Biology of the Sweetpotato Whitefly (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae) on Tomato

Development and oviposition of the sweetpotato whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius), were studied on tomato leaflets under laboratory conditions (25C and 65% R.H.). Three nymphal instars and a transitional form were noted. The duration in days of the egg, nymphs and transitional form was: egg 7.3 0.5; first instar 4.0 1.0; second instar 2.7 1.1; third instar 2.5 0.7; fourth instar-pupa 5.8 0.3. Total life cycle from egg to adult emergence was 22.3 days. Adult longevity was 19.0 3.3 and 19.4 5.8 for the females and males, respectively. Preoviposition lasted 1.4 0.7 and oviposition 16.7 3.2 days. Fecundity was 194.9 59.1 eggs per female, while egg viability was 86.5%. Sex ratio was 1: 2.7 male-female. Virgin females were parthenogenetic, arrhenotoky type.