The development, survivorship, and reproduction of silverleaf whitefly, Bemisia argentifolii Bellows & Perring, on eggplant at 6 constant temperatures (15, 20, 25, 27, 30, and 35°C) were studied. The development time from egg to adult varied from 105 d at 15°C to 14 d at 30°C. A common developmental threshold for all immature stages was estimated at 12.5°C. A nonlinear biophysical model describing the relationship between development rate and temperature was constructed. Low- and high-temperature inhibitions of 15—18°C and 30—35°C, respectively, for development of immature stage were derived from the model. The survivorship from egg to adult was 89% at 25°C; at 15 and 35°C, the survival percentages were 40 and 37%, respectively. The average longevity of adult females ranged from 44 d at 20°C to 10 d at 35°C. The oviposition (eggs per female) of B. argentifolii varied from 324 at 20°C to 22 at 35°C. Life table parameters were determined at 5 constant temperatures (20, 25, 27, 30, and 35°C). The intrinsic rates of natural increase (rm) for B. argentifolii at 25 and 27°C were the highest. Jackknife estimates of rm varied from 0.192 at 25 and 27°C to 0.073 at 35°C. The mean generation times of populations ranged from 46 d at 20°C to 18 d at 30°C. The adverse effects of high temperature (35°C) were evidenced by prolonged development, shortened adult longevity and reduced fecundity. The optimal range of temperature for B. argentifolii population growth was 20—30°C. The results of this study were compared with those reported for B. tabaci biotype B in Mississippi and B. tabaci biotype A in Arizona.
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Wang et al. (1996) studied this question.