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Title: SWEETPOTATO WHITEFLY OVIPOSITION AND HONEYDEW PRODUCTION FOLLOWING COLONIZATION AND FEEDING ON DIFFERENT HOST PLANTS, 2002

Author
item Henneberry, Thomas
item Jech, Lynn
item De La Torre, Theresa
item Maurer, Jamie

Submitted to: Arthropod Management Tests
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/1/2003
Publication Date: 10/6/2003
Citation: Henneberry, T.J., Jech, L.J., De La Torre, T.M., Maurer, J.C. 2003. Sweetpotato whitefly oviposition and honeydew production following colonization and feeding on different host plants, 2002. Arthropod Management Tests.M8

Interpretive Summary: We conducted studies to determine the effect on Sweetpotato whitefly (SPW) oviposition and honeydew production of colonization on one host followed by feeding on a different host. Treatments were a factorial arrangement of all combinations of SPW females colonized and maintained on cotton, tomato, or melon plants and transferred for oviposition and feeding in each case, to individual cotton, tomato or melon plants. To collect SPW honeydew, two leaf-clip cages with removable plastic bottoms were installed on individual leaves of single cotton, tomato, or melon plants growing in pots in greenhouses. Five SPW adult females from the cotton colony were placed in each leaf-clip cage on each cotton, melon, or tomato plant in each replication. Similarly, five adult female SPW from the melon or tomato colonies, respectively, were placed in each leaf-clip cage on leaves of cotton, melon, or tomato plants, respectively. Honeydew, in all cases, was collected for 24 h on the leaf-clip cage bottoms. Cages were removed and adults, and eggs laid on leaves were counted. Cage bottoms with honeydew were frozen. Plants were held following oviposition and honeydew collection from adults. Three to four days following egg hatch, leaf clip-cages were replaced on the leaves to encircle settled nymphs and honeydew was collected, as described for adults for 24h.

Technical Abstract: We conducted studies to determine the effect on Sweetpotato whitefly (SPW) oviposition and honeydew production of colonization on one host followed by feeding on a different host. Treatments were a factorial arrangement of all combinations of SPW females colonized and maintained on cotton, tomato, or melon plants and transferred for oviposition and feeding in each case, to individual cotton, tomato or melon plants. To collect SPW honeydew, two leaf-clip cages with removable plastic bottoms were installed on individual leaves of single cotton, tomato, or melon plants growing in pots in greenhouses. Five SPW adult females from the cotton colony were placed in each leaf-clip cage on each cotton, melon, or tomato plant in each replication. Similarly, five adult female SPW from the melon or tomato colonies, respectively, were placed in each leaf-clip cage on leaves of cotton, melon, or tomato plants, respectively. Honeydew, in all cases, was collected for 24 h on the leaf-clip cage bottoms. Cages were removed and adults, and eggs laid on leaves were counted. Cage bottoms with honeydew were frozen. Plants were held following oviposition and honeydew collection from adults. Three to four days following egg hatch, leaf clip-cages were replaced on the leaves to encircle settled nymphs and honeydew was collected, as described for adults for 24h.