective in suppressing MED whitefly life-stages throughout the study period. Suppression of various stages of whitefly in plots treated with mites (only) was comparable with dinotefuran treated plots, except for whitefly eggs in week 2, 5 and 7 and, early immatures in week 7. Overall whitefly mortality in different treatments ranged between 14-84 percent for A. swirskii, 92-99 percent for dinotefuran, and 91-100 percent for combination treatments.

Technical Abstract: Bemisia tabaci is a polyphagous pest known to feed upon over 900 plant taxa, and is an effective vector of more than 100 plant damaging viruses. Among different biotypes of this cryptic species complex, MEAM1 and MED whitefly are the two most destructive members posing threats of several crops of economic importance. With the overall goal to integrate the predatory mite Amblyseius swirskii in the management program of MED whitefly, the specific objective of this study was to evaluate dinotefuran, a neonicotinoid insecticide considered as a grower standard for whitefly control, and assess its compatibility with swirskii mite. The trial was conducted on an ornamental host, salvia under greenhouse conditions. Weekly samplings showed overlapping generations of Amblyseius swirskii on host plants throughout the study period indicating drench application of dinotefuran at the applied rate was compatible with A. swirskii. In mite only treated plots, a significantly higher mean number of A. swirskii eggs on weeks 4-6, and motiles on weeks 3-6 were found compared to rest of the three treatments. Dinotefuran was effective in suppressing MED whitefly life-stages throughout the study period. A significantly lower whitefly eggs, early immatures, and late immatures were recorded on all the sampling dates (except for wk1 for late immatures) in two insecticide treated plots (dinotefuran alone and in combination with swirskii) compared to the untreated control. A. swirskii was effective in reducing whitefly eggs until the end of the study, whereas it significantly suppressed immature stages only until the 6th sampling week.