Development and Survival of the Whitefly under Contrasting Conditions in a Semiarid Environment

The whitefly Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) Middle East-Asia Minor 1 (MEAM1) (formerly known as biotype B) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) is an economically important pest affecting several crops worldwide. However, information on its biological traits under semiarid conditions remains scarce. This study aimed to assess the developmental duration and survival of the immature stages of B. tabaci MEAM1 on melon plants (Cucumis melo L.) under contrasting meteorological conditions (dry and rainy periods) in the semiarid region of northeastern Brazil. Melon plants were infested with B. tabaci under laboratory conditions and subsequently transferred to the field, where the immature stages developed under natural conditions. The embryonic period lasted an average of 6.6 days during the dry period and 6.9 days during the rainy period. Total nymphal development lasted an average of 12.8 days in the dry period and 14.7 days in the rainy period. Egg hatching did not differ between periods, whereas survival responses during the nymphal stages varied according to developmental transition. Overall, B. tabaci developed more rapidly during the dry period, indicating that contrasting meteorological conditions in a semiarid environment can influence immature development and stage-specific survival.