Population dynamics and development of weather-based prediction model for the incidence of whitefly, Bemisia tabaci Gennadius and its predator, Nesidiocoris tenuis (Reuter) in tomato

Abstract

Population of whiteflies and its natural enemy Nesidiocoris tenuis were recorded for the period of three years and averages were computed and subjected to simple correlation by considering weather parameters as the dependent variable. During observed years, population of whiteflies peakranged within 33rd to 37th SMW, the mean occurrence of the N. tenuis started with the build-up of its prey population and peaked at 40th SMW, declined thereafter and the populationof whiteflies had significantly positively correlated with maximum temperature, minimum temperature, evening relative humidity, and wind speed, respectively. Rainfall had a positive correlation but was not significant. In the present study, the population of N. tenuis was dependent only on the prey density but not on the weather parameters. The established model validated satisfactorily( R2 = 0.75; RMSE = 2.05).