Effect of a novel repellent, acetylated glyceride, against sweet potato whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae)

With the aim of identifying safe control agents for whiteflies, we screened foods and food additives and observed that acetylated glyceride showed strong repellent activity against the sweet potato whitefly Bemisia tabaci. The acetylated glyceride (acetic and fatty acid esters of glycerol) has been used as food additives worldwide. The numbers of settled adults, courting pairs, and nymphs on host plant leaves were reduced by acetylated glyceride treatment. The highest control was attained with foliar treatment (0.2%, v/v) at 7-day intervals. Phytotoxicity to tomato plants was below the commercially acceptable level. The acetylated glyceride was harmless against four species of natural enemies examined.