Effects of host plants on development, survival and reproduction of Delphastus catalinae (Horn), a predator of Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius).

Bemisia tabaci(Gennadius) on six host plants were respectively provided to Delphastus catalinae(Horn).The results showed that the host plants affected the development,survival and reproduction of D.catalinae significantly.After preying the whitefly on cauliflower,the development rate,survival rate and oviposition of D.catalinae showed obvious superiority.The sequence of the innate capacity of increase(rm) of D.catalinae on six host plants was cauliflower(0.0771)tropic ageratum(0.0722)cowpea(0.0714)poinsettia(0.0677)sweet potato(0.0640)tobacco(0.0540).From the view of mass rearing of D.catalinae,cauliflower is the first choice for the host plant,followed by poinsettia,cowpea and tropic ageratum.