Survey for Bemisia tabaci in France
A survey for Bemisia tabaci (EPPO A2 quarantine pest) was carried in France from 1997 to 1999. 400 samples from 65 hosts (30 % Solanaceae, mainly tomatoes, and ornamentals: Fuchsia, Lantana, Verbena…) were collected in the fields and in glasshouses. Samples were taken from different regions with emphasis on the Centre region. Results showed that the predominant whitefly species is still Trialeurodes vaporariorum, as it was found in more than 80% samples. B. tabaci was found in 7.3 % of the samples and only in crops grown under heated glasshouses, with a single exception in 1999. That particular year, B. tabaci was observed in one tomato field in Camargue (Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region), where Tomato yellow leaf curl begomovirus was detected and later eradicated (see EPPO RS 2000/168). This field had been grown with imported tomato plants from Almería, Spain. It is suspected that both B. tabaci and the virus came with the imported plants. An additional indication was that, all tested B. tabaci populations found in France belonged so far to B biotype, whereas this population found in Camargue belonged to non-B biotype which occurs
in Spain. Climatic studies showed that outdoor survival of B. tabaci in France is most probably limited to the east part of Côte d’Azur. Conclusion was that B. tabaci is still of very limited distribution in France and remains confined to protected crops. The situation of B. tabaci in France can be described as follows: Present, found sporadically in protected cultivation only.
Sources
Reynaud, P. (2000) L’aleurode Bemisia tabaci en France. Situation actuelle et possibilités de développement.
Phytoma – La Défense des Végétaux, no. 527, 18-21.