The Efficacy of Yellow Tape Formulation of Pyriproxyfen against the Sweet Potato Whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae)

A tape formulation of pyriproxyfen was prepared by coating the chemical onto yellow plastic film. We evaluated the transovarial ovicidal activity of the tape formulation against Bemisia tabaci and investigated the optimal application method and efficacy in a greenhouse. The tape formulation showed high ovicidal activity of over 80% mortality against B. tabaci for 4 days by a 30-second compulsory contact test. The formulation controlled the B. tabaci population on tomatoes by both “sideways spreading application” and “vertical hanging application”. “Sideways spreading application” was considered to be more practical, although there was no significant difference in efficacy between the two application methods. In a large-scale greenhouse trial of “sideways spreading application”, the tape formulation suppressed the B. tabaci population for 77 days. The results suggested that the tape formulation is promising as a tool for IPM because of its high efficacy and lower environmental impact.