New Silverleaf Whitefly Hits 25 States
13 January 2008 The pest, which threatens a wide range of crops, has more than 20 known biotypes. Two of the most devastating are the B and Q biotypes. Both types can reduce yield for a broad range of agricultural, fiber, vegetable, and ornamental crops.
The aggressive B type, originally from the Middle East and Asia Minor range, has been found in the US since 1985. It threatened agricultural production throughout the southern US until new integrated pest management strategies brought it into check.
Type Q, first detected in the US in December 2004, has now been identified in 25 states. Type Q is less susceptible than the B biotype to many pesticide types, leaving fewer chemical options for its control. There is also concern that resistance to insecticidal controls may occur more rapidly in the Q biotype.
ARS scientists helped set up a task force to develop new control recommendations for the Q biotype. Nationwide monitoring suggests that these improved recommendations are helping to slow or prevent the movement of the Q biotype into commercial vegetable fields.
Detailed information about the task force and its findings is available online at: http://www.mrec.ifas.ufl.edu/LSO/bemisia/bemisia.htm.
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