The Bemisia tabaci species complex

Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) currently is believed to be a species complex, with many biotypes and two described extant cryptic species, B. tabaci and Bemisia argentifolii Bellows and Perring. This paper examines the historical record of B. tabaci and its synonyms, and discusses research that has resulted in the species complex hypothesis. It also reviews work that has been done comparing populations from various geographic locations. This comparative research, using a variety of techniques, forms the basis from which similarities and differences between populations can be inferred. Based on these studies, seven groups within the species complex are proposed. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.