Economic injury levels for Bemisia tabaci (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae) in cotton: impact of crop price, control costs, and efficacy of control

Field studies were conducted during 1993 and 1994 in the Imperial Valley, California and Maricopa, Arizona to examine relationships between densities of Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) populations and cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) yields, and to estimate economic injury levels (EILs) for pest management application. Populations of B. tabaci were manipulated by applying different numbers of insecticide applications in replicated plots. Resulting insect populations and cotton lint yields were used to develop damage functions and to estimate EILs for all life stages in relation to variable cotton prices, insecticide costs, and pest control efficacy. Economic injury levels declined with increasing cotton prices and increased as the cost of control increased, however, these changes were relatively small, based on typical ranges in price and control costs. In contrast, the efficacy of control provided by insecticide applications had a large influence on EILs, with lower efficacies being associated with higher injury levels. We developed a multiple regression model that accounted for the dynamic changes in the EIL in relation to crop price, control costs, control efficacy, and potential yield. Based on average prices and reasonable control costs and efficacy, EILs ranged from 5.9–15.2 adults/leaf, 6.1–19.8 eggs cm⁻², and 1.7–4.7 nymphs cm⁻² of leaf area. Additional research is needed to more closely relate the costs of control to the suppression of insect populations, and to define economic thresholds that will enable pest managers to maintain pest populations below EILs.