title: The Importance of Maintaining Protected Zone Status against Bemisia tabaci.
abstract: The sweetpotato whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) is a major pest of economically important crops worldwide. Both the United Kingdom (UK) and Finland hold Protected Zone status against this invasive pest. As a result B. tabaci entering these countries on plants and plant produce is subjected to a policy of eradication. The impact of B. tabaci entering, and becoming established, is that it is an effective vector of many plant viruses that are not currently found in the protected zones. The Mediterranean species is the most commonly intercepted species of B. tabaci entering both the UK and Finland. The implications of maintaining Protected Zone status are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Fera, Sand Hutton, York YO41 1LZ, UK. andrew.cuthbertson@fera.co.uk.
authors.forename: Andrew G S
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Cuthbertson
authors.affiliation: Natural Resources Institute Finland, Tietotie 2C, Jokioinen FI-31600, Finland. irene.vanninen@luke.fi.
authors.forename: Irene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Vänninen
keywords: Bemisia tabaci; eradication; protected zone