RESPONSE OF BEMISIA-ARGENTIFOLII (HOMOPTERA, ALEYRODIDAE) ADULTS TO WHITE FLUORESCENT AND INCANDESCENT LIGHT IN LABORATORY STUDIES

Studies were conducted at the USDA-ARS Irrigated Dessert Research Stat ion, Brawley, CA to determine the attractiveness of fluorescent and in candescent light sources to adult Bemisia argentifolii Bellows and Per ring. Individuals moved from a release chamber through plastic tubes t o white fluorescent and incandescent light sources 46 cm distant from the release point. B. argentifolii adult response to light under labor atory conditions was minimal at light intensities of 2 lux or less as measured by traps catches at the fluorescent light source. More adults were attracted to higher intensity compared with low intensity fluore scent light. Fewer adults were attracted to low intensity incandescent light compared with higher intensity fluorescent light. Minor movemen t of B. argentifolii adults occurred under dark or very low light inte nsity (< 2 lux) conditions. More adults were attracted to cotton and c antaloupe leaves and yellow sticky card traps adjacent to light source s (highest reflected light intensity) than to leaves and yellow sticky card traps distant from light sources (lower reflected light intensit ies).