Climate change is relevant to life around the globe. A rise in ambient temperature and carbon dioxide (CO2) may have various impacts on arthropods such as altered life cycles, modified reproductive patterns, and changes in distribution. The sweetpotato whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae), is a global pest responsible for significant losses of agricultural yields annually. This study was conducted to determine the impacts of changing temperature and CO2 levels on selected life history parameters of B. tabaci biotype B. Populations were established at three temperature regimes (25,28, and 33°C), and each population was evaluated in all three environments. Collard, Brassica oleracea ssp. acephala de Condolle (Brassicaceae), was used as the host. These results were based on data from 5 to ≈30 generations. Oviposition, nymphal survival, and reproduction were significantly affected by temperature, with net reproductive success declining to 36.4% at 33°C. Overall, 28°C was most favorable for whitefly fitness. However, the optimal temperature for B. tabaci reproduction may be between 28 and 33°C. There were no temperature effects on total nonstructural carbohydrate concentrations in collard, and impacts of the host plant on whitefly development in the different environments were determined to be minimal. An environment of enriched CO2 (750 ppm) was not observed to have an adverse effect on whitefly reproduction. Temperature was negatively correlated with adult body size. Length and width of males and females were affected by temperature. Data regarding population dynamics of B. tabaci in response to climate change are important for accurate predictions and improving management practices.
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1 September 2014
Climate Change and Bemisia tabaci (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae): Impacts of Temperature and Carbon Dioxide on Life History
Levi B. Curnutte,
Alvin M. Simmons,
Shaaban Abd-Rabou
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Bemisia tabaci
carbon dioxide
climate change
life history
temperature