Influence of amino acids on cassava biotype Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae) when feeding on an artificial system

Abstract

An artificial feeding system for the cassava biotype whitefly Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae) was developed and used to determine whether B. tabaci can successfully survive and oviposit eggs when feeding on amino acid diets. Sucrose 20% (W/V) plus each of 20 protein amino acids at four concentration levels (mg mL-1) were investigated. Adult whiteflies showed at least 80% survival over 96 h when feeding on sucrose 20% or sucrose 20% plus each of 19 amino acids except valine on at least one concentration. B. tabaci oviposited at least 10 eggs when feeding on diets containing sucrose 20% plus either of asparagine, glutamine, serine, glutamic acid alanine, aspartic acid proline or glycine on at least one concentration. Survival of at least 80% and oviposition of at least 10 eggs occurred on feeding diets containing sucrose 20% plus either of glutamine, serine, alanine, aspartic acid, proline or glycine on at least one concentration. Important applications of the feeding system and these results are discussed. © 2006 Academic Journals Inc.