M. Muniz et G. Nombela, Differential variation in development of the B- and Q-biotypes of Bemisia tabaci (Homoptera : Aleyrodidae) on sweet pepper at constant temperatures, ENV ENTOMOL, 30(4), 2001, pp. 720-727
Developmental rates of the B- and Q-biotypes of Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius,
1889) were studied at seven constant temperatures (17, 20, 23, 26, 30, 33,
and 35 degreesC) oil sweet pepper, Capsicum annuum L. ('Morron'). The egg i
ncubation period and the times required to complete development at all imma
ture stages decreased with increasing temperature up to 33 degreesC but at
35 degreesC were found to be greater than at 33 degreesC. The relationships
between developmental rate of B, tabaci and temperature were influenced by
the insect biotype. The lower and upper developmental thresholds as well a
s the optimal temperatures and thermal Constant for the preoviposition peri
od and all immature stages were estimated by fitting the observed developme
ntal rates versus temperature with a nonlinear model and two linear models.
For all stages, graphs obtained by plotting the reciprocal of development
times against temperature could be described by the modification 2 of the L
ogan's model. The simple linear model tT = K+ct suffices for predicting B-
and Q-biotype phenologies oil sweet pepper for the temperature range of 17-
33 degreesC. The shortest developmental times as well as the lowest develop
mental thresholds and thermal constant were mostly obtained with the Q-biot
ype. Overall, the most favorable temperature range appeared to be 31-33 deg
reesC, Mean generation times (adult-adult) ranged from 17 d (Q-biotypc) and
18 d (B-biotype) at 33 degreesC to 49 d (B-biotype) and 46 d (Q-biotype) a
t 17 degreesC.