Intra- and interspecific competition between biotypes B and Q of Bemisia tabaci (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) from Spain.

Biotypes B and Q of Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius), collected from the islands of Tenerife and Majorca respectively, were exposed to competition conditions on tomato cv. Marmande in the laboratory. Both biotypes were established in single and mixed cultures at different densities. Increased mortality of biotype Q females and immature instars was observed together with a lower rate of fecundity and progeny size compared to biotype B, when reared in single or mixed cultures. The female:male sex ratio of F1 individuals of biotype Q was higher in single than in mixed cultures. However, the sex ratio of F1 individuals of biotype B was the same in single and mixed cultures, suggesting reproductive interference. Whitefly density did not affect interspecific interactions. It had a moderate effect on developmental rate of both biotypes, and on mortality of immature instars and progeny size of biotype B only. The results indicate that under laboratory conditions the studied biotype B should displace biotype Q.