US: Controlling whitefly in the greenhouse

Recently, there have been reports from the University of Florida that there are now established populations of insecticide resistant sweet potato whitefly (Bemisia tabaci) in Palm Beach County, Florida. There are two major biotypes (identical genetic “strains”) of whitefly: B and Q. The B biotype of whitefly has been in the United States for over 30 years, while the Q biotype only became a problem in the United States within the last 10 years. The Q biotype is much more resistant to conventional control compared with the B biotype. The Q biotype has been found in cotton fields for many years though, and their presence in the whitefly population has come and gone over the years. A very high level of insecticide use is needed for the Q biotype to become dominant. The B biotype usually outcompetes the Q biotype and it still remains the dominant pest whitefly of greenhouse plants.

Sweet Potato Whitefly. Photo: Bugwood.org.

As always, greenhouse growers in Florida and other parts of the country should be vigilant when scouting their plant material to monitor whitefly populations. For growers opting to use insecticides to control whitefly, MSU Extension recommends the following insecticides for 2016:

Azadarachtin
BotaniGuard
Distance (not for Q biotype)
Endeavor
Enstar (not for Q biotype)
Judo
Kontos
Ornazin
Orthene 97
Pedestal
Pyriproxyfen
Rycar
Sanmite
Talus (not for Q biotype)
Insecticidal soap
Horticultural oils
Neonicotinoid: imidacloprid

Growers can also use biological control to manage whitefly populations. There are two commercially available parasitoids in the United States: Encarsia formosa and Eretmocerus eremicus. Eretmocerus eremicus will parasitize both sweet potato and greenhouse (Trialeurodes vaporariorum) whiteflies while Encarsia formosa will only parasitize greenhouse whiteflies. For production during these warmer months, Eretmocerus eremicus is more effective at higher temperatures than Encarsia formosa. There are also two commercially available predators that feed on whiteflies: Amblyseius swirskii and Delphastus catalinae. A. swirkii feeds on the eggs and nymphs of whiteflies while D. catalinae feeds on whitefly eggs.

Greenhouse Whitefly. Photo: Bugwood.org

If greenhouse growers suspect that they might have whiteflies that are resistant to insecticides, they may want to send a sample to an Extension entomologist to be tested. If growers suspect that they may have the Q biotype of whitefly, which has recently made the news, growers should send samples to Dr. Cindy McKenzie a Research Entomologist at the USDA-ARS in Fort Pierce, Florida. Remember that, unfortunately, both the Q and B biotypes of Bemesia whitefly look identical and growers will not be able to tell them apart until they have experienced failure in controlling them with numerous insecticides.

Source: MSU Extension