IMPORTATION AND FIELD RELEASE OF PARASITES AGAINST SILVERLEAF WHITEFLY, BEMISIA ARGENTIFOLII (BELLOWS AND PERRING) IN FLORIDA FROM

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1 Proc. Fla. State Hort Soc. 108: IMPORTATION AND FIELD RELEASE OF PARASITES AGAINST SILVERLEAF WHITEFLY, BEMISIA ARGENTIFOLII (BELLOWS AND PERRING) IN FLORIDA FROM Ru Nguyen Bureau of Methods Development and Biological Control Division of Plant Industry P.O. Box Gainesville, FL University of Florida Entomology and Nematology Department P.O. Box Gainesville, FL Abstract. For over a century Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) was considered a minor pest in Florida. In 1987 a severe outbreak occurred in nurseries on poinsettias and then on tomatoes in southern Florida. This strain of sweetpotato whitefly was re ferred to as Bemisia tabaci strain B and then later as B. argentifolii (Bellows and Perring). Efforts to develop a satisfactory IPM solution to the problem were initiated in 1990 by the intro duction of exotic parasites into Florida. From , 15 parasite species were introduced into the Biological Control Quarantine Laboratory, Division of Plant Industry (DPI), Gainesville, Florida. Seven of these parasites, including Amitusbennetti Viggiani and Evans, Eretmocerus sp.(g)uom Gua temala, Eretmocerus sp.(s) from Sudan, Eretmocerus sp.(hk) from Hong Kong, (G) from Guatemala, Encarsia sp.(l) from India, and Encarsia lutea (Masi) from Israel were ap proved by DPI and USDA-APHIS for field release in Florida. Ap proximately 305,000 A. bennetti; 157,800 mixed, and Eretmocerus sp. from Israel, Guatemala, India, and Sudan, and 480,000 Eretmocerus sp. (HK) from Hong Kong were re leased between These parasites were recovered from the fields a few weeks after release. The parasites sup pressed the population of B. argentifolii in several locations and dispersed into sprayed areas where a large number of par asites were released. Other species have been evaluated and will be released after they are cleared from the quarantine. Sweetpotato whitefly, Bemisia tabaci, was first described by Gennadius as Aleyrodes tabaci from specimens collected on to bacco (Nicotiana sp.) in Greece in B. tabaci has at least 500 host plants and is wide spread throughout the tropics. It was known in Florida in early 1900 by Quaintance as Aleyrodes inconspicua and did not pose any serious problem for Florida agriculture until In that year, an outbreak of sweetpota to whitefly was found in a poinsettia greenhouse followed by heavy infestations reported in tomato and squash fields in southern Florida in late fall resulting in two serious maladies: uneven ripening of tomato and silverleaf of cucurbits. This strain of sweetpotato whitefly was referred to as Bemisia tabaci strain B, and later as silverleaf whitefly, B. argentifolii (Bellows et al., 1994). The loss on tomatoes in Florida that season was The authors express their gratitude to Lance Osborn, David Schuster, and Kim Hoelmer for their technical advice, Greg Evans for identifying Bemi sia spp. parasites, Emil Manzo and Floyd McHenry for assisting in this study, and Don Harris and Avas Hamon for their helpful review of the manuscript. 'Current address: Crofton, Baldhoon Road, Laxey, Isle of Man, UK. estimated to be at least 15 million dollars (Schuster et al., 1989). Presently, heavy infestations of silverleaf whitefly are found in Florida on vegetables (tomato, Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.; crookneck squash, Cucurbita pepo L. var. melopepo (L.) Alef. 'Summer Crookneck'; zucchini squash, Cucurbita pepoh. var. melopepo (L.) Alef. 'Zucchini'; green bean, Phaseolus vulgaris L.; okra, Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench; egg plant, L. var. esculentum Nees.), ornamentals (hibiscus, Hibiscus rosa-sinensisl.; poinsettia, Eu phorbia pulcherrima Willd.; Ian tana, Lantana camaral.), herbs (peppermint, Mentha x piperita L., basil, Ocimum basilicum L.) and field crops (peanut, Arachishypogaeah., cotton, Gossypium hirsutum L., tobacco, Nicotiana tabacum L., soybean, Glycine max (L.) Merrill.). These plants must be treated with insecti cides regularly to reduce silverleaf whitefly populations. How ever, this whitefly rapidly developed resistance to insecticides. Poinsettias in several nurseries in south Florida received in secticides every 3 days but control of silverleaf whitefly was not achieved (Pat O'Bryant, Geronimo Farms Inc., Florida, Per sonal Communication). Several parasites of Bemisia spp. have been reported from different parts of the world by Lopez-Avila (1986), Gerling (1986),Polaszeketal. (1992),Tawfiketal. (1979), AbdelFattah et al. (1985), and in Florida by Bennett et al. (1990), and Hoelmer and Osborne (1990). The objective of this joint project by University of Florida (UF) and Division of Plant Industry (DPI) was to import par asites from other countries to complement the native biotic factors in Florida for suppression of B. argentifolii. Materials and Methods All parasites collected from other countries by F. D. Ben nett, or cooperating scientists, were taken or sent to the Bio logical Control Quarantine Laboratory, DPI, Gainesville. The consignments were opened and parasites including Eretmocer us spp., Encarsia spp., and Amitus spp. were sorted out. Vouch er specimens were deposited in the Florida State Collection of Arthropods. The parasites were cultured separately in small cages housed in a quarantine greenhouse at 32 C and 30-70% RH. The cages were made of a plexiglas cylinder (12.5 cm diameter, 45 cm length) (Fig. 1). A pot of hibiscus with four to five tender leaves infested with several hundred first and second stages of silverleaf whitefly was placed in each plexiglas cylinder. A piece of nylon organdy (64 mesh) was af fixed to the top of the cylinder. To increase ventilation and prevent condensation in the cylinder, two holes (5.5 cm diam eter) were cut on opposite sides of the cylinder and covered with nylon organdy. Parasites from each shipment were introduced into the cage through a small circular hole located near the bottom of the plexiglas cylinder kept closed by a No. 2 rubber stopper. Parasites were fed with honey impregnated on a small piece of KimwipeR paper prior to introduction into the cage. Hibis cus plants were watered every other day and fertilized weekly with Peters 20N-8.8P-16.6K ( ). The cage was un- Proc. Fla. State Hort. Soc. 108:

2 ifli Figure 1. Cage for rearing Encarsia spp. and Eretmocerus spp. on hibiscus in the quarantine laboratory; (a) circular vent in the cage; (b) hibiscus plant; (c) hole for introducing parasites. quarantine greenhouse; the door of the greenhouse was kept closed. If a parasite species reproduced well in the quarantine laboratory, a permit for field release was requested from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, DPI, and USDA-APHIS. When a permit was granted, the par asite was removed from quarantine and reared in a large cage (120x120x120 cm) constructed of wood and covered with ny lon organdy (64 mesh) housed in a greenhouse at DPI. As populations expanded the parasites were also reared openly on infested plants in the greenhouse. A sample of parasites (100 adults) for voucher specimens was collected prior to re moving the culture from the quarantine area. The voucher specimens were preserved in 70% alcohol, or frozen in a deep freeze at C at the Florida State Collection of Arthro pods. Field releases were made by placing hibiscus plants with heavily parasitized infested whitefly nymphs in an area with a large silverleaf whitefly population. Also parasite adults aspi rated into small vials in the laboratory and fed honey were re leased in the field. Release sites were selected in weedy areas near vegetable fields, nurseries, shade houses and hibiscus gardens. By agree ment with the growers, release areas were not to be sprayed with any pesticides for at least 2-3 months. Samples of host plants were collected from vegetable fields, nurseries and shade houses prior to making releases. These were examined under the microscope to confirm that native parasites were not present or scarce at the release sites. Frequently, native parasites, Encarsia spp. and Eretmocerus spp., occurred in unsprayed weed areas and hibiscus gardens. To assess parasite recovery, whitefly infested leaves were collected from release sites 2-3 weeks after the release and held in 7-dram plastic vials for emergence. A sample of five leaves was randomly collected and forwarded to the laborato ry in Gainesville. In the laboratory, a 4-cm2 section was ran domly removed from each leaf and the number of unparasitized and parasitized pupae were counted to deter mine the percent parasitism. When examining basil leaves, due to their small size, all pupae on a leaf were recorded. opened until Fj parasite adults began emerging (approxi mately days), at which time they were collected and transferred into a new cage. To prevent species contamination, rearing cages were opened, one cage at a time, in a closed room away from the Results and Discussion From , 15 separate collections of parasites from foreign countries were introduced into the Biological Con trol Quarantine Laboratory in Gainesville, Florida (Table 1). Table 1. Parasites introduced into the quarantine laboratory, Gainesville, Florida for control of Bemisia tabaci&unng Parasites Date Collected Host Plants Locations of origin Collectors Amitus bennetti 07/30/90 Euphorbia Jieterophylla San Juan Airport, Puerto Rico Chamaesyce hirta (I) (G) (S) Encarsia lutea Eretmocerus sp. (G) Eretmocerus sp. (S) Eretmocerus mundus Eretmocerus sp. (H) Eretmocerus sp. Eretmocerus sp. 12/14/90 06/08/91 07/12/91 11/20/91 07/25/92 07/18/92 02/03/92 03/17/93 03/08/90 07/12/91 11/20/91 07/13/92 07/25/92 03/20/93 Unknown A maranthaceaee Lantana camara Emilia sp. Glycine max. Amaranthaceae Lantana camara Emilia sp. Parbhani, Maharashtra, India Monjas, Jalapa, Guatemala Wad Medani, Sudan Tel Aviv, Israel Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China Kowloon Park, Hong Kong Ban Ton Tea Kanpaeughot, Thailand Embrapa, Brazil Monjas, Jalapa, Guatemala Wad Medani, Sudan Tel Aviv, Israel Kowloon Park, Lowloon, Hong Kong Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China Changmai, Bangkok, Thailand George Buttler M. Kirby Badar Munir D. Gerling H. W. Browning, R. K. Yokomi L. Alexandre Nogueira M. Kirby Badar Munir D. Gerling H. W. Browning, R. Yokomi 44 Proc. Ha. State Hort. Soc. 108: 1995.

3 Most shipments contained two genera of parasites, Eretmocerus sp. and, which indicated those parasites coexist ed. and Eretmocerus sp. were screened to prevent contamination of the culture. Most parasites could be success fully maintained on colonies of silverleaf whitefly infesting hi biscus under laboratory conditions; only (from Hong Kong), and Eretmocerus sp. (from China) died out in the quarantine laboratory after two to three generations before strong colonies could be developed. Amitus bennetti Viggiani & Evans. (Viggiani and Evans 1992) Amitus bennetti-wzs collected in Honduras, Mexico and Puerto Rico from Bemisia tabaci on several host plants includ ing Chamaesyce hyssopifolia (L.) Small (Euphorbiaceae), Chamaesyce hirta (L.) Millsp. (Euphorbiaceae), Desmodium tortuosum (SW.) DC. (Leguminosa), Euphorbia heterophylla (Euphorbiace ae), and Lantana camara L (Verbenaceae). In Puerto Rico, the parasite was collected in Loiza, San Juan, Arecibo and Mayaguez. Three A. bennetti adults, collected in Puerto Rico on 30 June 1990 were used to initiate the colony in Gainesville. A. bennetti males were reared from whitefly collected in Puerto Rico but no males were found in the laboratory colony indi cating thelytokous reproduction. Females deposited eggs in first or second nymphal stages of Bemisia argentifolii and adult emergence commenced days after egg deposition. When the second stage was attacked, the development time was a day shorter. The adult life span lasted 5-21 days (10.7 days average, n=200) under laboratory condition (32 C, 40-70% RH). Each female produced offspring. Since Ami tus bennetti was readily distinguishable from all other species of whitefly parasites (Encarsia spp., Eretmocerus spp.), and be cause all other species of Amitus were known as primary para sites of whitefly, a permit for field release of the parasites from the quarantine laboratory was quickly granted on 5 Sep (Permit No ). A culture of A. bennetti was transferred into a nonquarantine greenhouse for large scale rearing. Field releases began in Oct Parasites were aspirated into plastic vials containing honey streaks to serve as food, and were released at the same or following day in natural weed areas or on crops with a high population of Bemisia ar gentifolii Later, small infested hibiscus plants containing par asitized B. argentifoliiwere placed in the field to allow parasites to emerge under field conditions. From Oct Apr. 1991, about 305,000 A. bennetti were released in 11 counties in Florida (Fig. 2). The first genera tion was recovered from release sites in Alachua and Hillsborough counties about 3 weeks after the release. Recoveries were also made at several sites in Ruskin (Hillsborough Co.) on 1 July on yard long beans, asparagus bean, Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp ssp. sesquipedalis (L.) Verde, where parasites had been released in April. This indicated that A. bennetti sur vived for several generations in the field. Our experiences with citrus blackfly, Aleurocanthus woglumi Ashby, was that one of its parasites, Amitus hesperidum (Silvestri), had a high rate of reproduction and rapidly suppressed heavy infestations of the citrus blackfly, then En carsia opuknta (Silvestri) kept the population in balance (Nguyen et al., 1983). However, A. bennetti only worked effec tively in medium and low density infestations and did poorly on high density infestations in the laboratory. When released in the field A. bennetti did not increase in numbers and appar ently dispersed from the release sites. It appears unlikely that this species will prove to be an effective parasite for silverleaf whitefly in contrast to A. hesperidum on the citrus blackfly. A. Figure 2. Florida map indicating Amitus bennetti release and recovery sites on Bemisia argentifolii during bennetti was sent to O. Minkinberg, Arizona, in July 1991; T. Bellows, California, in Mar. 1993, and Mike Rose, Texas, in Mar for laboratory and field trials on Bemisia argentifolii in other states. Encarsia spp. and Eretmocerus spp. from India, Guatemala and Sudan. A permit for field release of (I.) (from India), (G.) (from Guatemala), Eretmocerus sp. (G.) (from Guatemala) was granted on 7 Oct (Permit No ), and Eretmocerus sp. (S.) (Sudan) on 23 Dec (Permit No ). To increase the number for field releas es, these parasites were reared separately in wooden cages (120x120x120 cm) using hibiscus as a host plant. These cages were infested with B. argentifolii, and adult parasites from each species were inoculated into each cage when silver leaf whitefly were in first stage for Eretmocerus spp. and 2nd stage for Encarsia spp. It took approximately days under the greenhouse condition (29.5 C) for parasite development to adult. Due to space limitation, all parasites were reared in the same greenhouse and because cages were opened for wa tering, contamination from one cage to another could not be prevented. Initially hibiscus leaves with parasitized whitefly nymphs were cut and placed in a plastic box (21x32x10 cm) for parasite adult emergence. The parasites were then aspirat ed into small vials for field release. Later small infested hibis cus plants containing parasitized Bemisia argentifolii were also placed next to heavily infested weeds or crops. This method allowed parasite adults to emerge under field conditions and to spread to other plants. From Nov to Sep. 1992, about 157,800 mixed Eret mocerus spp. and Encarsia spp. from India, Sudan, and Guate mala were released in Florida (Fig. 3). We followed up two release sites in Ruskin (Hillsborough Co.) and one site in Gainesville (Alachua Co.) during Parasites were released on the Harris-Morgan farm in Ruskin. The farm consisted of 100 acres of tomatoes, egg- Proc. Fla. State Hort. Soc. 108:

4 Figure 3. Florida map indicating counties (shaded) where Encarsia spp. (from India, Guatemala), and Eretmocerus spp. (Guatemala, Sudan) were re leased on Bemisia argentifolii during plants, cucumbers, and squash grown for seeds. These vegeta bles were sprayed with insecticides at least once a week to control silverleaf whitefly and most of these crops continued to be heavily infested with silverleaf whitefly. About 20,000 mixed Eretmocerus spp. and Encarsia spp. were released in a plot of 1000 unsprayed eggplants on 15 Apr The pop ulation of B. argentifolii increased gradually but most of the pupae were parasitized by Encarsia spp. and Eretmocerus spp. From eggplant leaves which were collected 17 July, parasitism was 58%, averaging 2.4 whitefly pupae/4 cm2. By comparison, there was an average of 10.5 whitefly pupae/4 cm2 on egg plants in the sprayed area. All vegetables on the farm were harvested and crop resi dues were destroyed during the first week of Aug. About 3,000 Eretmocerus spp. (S.) and Eretmocerus spp. (G.) were again re leased on 4 Sep. on 20 eggplants growing in 2-gal containers that were placed outside a greenhouse. These eggplants were heavily infested with B. argentifolii (125 pupae/4 cm2) and no parasites were observed. By 23 Sep. 1992, several thousand F, parasite adults were observed on these plants and 42% per cent were parasitized (averaging 103 whitefly pupae/4 cm2). On 21 Apr. 1992, about 3,000 mixed Encarsia spp. and Eretmocerus spp. from India, Guatemala and Sudan were re leased on 15 eggplants growing in 2-gal containers placed out side of a 4-acre screenhouse containing mint and basil on the Sanwa Company Farm, Ruskin. Safer soap had been routinely sprayed to control silverleaf whitefly prior to parasite release. By July 1992 parasites had suppressed the population of silver leaf whitefly on eggplant and had migrated into the screenhouse. An additional 30,000 mixed Encarsia spp. and Eretmocerus spp. were released in the screenhouse in July The percent parasitism was 29% from basil leaves collected on 12 Aug. (54 pupae/basil leaf) and 50% on those collected on 3 Sep. (2 pupae/basil leaf). In Gainesville, the same parasites were released in a home garden growing eggplant, cucumber, squash, and tomato. These plants were infested earlier with B. argentifolii from the rearing laboratory. The infestation was 50 pupae/4 cm2 egg plant leaf collected on 14 July prior to parasite release and the percent parasitism by native parasites was 1%. Approximately 10,000 parasites were released on 15 July By 4 Sep., the level of infestation was reduced to 3 pupae/4 cm2 eggplant leaf with 73.5% parasitism. Some whitefly adults were also killed by the fungus Paecilomyces sp. In Deland (Volusia Co.), about 50,000 parasites were re leased on 14-16July in a non-treated 0.25 acre plot of 1 month old cucumbers located at the northwest corner of a 90-acre cucumber and squash farm. The number of adult whitefly re corded on the second cucumber leaf, counting from the tip, was 8.38/leaf on 14 July, and 40.1/leaf on 28 July Para sitism was only 0.2% on leaves collected from the release plot 28 July, thus the parasite complex did not noticeably reduce the population of Bemisia argentifolii on this farm. A permit for field release of Encarsia lutea from Israel was granted on 7 Oct (Permit No ); and Eretmocerus mundus from Israel on 26 June 1995 (Permit No ). (I.) was sent to L. Wendel, Mission, Texas on 13 Apr. 1992, and (G), Eretmocerus sp. (G), and Eret mocerus sp.(s) were sent to M. Rose, Texas on 28 Apr. for the whitefly biological control project in Texas. Eretmocerus sp. from Hong Kong. Eretmocerus sp.(hk) was collected in Hong Kong in July It is a thelytokous spe cies and no males were observed in the quarantine laboratory. The life cycle from egg to adult was days (32 C; 30-70% RH). Eretmocerus sp. (HK) had a high rate of reproduction. The USDA field release permit was granted 10 Dec (Permit No ) and the parasites were mass reared on hibiscus in a greenhouse; field releases began in Mar From Mar May 1994, about 480,000 Eretmocerus sp.(hk) were released in 10 counties in Florida (Fig. 4). As mentioned earlier, most parasites were released some dis tance from sprayed fields. This parasite was also released on hibiscus and poinsettias in Homestead (Dade Co.), and Boynton Beach (Palm Beach Co.) to study the parasites' ability to migrate into sprayed plots in commercial nurseries. In Homestead (Dade Co.), approximately 18,000 Eret mocerus sp. (HK) were released on 9 and 26 July 1993 on a plot of 100 hibiscus plants in a nursery of 10,000 hibiscus plants. Except for the plot in which the parasites were released, the entire nursery had been sprayed with insecticides weekly to control B. argentifolii and aphids. The infestation level was high (36 whitefly pupae/4 cm2 leaf) on 9 July, without any signs of indigenous parasites. Parasitism rose to 68% (25 whitefly pupae/4 cm2 leaf) on 18 Aug., and no B. argentifolii adults were observed 16 Sep. Eretmocerus sp. (HK) then migrat ed to sprayed plots in the nursery. In Boynton Beach, about 4,000 Eretmocerus sp.(hk) were released in 200 mallow, Hibiscus mutabilish. plants on 3 June These plants were heavily infested with B. argentifolii (2,000-3,000 whitefly pupae/leaf). The plants were placed ad- 46 Proc. Fla. State Hort. Soc. 108: 1995.

5 Massachusetts on 30 Aug. 1993, and Encarsia lutea from Israel was sent to R. Hennessey, Texas for field and laboratory trials. In conclusion, we have been successful in obtaining and initiating laboratory culture of several promising parasites of silverleaf whitefly. Several of these have been released in Flor ida between Most of these parasites were recovered from the field a few weeks after release. They suppressed pop ulations of B. argentifolii in several non-sprayed areas and mi grated into sprayed areas. Although some parasites were detected in the field several months following their release we are not yet certain that permanent establishment of any of these parasites has occurred. We intend to study the status of these parasites in Florida in the near future. Other parasites are being studied and will be released after they are cleared from the quarantine. Literature Cited Figure 4. Florida map showing counties Eretmocerus sp. (from Hong Kong) was released during jacent to 50,000 poinsettia plants. The percent parasitism was 43% on mallow leaves collected on 26 July (93.4 whitefly pu pae/4 cm2 leaf) and 63% on 18 Aug. (64.4 whitefly pupae/4 cm2 leaf)- The parasite gradually moved into the poinsettia plants and parasitism was 50% on poinsettia leaves collected 18 Aug. (29.5 whitefly pupae/4 cm2 leaf). The same phenomenon of parasite movement into sprayed areas was observed in several poinsettia and hibiscus nurseries in Boynton Beach, Orlando, Ocala, and Gainesville. Hibiscus and poinsettias infested with B. argentifolii parasit ized with Eretmocerus sp.(hk) were shipped to many retail stores and sold in Florida and several other states, possibly dis tributing this parasite widely. Eretmocerus sp.(hk) was sent to M. Rose, Texas on 4 Feb. 1993, O. Minkinberg, Arizona, 31 Mar. 1993, Roy Van Driech, Abdel-Fattah, M. I., A. Hendi, M. O. Kolaid and A. El-Said Studies on Prospaltella lutea Masi, a primary parasite of the cotton whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Genn.) in Egypt (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae). Bull. Soc. Entomol. Egypte 65: Bellows, T. S., T. M. Perring, R. J. Gill and D. H. Headrick Description of species of Bemisia (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae). Ann. Entomol. Soc. America 87: Bennett, F. D., D. J. Schuster, K. A. Hoelmer, L. S. Osborne and G. Evans Survey of the sweetpotato whitefly parasitoids in cultivated and wild hosts in Florida and Neotropics. p In R. K. Yokomi, K. R. Narayan an and D.J. Schuster (eds.). Sweetpotato whitefly mediated vegetable dis orders in Florida. Inst. Food and Agr. Sci. (IFAS), Univ. of Fla., Gainesville. Gerling, D Natural enemies of Bemisia tabaci, biological characteristics and potential as biological control agents: a review. Agr. Ecosystem, and Environ. 17: Hoelmer, K. A. and L. S. Osborne Biological control of the sweetpota to whitefly in Florida with predators and parasitoids. p In R. K. Yokomi, K. R. Narayanan and D.J. Schuster (eds). Sweetpotato whitefly mediated vegetable disorders in Florida. Inst. Food and Agr. Sci. (IFAS), Univ. of Fla., Gainesville. Lopez-Avila, A Natural enemies of Bemisia tabaci. p In M. J. W. Cook (ed.). Bemisia tabaci-a Literature Survey. C.A.B. Intern. Inst. of Bio logical Control. Nguyen, R.,J. R. Brazzel and C. Poucher Population density of the cit rus blackfly, Aleurocanthus ruoglumiashby (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae), and its parasites in urban Florida in Environ. Entomol. 12: Polaszek, A., G. A. Evans and Encarsia parasitoids of Be misia tabaci (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae, Homoptera: Aleyrodidae): A preliminary guide to identification. Bull. Entomol. Res. 82: Schuster, D. J., J. F. Price, J. B. Kring and P. H. Everett Integrated man agement of the sweetpotato whitefly on commercial tomato. Citrus and Vegetable Magazine. Vol. 53(4). p , 69-70, 72, Tawfik, M. F. S., K. T. Awadallah, H. Hafez and A. A. Sarhan Biology of the Aphelinid parasite Eretmocerus mundus Mercet. Bull. Soc. Entomol. Egypte. 62: Viggiani, G. and G. Evans Descriptions of three species of AmitusW-aXdeman (Hymenoptera: Platygasteridae), parasitoids of known whiteflies from the New World. Boll. Lab. Entomol. Agr. Filippo Silvestri. 49: Proc. Fla. State Hort. Soc. 108: