Improved artificial feeding system for rearing the whitefly Bemisia argentifolii (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae)

The artificial rearing system for Bemisia argentifolii Bellows and Perring has been improved by the selection of an autoclavable, reusable membrane, reduction of the sucrose concentration, choice of yeast extract, use of an antifungal agent in the petri dish chamber, choice of surface sterilization agent, egg storage, and maintenance of high humidity in the chamber during the entire nymphal development. We can now produce small numbers of adult whiteflies of both sexes on these chambers, confirming the utility of these improvements. We also reared two Bemisia tabaci A-strain to adults and several Trialeurodes vaporariorum nymphs to the 3rd and 4th instar on the improved feeding system.