Buprofezin Effects on Two Parasitoid Species of Whitefly (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae)

Abstract

The effect of buprofezin on Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) and its parasitoids Eretmocerus sp. and Encarsia luteola Howard was determined in the laboratory. The effect on immature whiteflies was tested, and LC₅₀ and LC₉₅ were estimated. Immature parasitoids were exposed to the material in both the egg and pupal stages. Adults were tested to determine the effect of buprofezin on oviposition. First- and second-instar sweetpotato whiteflies were most sensitive to the material, with the LC₅₀ for the fourth instar being ≍80-fold that of the first instar. Young Eretmocerus sp. were affected by buprofezin but young E. luteola were not. The reverse was true for pupae. No effect on oviposition occurred with females that were exposed to buprofezin either as immatures or when they were mature. We concluded that the following three factors should be considered when using buprofezin for pest management of B. tabaci: (1) parasitoids attack the whiteflies mainly at the third stadium and beyond; later instars are not as sensitive to buprofezin; (2) even under laboratory conditions, at least 20% of the parastioids will probably survive; and (3) the rate of parasitoid oviposition is unaffected by buprofezin.

Bemisia tabaci, parasitoids, Encarsia