Biological parameters and age–stage, two–sex life table of the parasitoid wasp Encarsia formosa feeding on nymphs of the greenhouse whitefly Trialeurodes vaporariorum on three important greenhouse crops

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Assistant Professor, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center of Isfahan, Plant Protection Research Department, Isfahan, Iran.

2 Professor, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Department of Plant Protection, Ardabil, Iran.

3 Associate professor, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Iranian Research Institute of Plant Protection, Biological Control Research Department, Tehran, Iran.

10.22092/bcpp.2025.370170.392

Abstract

The greenhouse whitefly, Trialeurodes vaporariorum (Westwood), is one of the most important pests of greenhouse crops worldwide. In the present study, the biology and age–stage, two–sex life table parameters of the parasitoid wasp Encarsia formosa Gahan were evaluated using second–instar nymphs of T. vaporariorum reared on three economically important greenhouse crops; eggplant (Solanum melongena), cucumber (Cucumis sativus), and tomato (Solanum lycopersicum). Experiments were conducted under controlled environmental conditions of 25 ± 2 °C, 65 ± 10% relative humidity, and a photoperiod of 16:8 h (L: D). Means and standard errors were estimated using the bootstrap method with 100,000 replications. The results revealed statistically significant differences in the mean biological traits and demographic parameters of E. formosa across the three host plant species. The total preadult duration on eggplant, cucumber, and tomato was 17.77 ± 0.18, 15.67 ± 0.15, and 14.97 ± 0.13 days, respectively. The longevity of adult females on the mentioned plant hosts was 20.21 ± 1.03, 24.64 ± 1.36, and 19.03 ± 0.69 days, while the mean fecundity per female was 129.38 ± 4.95, 104.24 ± 3.67, and 166.16 ± 6.31 eggs, respectively. The intrinsic rate of increase (r) on eggplant, cucumber, and tomato was 0.198 ± 0.004, 0.208 ± 0.004, and 0.239 ± 0.004 day⁻¹, respectively. The net reproductive rate (R0) was calculated to be 109.98 ± 9.44, 92.97 ± 6.57, and 142.29 ± 11.08 on the mentioned plant hosts, respectively. Overall, tomato was identified as the most suitable host plant among those tested, supporting faster development and higher reproductive output of E. formosa. These findings suggest that host plant species significantly influence the performance of E. formosa and should be considered when implementing biological control strategies against T. vaporariorum in greenhouse cropping systems.
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References

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BioControl in Plant Protection
Volume 12, Issue 1
August 2024
Pages 79-97

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