The Effects of Spray Volume on the Management of Bemisia tabaci (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) in the Greenhouse

The sweetpotato whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae), is a major insect pest of poinsettias (Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd. ex Klotzsch; Family: Euphorbiaceae) in the greenhouse. Currently, neonicotinoids are widely used for B. tabaci management in the greenhouse, which is less favored by the consumers because of the potential nontarget effects of these insecticides on beneficial insects. Little is known on how the high spray volumes of spinetoram (20%) + sulfoxaflor (20%) (XXpire(R)) affect the B. tabaci population in the greenhouse. The objective of the study was to determine the efficacy of spinetoram + sulfoxaflor and dinotefuran (Zylam(R)) applied as foliar-spray volumes (high, referred to as spench, and low, referred to as foliar) and soil drench against B. tabaci. The high foliar-spray volume application (spench) of both insecticides reduced the B. tabaci immature densities, compared with low foliar-spray volume (foliar) and soil drench applications. The soil drench application did not provide adequate B. tabaci control regardless of insecticide type. Spinetoram + sulfoxaflor applied as a high-spray volume treatment was moderately effective in controlling B. tabaci nymphs relative to nontreated control.