Bemisia argentifolii

Bellows & Perring, 1994

Silverleaf whitefly, Sweetpotato whitefly (B biotype)

Bemisia argentifolii, described by Bellows & Perring in 1994, is a whitefly belonging to the Bemisia tabaci . It is a significant agricultural pest known for causing silverleafing in squash, transmitting plant viruses, and developing resistance to multiple . The species has been documented on over 900 plants including vegetables, ornamentals, and fiber crops. It is frequently associated with greenhouse and protected environments but also occurs in open field agriculture in tropical and subtropical regions.

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Pronunciation

How to pronounce Bemisia argentifolii: /bɛˈmɪs.i.ə ɑːrˌdʒɛntɪˈfoʊli.aɪ/

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Habitat

Occurs in greenhouse and protected environments, particularly for ornamentals and vegetable production. Also found in open field agriculture in tropical and subtropical regions. Documented on chrysanthemums in greenhouse settings in Tanzania, on poinsettias in retail and greenhouse environments, and on vegetable crops including cantaloupe, collard, cucumber, and tomato in field settings.

Distribution

Widespread globally in tropical and subtropical regions. Documented occurrences include: United States (Arizona, California, Florida, South Carolina, coastal areas), Tanzania (first record in Arusha region), Japan (greenhouse tomatoes), Italy (central Italy on weeds), and various Pacific and Caribbean islands including Galápagos Islands, Reunion, Guadeloupe, and Martinique. Represents the northern geographic limit of year-round field in coastal South Carolina in the eastern United States.

Seasonality

increase in spring through summer and peak again in fall. Year-round activity occurs in tropical and subtropical regions where conditions permit. In temperate regions, seasonal activity is limited by cold temperatures, with 0°C and 4°C chilling significantly increasing mortality of and .

Diet

Phloem-feeding; extracts sugar-rich sap from plant vascular tissue. Feeds on over 900 documented host plant .

Host Associations

Chrysanthemum (Dendranthema grandiflora) - primary - greenhouse cut flower production in TanzaniaDocumented for establishment and
Poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima) - ornamental Common holiday plant in retail and greenhouse settings
Squash and cucurbits - agricultural Induces characteristic silverleafing ; associated with virus transmission
Tomato - agricultural Greenhouse and field ; significant vegetable crop pest
Cotton - agricultural Major pest in Arizona and other cotton-growing regions
Cantaloupe, collard, cucumber - agricultural Field crop documented in resistance studies
Hibiscus rosa-sinensis - ornamental documented on this
Various weeds - wild Documented preference and performance on weeds in central Italy

Life Cycle

Holometabolous development with four stages: , nymph (four instars), pupa (fourth instar/ ), and adult. Eggs are laid on undersurfaces of leaves. First-instar nymphs () are mobile and disperse to locate feeding sites. Subsequent nymphal instars become , remaining fixed in place for feeding. The fourth instar functions as the pupal stage, with red eyespots visible shortly before adult . Shed pupal skins remain attached to leaves. Development time and survival vary with plant and temperature.

Behavior

First-instar nymphs () exhibit positive , moving toward light sources to aid in plant location and leaf selection for settlement. are attracted to green light. When disturbed, adults flutter from leaf surfaces. Feeding occurs primarily on undersurfaces of leaves. Distribution within plants shifts based on plant age and prior exposure to chilling stress, with adults and typically on youngest (highest) leaves on non-stressed plants but moving to lower leaves on chilled plants.

Ecological Role

Agricultural pest causing direct damage through phloem feeding and indirect damage through honeydew that supports growth. of at least 111 plant viruses including criniviruses (Sweet potato chlorotic stunt virus, Cucumber yellow stunting disorder virus). Serves as for multiple including Eretmocerus spp. and Encarsia spp. (E. nigricephala, E. pergandiella, E. strenua, E. quaintancei). Subject to by parasitoids and predatory beetles.

Human Relevance

Major economic pest of agricultural and ornamental crops. Causes substantial losses in greenhouse production of poinsettias, chrysanthemums, and vegetables. Responsible for significant damage to field crops including cotton, vegetables, and cucurbits. Development of resistance (including neonicotinoids and bifenthrin) complicates management. Subject to programs combining selective insecticides, agents, and cultural practices. pest of regulatory concern for international trade. Target of robotic suction machine development in Japan for greenhouse tomato production.

Similar Taxa

Bemisia tabaci (sensu stricto or other cryptic species in complex)Morphologically indistinguishable; B. argentifolii is part of the B. tabaci containing at least 24 cryptic . Distinguished by genetic, behavioral, and -related characteristics including ability to induce silverleafing in squash.
Trialeurodes vaporariorum (greenhouse whitefly)Co-occurs on greenhouse crops including poinsettias; distinguished by puparial characteristics and lack of silverleafing induction in cucurbits.
Aleurodicus rugioperculatus (rugose spiraling whitefly)Another whitefly pest in Florida; distinguished by puparial with characteristic waxy secretions.