The effect of some herbal extracts and pesticides on the biological parameters of Bemisia tabaci (Genn.) (Hem.: Aleyrodidae) pertaining to tomato grown under controlled conditions

The sweet potato whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Genn.) (Biotype A: Hem.: Aleyrodidae) is one of the most important pests in Iran. The development of alternative methods that are not chemical applications, is necessary in pest management for the sake of human health and for the safety of the environment. In this research project, the effect of four herbal compounds Fumaria parviflora Lam. (Fumariaceae), Teucrium polium L. (Lamiaceae), Calotropis procera (Willd.) R. Br. (Asclepiadaceae), Thymus vulgaris L. (Lamiaceae) on the same biological parameters of cotton whitefly were compared with the insecticides azadirachtin and pymetrozin. The results showed significant differences between herbal compounds and insecticides on: egg longevity (F6, 39 = 2.96, p < 0.05), pupa longevity (F6, 37 = 4.49, p < 0.01) and adult longevity (F6, 31 = 4.47, p < 0.01); egg mortality (F6, 39 = 6.71, p < 0.001), total egg mortality (F6, 39 = 6.71, p < 0.001), sex ratio (female) (F6, 30 = 3.49, p < 0.01), oviposition period (F6,31 = 7.50, p < 0.001) and total fecundity/female (F6, 31 = 8.23, p < 0.001). These results indicated that a fumitory extract and pymetrozin had the best effect on longevity and mortality, respectively. According to the results, the fumitory had a noticeable effect on the different life stages of the sweet potato whitefly.