Optimizing Control Strategies for the Cotton Whitefly Bemisia tabaci: Insights from Individual-Based Modeling

The whitefly, Bemisia tabaci, significantly threatens agricultural productivity through crop damage and virus transmission. This study developed and parametrized a dynamic energy budget theory-based toxicokinetic-toxicodynamic (TKTD) model to assess the mortality of immature whitefly stages and the impacts of spidoxamat exposure on fecundity and fertility in adults. The TKTD model was integrated into an individual-based model (IBM) to predict population dynamics and efficacy under field conditions, validated with field trial data from different locations in India, Pakistan, and Brazil. The integrated model identified optimal application strategies across varying pest pressure and temperature regimes. The IBM simulation results indicate that a second application can substantially enhance population control, particularly when timed between 7 and 14 days postinitial treatment, depending on ambient temperature and population structure. This timing is influenced by the efficacy half-life and the developmental duration of immature stages, emphasizing the importance of precise application strategies in managing B. tabaci populations effectively. The findings underscore the importance of integrating empirical data with modeling for a mechanistic understanding of effects and the development of effective pest management strategies in the face of evolving agricultural challenges.