干旱区生态环境知识资源中心

The sweetpotato whitefly, Bemisia tabaci Gennadius, of Palaearctic origin was originally introduced into California in the late 1920s. Since that time it has been restricted to the state’s southern desert valleys and has, at times, been a significant agricultural problem. In the mid-1980s, however, a new "strain" of B. tabaci was introduced to southern California and has wreaked great havoc in the area. This strain, from poinsettia plants, has become known as the B strain, poinsettia strain or poinsettia whitefly. This paper documents the new introduction, notes the poinsettia strain’s differences from other B. tabaci, and assesses the possibilities for its control.