Bionomics, morphometrics and molecular characterization of a cassava Bemisia afer (Priesner & Hosny) population

Abstract

Bionomics, morphometric measurements and partial mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I gene (mtCOI) sequences were examined for a population of Bemisia afer (Priesner an Hosny) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) collected from cassava in Uganda. The development of the eggs, first to fourth instar nymphs and adults required respectively, 12, 31 and 10 days, with a total life duration of approximately 53 days on the cassava cultivar Ebwanateraka. Each female laid one egg per day for 13 days and about 40% of the eggs failed to develop into adults. The male: female sex ratio was 1:4. The length and width of the four nymphal instars were positively correlated (correlation coefficient=0.97). Females were bigger than males and the sexes differed significantly based on body length (P