Biology of whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) on brinjal

Biology of B. tabaci on brinjal was studied under screen house conditions. B. tabaci completed all the six life stages on brinjal and developmental period of eggs, first, second, third and fourth instar nymphs ranged between 3-19, 3-6, 3-5, 2-5, 3-5 days, respectively. Total development period of immature stages (egg to adults) ranged between 18-36 days and mean development period was shortest during August - September (19.28 ± 0.87 days), followed by April -May (21.08 ± 0.75 days) and February -March (31.08 ± 1.17 days). The females outnumbered the male (sex ratio 1: 2.47) and mean fecundity ranged between 22 -51 eggs per female. The females (1.00 -1.35 mm) were larger than male (0.90 -1.10 mm) and eggs measured 0.15 -0.20 mm in length and 0.07 -0.12 mm in width. The length and width of first instar ranged between 0.18 -0.26 mm and 0.10 -0.17 mm, respectively, whereas in second instar, the corresponding values were 0.32 -0.45 and 0.19 -0.27 mm. The length and width of 3^rd instar nymph was 0.40 -0.60 mm and 0.24 -0.38 mm, respectively, which increased to 0.52 -0.77 mm and 0.43 -0.64 mm during fourth instar.