Measuring Bemisia tabaci Gennadius (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) responses to selected insecticides under greenhouse conditions

Abstract

Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) is a cosmopolitan insect pest of several crops worldwide. It has the ability of transmitting plant viruses, damaging, and developing resistance to pesticides. The aim of this work is to determine the efficacy of new chemical pesticides in comparison to current ones. Five selected insecticides, spiromesifen, pyrifluquinazon, flupyradifurone, sulfoxaflor, and spirotetramat were used to control Bemisia tabaci on eggplants in greenhouse. Four consecutive sprays were carried at 10-day intervals. The efficacy was assessed by counting the living eggs and nymphs on plants before each spray. Results showed that pyrifluquinazon was able to suppress the number of nymphs and the number eggs was very low 20, 30, and 40 days after the first treatment in comparison to all other treatments. The presence of a high population of whiteflies eggs and nymphs on the leaves sprayed with other insecticides indicates the development of resistance though not apparent with pyrifluquinazon.