Parasitism status of Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius 1889) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) on different host-plants in the Cukurova region of Turkey

Populations changes of Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius 1889) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) and its parasitism status were monitored on different host-plants in the Cukurova Region (Yuregir and Karatas districts) in 2008 and 2009. Samples were taken from cotton, cucumber, eggplant and soybean and pest numbers were counted in the laboratory. Each year, lower numbers of B. tabaci occurred in early July and increased to higher densities in August and September. Likewise, low parasitism rates by Eretmocerus mundus Mercet 1931 and Encarsia lutea (Masi 1909) (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) occurred in July and peaked in August and September. Er. mundus was observed to be more efficient on cotton, eggplant and soybean, but less on cucumber. The parasitism rates by Er. mundus on all host-plants were higher than those of En. lutea. While the highest parasitism rate of Er. mundus was found on soybean (73.94%) in the Yuregir district, that of En. lutea was on eggplant (24.3%) in the Karatas district in 2008. In 2009, while the highest parasitism rate by Er. mundus was on cotton (50.0%) in the Yuregir district, that of En. lutea was found on eggplant (20.0%) in the same district. These parasitism levels confirmed that Er. mundus and En. lutea are important parasitoids of B. tabaci in the Cukurova Region.