Preliminary Investigation of Sweet Potato Whitefly Population Dynamics Across Arizona

Abstract

The sweet potato whitefly can have an impact on cotton by reducing yields through direct feeding damage, by transmitting the cotton crumple leaf virus during feeding and by the production of large amounts of sticky honeydew that interferes with the harvesting and ginning process. Data on whitefly populations collected weekly from 938 yellow sticky traps near cotton fields have been entered into a geographic information system (GIS) database. In general, whitefly populations were high near cotton fields in the Yuma area before July 6th. They rose rapidly in central Arizona between July 6th and July 20th. During the month of August, counts continued to rise in central Arizona, particularly in western Pinal County. Populations began to fall during October. Whitefly populations in eastern La Paz County were slower to develop than in other areas in western Arizona. Whitefly populations in Graham and Cochise County were not significant throughout the growing season. Cotton crumple leaf virus was observed in parts of central and western Arizona.