author(s)
Khan IA, Wan F-H

abstract
Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae) is a serious pest of tomato and cotton, worldwide. In the present research work, life history of B. tabaci was studied on tomato and cotton host plants under laboratory conditions at a temperature of 25±2°C, relative humidity of 60±5%, photoperiod of 16:8h (L:D) and an artificial light intensity of about 4000 lux. The results showed that B. tabaci total duration from egg to adult stage was longer on cotton (38.8 days) than on tomato (33.6 days). Total mortality from egg to adult stage was higher on tomato (34.4%) than on cotton (28.2%). The females lived longer than males on both the host plant species. Mean adult longevity of female and male was 19.1, 18.5 days on tomato and 21.0, 20.7 days on cotton, respectively. Fecundity of females was higher on cotton (92.0 eggs/female) than on tomato (78.3 eggs/female). Overall, the B. tabaci had longer embryonic as well as immature developmental duration and longevity on cotton than on tomato. Also, fecundity was higher on cotton than tomato. Mortality in each insect developmental stage was lower on cotton than on tomato. The female: male adults sex ratio was higher on cotton (55:45) than on tomato (52:48). The present results will help in better understanding of B. tabaci population dynamics, which will lead to its efficient control under glasshouse and field conditions.