Comparative Demographic Traits of the Whitefly (Bemisia tabaci) B Biotype against different Host Plants

Abstract

The sucking pests, especially whitefly, have damaged various fields and fruit crops across the globe. The study of life-history is of prime importance to monitor the dynamics for preference of a species to its host. This study tested the prevalence and preference of a whitefly species, Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) B biotype (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) on tomato, cotton, pepper, and okra as hosts using age-stage two-sex life table. Results revealed the highest pre-adult developmental duration, survival rate, and fecundity on tomato while the lowest values on okra. Population parameters such as the net reproductive rate (R0), intrinsic rate of increase (r), and finite rate of increase (λ) were demonstrated longer on cotton and tomato compared to much lower R0, r, and λ on pepper and okra. Okra responded significantly differently in the case of the mean generation time, T among all tested genotypes. These findings suggest the possibility of summer vegetables as more favorable hosts for B. tabaci.