African ancestry of New World, Bemisia tabaci-whitefly species

Bemisia tabaci whitefly species are some of the world’s most devastating agricultural pests and plant-virus disease vectors. Elucidation of the phylogenetic relationships in the group is the basis for understanding their evolution, biogeography, gene-functions and development of novel control technologies. We report here the discovery of five new Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) B. tabaci putative species, using the partial mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase 1 gene: SSA9, SSA10, SSA11, SSA12 and SSA13. Two of them, SSA10 and SSA11 clustered with the New World species and shared 84.8‒86.5% sequence identities. SSA10 and SSA11 provide new evidence for a close evolutionary link between the Old and New World species. Re-analysis of the evolutionary history of B. tabaci species group indicates that the new African species (SSA10 and SSA11) diverged from the New World clade c. 25 million years ago. The new putative species enable us to: (i) re-evaluate current models of B. tabaci evolution, (ii) recognise increased diversity within this cryptic species group and (iii) re-estimate divergence dates in evolutionary time

Host instar suitability of Bemisia tabaci (Genn.) (Hom.: Aleyrodidae) for the parasitoid Eretmocerus mundus (Hym.: Aphelinidae)

Efficient use of parasitoids in pest control depend on the knowledge of the biological relationships between host and parasitoid. Eretmocerus mundus Mercet (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) is one the most important natural enemies of Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae) that is found in fields and greenhouses in Adana, Turkey. Although more studies have been done to determine the relationships between E. mundus and B. tabaci, the differences among strains of E. mundus could have important biological concequences. In this study, biological characteristics of native population of E. mundus parasitization of B. tabaci (Q biotype) were determined using bean plants Phaseolus vulgaris (L.) at a constant temperature of 25 ± 1°C, relative humidity 70 ± 10% and 16:8 (L:D) photoperiod regimen. All B. tabaci nymphal instars were parasitized by E. mundus, but the mean number of daily-parasitized nymphs was highest in the second instars (15.3). In addition, second instar females had the shortest mean development time (15.2 days). Mean development times of parasitoids obtained from first, second, third and fourth B. tabaci instars varied from 15.2 to 16.2 days and 15.2 to 15.9 days for female and male, respectively. Proportion of female (+/male;++) varied from first (0.53) to second (0.34) host instars. Impact of results on potential biological control of B. tabaci was discussed through conservation native natural enemies. © Springer-Verlag 2006.TUBÃTAK-TOGTAG-3037Acknowledgments I would like to acknowledge Prof. G. Viggi-ani (CNR, Ist Protez Piante, Sez Portici, Portici, I-80055 Italy) and Dr. J. L. Cenis (CIDA La Alberca, Murcia, Spain) for the parasitoid and whiteXy identiWcation. I appreciate the comments and review of the manuscript by Dr. Steve J. Castle and Dr. C. C. Chu (Western Cotton Research Laboratory, Phoenix, AZ). I also would like to thank Dr. Cengiz Kazak and Dr. M. Rifat Ulusoy (Çukurova University, Adana, Turkey) for their valuable suggestions on early version of the manuscript. This work was supported by the ScientiWc and Technical Research Council of Turkey (TUBÃTAK-TOGTAG-3037)

Secondary endosymbiont diversity of Bemisia tabaci and its parasitoids

Cotton whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) is one of the most important insect pests worldwide. It is known as a species complex consisting of at least 40 cryptic species. Although there are substantial data regarding species composition, parasitoids and endosymbionts of B. tabaci, data on relationship between the pest, parasitoids and endosymbionts are very restricted. Therefore, in this study, secondary endosymbionts in populations of B. tabaci and their parasitoids collected from Turkey and the USA were determined by PCR-based DNA analysis. Whitefly populations in Turkey represented both Mediterranean (MED) and Middle East-Asia Minor1 (MEAM1) genotypes from single or mixed populations of both genotypes. Arsenophonus, Rickettsia and Wolbachia were found in MED, while Hamiltonella and Rickettsia in MEAM1. Whitefly populations collected from Arizona were all MEAM1 and dually infected with Hamiltonella and Rickettsia. The aphelinid parasitoids Encarsia lutea and Eretmocerus mundus predominated in all Turkish populations. While almost all En. lutea populations were infected with Wolbachia, no endosymbionts were detected in any Er. mundus. Parasitoid species and the pattern of secondary endosymbiont infection in Arizona populations were different with Rickettsia detected only from Encarsia sophia while both Rickettsia and Wolbachia were found in Eretmocerus species. As a result, four secondary endosymbionts, namely, Rickettsia, Hamiltonella, Arsenophonus and Wolbachia, were detected from B.tabaci and its parasitoids. Among them only Wolbachia and Rickettsia were found in both the pest and parasitoids. It is conclude that further studies should be pursued to determine effect of these endosymbionts on biology of the parasitoids and success in biological control of B. tabaci. © 2019 Elsevier B.V.Università di Catania Kyungpook National UniversityWe thank Dr. Devid Guastella (Di3A, University of Catania, Italy) for identification of parasitoid species. We also want to thank Dr. Kyeong-Yeoll Lee (Kyungpook National University, Republic of Korea) for providing Cardinium positive samples

Secondary endosymbionts of Turkish Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) populations

Secondary endosymbionts of Turkish Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) populations were determined by PCR-based DNA analysis. Experiments were conducted with B. tabaci samples collected from various host plants between 2007 and 2012. Four secondary endosymbionts, namely, Rickettsia, Hamiltonella, Arsenophonus and Wolbachia, were detected from two different B. tabaci species (B and Q). While Arsenophonus and Wolbachia were determined only from the Q, Hamiltonella was found only on the B. Rickettsia was determined on both B and Q. Forty percent of individuals were infected with Arsenophonus, followed by Hamiltonella (32.4 %), and Wolbachia (8 %). Infection rate of Rickettsia was found to be higher on B (29.7 %) than on Q (21.6 %). This study is the first report of endosymbionts of B. tabaci populations collected from Turkey, and studies should be continued to cover larger areas, more host plants and B. tabaci populations. © 2014 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht

Monitoring adult Eretmocerus mundus, Encarsia lutea and Bemisia tabaci with yellow sticky traps in cotton Gossypium hirsutum

The efficiency of yellow sticky traps for estimating adult population dynamics of Bemisia tabaci (Genn.) (Hom., Aleyrodidae) and its parasitoids Eretmocerus mundus Mercet, Encarsia lutea (Masi) (Hym., Aphelinidae) was examined in cotton in choice and no-choice studies in Çukurova, Turkey in 2004 and 2005. In the no-choice study, traps were suspended individually on the third, fifth or eighth main stem node branches from the tops of cotton plants. For the choice study, three traps were suspended on the same individual node branches on different plants. Trap captures were counted weekly. Mean (±SE) numbers of B. tabaci captured on traps were higher in no-choice (max.: 697.8 ± 55.6) compared with choice (max.: 533.3 ± 47.4) studies each year. Population fluctuation patterns of E. mundus and E. lutea adults were similar to those of adult B. tabaci on traps with low weekly mean numbers occurring initially and increasing to peak levels in mid-August, then decreasing in later weeks of the studies. The relationship between weekly mean numbers of B. tabaci and E. lutea was greater than the relationship between B. tabaci and E. mundus. Mean numbers of E. mundus and E. lutea on traps were higher at the third main stem nodes than traps suspended on the fifth or eighth node. Mean numbers of E. lutea pupae were usually higher than E. mundus from the first sampling date throughout the end of the growing season on leaves. The relationship between parasitoid pupae and adults captured in traps is discussed. © 2007 The Authors

Mortality factors affecting Bemisia tabaci populations on cotton in Turkey

Cohort-based, partial life tables were constructed to determine the sources and rates of mortality factors affecting Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae) on cotton in the eastern Mediterranean region of Turkey over a two year period. Mortality factors were recorded as due to predation, parasitism, dislodgement and unknown for five developmental stages. Across 10 independent cohorts, the highest median rate of marginal mortality pooled over all stages was attributed to parasitism (0.69) followed by predation (0.67). The key factor was hypothesized to be parasitism based on graphical and regression-based comparison of individual factor k-values to total generational mortality. The greatest amount of marginal immature mortality occurred during the fourth nymphal stadium (median = 0.77) and mortality during this stage was also most predictive of variation in total mortality. Pooled over all developmental stages, the highest rates of irreplaceable mortality were associated with parasitism (median: 0.112), followed by predation (0.088), dislodgement (0.020) and unknown (0.017). Although crawler mortality was not explicitly measured, sensitivity analyses indicated that mortality during this stage would have changed total mortality by only 0.45-1.21% and had no effect on identification of key factors. There was no significant effect of cotton cultivar on any mortality factor or total mortality over the two years of study. Results suggest that conservation of natural enemies, particularly parasitoids, may provide for more sustainable management of B. tabaci on cotton in Turkey. © 2009 Blackwell Verlag, Berlin

Indigenous populations of Neoseiulus californicus and Phytoseiulus persimilis (Acari: Phytoseiidae): single and combined releases against Tetranychus urticae (Acari: Tetranychidae) on greenhouse eggplant

Greenhouse experiments were conducted in the Fall of 2010 and Spring of 2011 to determine the effectiveness of single and combined releases of Turkish populations of two predatory mite species, Phytoseiulus persimilis Athias-Henriot and Neoseiulus californicus (McGregor), for control of two spotted spider mite (red form) (Tetranychus urticae Koch) on eggplant. The same number of predators was released into cages in a greenhouse with similar numbers of spider mites. The control treatment had significantly higher numbers of T. urticae in both years except for 2010 when the N. californicus single treatment was not different. Among the predator release treatments, the lowest total mean number of T. urticae was found in the P. persimilis single releases in both seasons. These means were followed by the combined predatory mite and the N. californicus single release in 2011. In both years, P. persimilis numbers in both the single and combined treatments were significantly higher than the numbers of N. californicus, except in the N. californicus single treatment in 2011. Overall, releasing N. californicus either alone or in combination with P. persimilis did not show any improvement in controlling to T. urticae on greenhouse eggplant when compared to the release of P. persimilis alone. © 2015 Taylor and Francis.ZF2010BAP7This research was supported by the Cukurova University Research Foundation, under Grant ZF2010BAP7

Potential of single and combined releases of Eretmocerus mundus and Macrolophus melanotoma to suppress Bemisia tabaci in protected eggplant

The parasitoid Eretmocerus mundus Mercet (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) and the predator Macrolophus melanotoma (Costa) (Hemiptera: Miridae) are two important natural enemies of Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) which are distributed throughout the Mediterranean region. Both natural enemies are used in the biological control of B. tabaci. In this study, the success of single and combined release of Er. mundus and M. melanotoma against B. tabaci on eggplant was determined in 3 × 3 × 2.5 m net cages established in a greenhouse during the period of 2009 and 2010. Four different experiments were conducted; Er. mundus single release, M. melanotoma single release, Er. mundus + M. melanotoma combined release, and B. tabaci single release (control). For the evaluation of population development of whitefly and the parasitoid, leaf samples were taken at five day intervals. In addition, numbers of the predatory insects were calculated by using visual control method on whole parts of 15 plants in different treatments. Results of this study showed that the number of whiteflies was the highest in the control treatment, followed by the M. melanotoma (single), Er. mundus (single) and Er. mundus + M. melanotoma (combined) treatments, in both years. Low B. tabaci populations were observed in combined release treatments and the weekly mean density of immature whiteflies never exceeded 3.99 per cm2 leaf area. M. melanotoma was not successful against B. tabaci when released alone. However, it does contribute to the success of biological control of B. tabaci when released with Er. mundus. In light of these results, we suggest the combined release of Er. mundus and M. melanotoma for effective control of whitefly in greenhouse grown eggplants. © 2018 Elsevier Inc.108O087This study was supported by TUBITAK (Scientific and Technical Research Council of Turkey), Grant No: 108O087. We thank Sarah E. Brewer and David Beleski ( University of Florida , Tropical Research and Education Center) for language editing

Contributions to the phytoseiidae (Acari: Mesostigmata) fauna of Turkey: Morphological variations, twelve new records, re-description of some species and a revised key to the Turkish species

The genus Chelaseius Muma & Denmark represented by C. valliculosus Kolodochka, the genus TyphloseiulusChant & McMurtry represented by T. carmone (Chant & Yoshida-Shaul) and T. peculiaris (Kolodochka), Amblyseius adjaricus Wainstein & Vartapetov, A. meridionalis Berlese, Kampimodromus ericinus Ragusa & Tsolakis, Neoseiulus alustoni (Livshitz & Kuznetsov), N. karandinosi Papadoulis, Emmanouel & Kapaxidi, Proprioseiopsis ovatus (Garman), Typhlodromus (Anthoseius) kerkirae Swirski & Ragusa, Typhlodromus (Typhlodromus) exhilaratus Ragusa and T. (T.) pritchardi Arutunjan are recorded for the first time for Turkish fauna. Amblyseius adjaricus, C. valliculosus, K. ericinus and N. alustoni are re-described and illustrated. The measurements of the other eight species were provided to access intraspecific variations and to secure future diagnosis. A revised key for the identification of Turkish phytoseiids is also included here. © Systematic & Applied Acarology Society

The genus Graminaseius Chant & McMurtry (Acari: Phytoseiidae) in Turkey with descriptions of two new species and re-description of Graminaseius graminis (Chant)

Graminaseius graminis (Chant) (Acari: Phytoseiidae) is the only known species of Graminaseius Chant & McMurtry from Turkey, so far. However, recent surveys indicated that there are two new species present in the country. Graminaseius recebisp. nov. and Graminaseius neograminissp. nov. are described and illustrated based on the material collected from eastern Mediterranean and north-western (European part) regions of Turkey, respectively. The new species described here might get misidentified as G. graminis in some previous studies. Therefore, the latter is also re-described and illustrated to show differences between all these three species, based on the material collected from western Turkey (Aegean region). © 2019 Systematic & Applied Acarology Society