title: Preference of Bemisia tabaci biotype B on zucchini squash and buckwheat and the effect of Delphastus catalinae on whitefly populations.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Zucchini squash, Cucurbita pepo L., is an important vegetable crop in Florida. Physiological disorders and insect-transmitted diseases are major problems for squash growers in semi-tropical regions around the world. Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) biotype B is a significant whitefly pest and is largely responsible for transmitting viruses and causing physiological disorders in squash. Several studies have shown that whitefly populations are reduced when crops are interplanted with non-host cover crops or mulches. The aim of the present study was to determine how the presence of buckwheat, Fagopyrum esculentum Moench, and a key predator, Delphastus catalinae (Horn), affect whitefly colonization on squash.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Whitefly densities were higher on squash than on buckwheat. The introduction of D. catalinae on squash significantly reduced whitefly populations. Overall, there were higher densities of D. catalinae on squash where the whitefly pest was more concentrated compared with buckwheat.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study provided preliminary evidence that D. catalinae, when used in conjunction with buckwheat as a living mulch, may aid in reducing whiteflies in squash. This greenhouse experiment highlights the need to investigate a multitactic approach of intercropping buckwheat with squash and the incorporation of D. catalinae in the field to manage populations of whiteflies and whitefly-transmitted diseases. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry.
authors.affiliation: Entomology and Nematology Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Janine M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Razze
authors.affiliation: Entomology and Nematology Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Oscar E
authors.initials: OE
authors.lastname: Liburd
authors.affiliation: Entomology and Nematology Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: McSorley
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001517:Coleoptera / Q000502:physiology*; D000069601:Crop Protection / Q000379:methods; D028464:Cucurbita / Q000469:parasitology; D019612:Fagopyrum / Q000469:parasitology; D006430:Hemiptera / Q000502:physiology*; D010572:Pest Control, Biological / Q000379:methods*
keywords: Bemisia tabaci biotype B; Delphastus catalinae; buckwheat; living mulch; zucchini squash