Retrospective Evaluation of the Biological Control Program for Bemisia Tabaci Biotype “b” in the U.s.a

A retrospective evaluation of the biological control program for Bemisia tabaci biotype B in the U.S.A. was conducted. The use of climate matching to direct foreign exploration led to discovery of B. tabaci parasitoids from diverse climates, which proved useful in selecting species which would establish in the varied climates of the impacted agricultural areas of the U.S.A. The parasitoids which established on the B biotype in the U.S.A. came from several Old World biotypes. Field and laboratory evaluation demonstrated significant differences in their attack rates when searching for B. tabaci on cotton, broccoli, or melons. These tritrophic interactions could also have influenced their competitiveness and is also evidence of how plant hosts influence host range of parasitoids. It is also suspected that hybridization of the Eretmocerus spp. may have occurred, and molecular methods for testing this hypothesis are discussed. This retrospective evaluation of the program in the U.S.A. was used to develop predictive tools for selection of agents for biological control of B. tabaci in Australia and China.