Abstract
BACKGROUND: The two common whitefly
species, Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) MEAM1 and Trialeurodes
vaporariorum (Westwood), often co-occur on their host plants. The effect of
host plant occupation by one species on later-arriving conspecific individuals
or on the other competing species was examined. RESULTS: Resource preoccupied
by T. vaporariorum had mostly negative effects on the life history
parameters of later-arriving conspecifics. Red-eyed nymph and immature survival
of T. vaporariorum decreased when resource was preoccupied by conspecifics,
irrespective of the previous occupation scenario. However, resource preoccupied
by T. vaporariorum had only minor detrimental effectsonthe performance
of later-arriving B. tabaci MEAM1.In theopposite colonisation sequence,
previous occupation by B. tabaci MEAM1 had no significant effects on the
life history parameters of later-arriving conspecifics, but severe detrimental
effects were observed on the performance of later-arriving T. vaporariorum.
Total immature survival of T. vaporariorum decreased in both weak and
strong previous occupation situations by B. tabaci MEAM1. CONCLUSION:
The interspecific interactions between B. tabaci MEAM1 and T.
vaporariorum were asymmetric, with B. tabaci MEAM1 being the
superior competitor. This superiority could partially explain the rapid spread
of B. tabaci MEAM1 in China.
Keywords
Bemisia tabaci, cryptic species, MEAM1,
asymmetric competition, interspecific interaction, resource previous
occupation, Trialeurodes vaporariorum
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