Influence of Endosulfan on Bemisia tabaci (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae) Populations, Parasitism, and Lettuce Infectious Yellows Virus in Late-Summer Planted Cantaloupe

Abstract

Studies were conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of endosulfan in reducing the incidence of lettuce infectious yellows virus (LIYV) in late-summer planted cantaloupe, Cucumis melo L., through reduction of sweet potato whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius), densities. Counts of B. tabaci adults and immatures and of a native parasitoid of B. tabaci, Eretmocerus sp. near californicus Howard (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) were lower in treated plots than those in untreated plots for the duration of the trial. Despite lower populations of B. tabaci, LIYV was not significantly different between treatments, reaching 48% in treated and 40% in untreated plots. B. tabaci emigrated out of treated plots which may have contributed to the spread of LIYV. Sooty mold growth on fruit contaminated with B. tabaci-produced honeydew was present on only 0.4% of the melons in treated plots, but on 29% of the melons in the untreated plots. B. tabaci population dynamics on cantaloupe is discussed with regard to control strategies and LIYV epidemiology.