Chemical control of Bemisia tabaci B biotype (Hemiptera: aleyrodidae) eggs and nymphs

Abstract

Whiteflies are pests of many crops, cause severe yield losses and reduce crop quality. Insecticides of different modes of action have been used without success. In this work, the efficiency of five insecticides on Bemisia tabaci B biotype (= B. argentifolii) eggs and nymphs was evaluated under laboratory conditions (T = 25 ± 2°C; 12 h photophase). In relation to the ovicidal effect, pyriproxyfen (75 mg L-1) caused egg hatching inhibition up to three day old eggs. Cartap showed efficiency only at the concentration of 1000 mg L-1, supressing the viability of eggs up to five days. Soybean leaves with first instar nymphs were treated in the upper surface with pyriproxyfen (75 mg L-1), buprofezin (375 mg L-1), cartap (1000 mg L-1), acephate (750 mg L-1) and fenpyroximate (100 mg L-1); in this condition, only pyriproxyfen suppressed adult emergence, indicating the presence of a translaminar effect. When leaves with nymphs were treated on both surfaces, buprofezin showed an efficiency similar to that of pyriproxyfen, also preventing adult emergence of the B. tabaci B biotype.