OVIPOSITIONAL PREFERENCE OF SIPHONINUS-PHILLYREAE AND ITS FITNESS ON 7 HOST-PLANT SPECIES

The relationship between ovipositional preference of Siphoninus philly reae (Haliday) (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae) and host plant suitability on seven host plant species (Citrus sinensis (L.) cv. 'Washington' [ nave l orange], Fraxinus uhdei (Wenz.) [shamel ash], Heteromeles arbutifoli a Roemer [toyon], Malus domestica Mill. cv. 'Granny Smith' [apple], Pi stacia vera L. cv. 'Kerman' [pistachio], Prunus persica (L.) cv. 'O'He nry' [peach], and Pyrus communis L. cv. 'Bartlett' [pear]) was evaluat ed. Ovipositional preference of S. phillyreae was determined by measur ing egg density after adult female whiteflies were given a simultaneou s choice of all host plants for oviposition. Immature survival, develo pmental time, and adult size were examined to determine host plant sui tability for S. phillyreae. All studies were performed under greenhous e conditions. S. phillyreae showed distinct ovipositional preference a mong host plant species. Host plant species had a significant effect o n immature survival, but little or no effect on developmental time or forewing length. For four of the seven host plant species tested, ther e was an association between ovipositional preference and survival.