Population dynamics, host plant association and distribution patterns of cotton whitefly (CWF), Bemisia tabaci (Genn.) were studied on cotton, cucumber, cantaloupe and tomato in middle Egypt.

Some host-plants (cucumber and cantaloupe) enhanced whitefly development more than the others (cotton and tomato). Prediction models were also, constructed to simulate the temperature-development relationship on the tested host plant.

Oviposition and feeding responses comparisons for B. tabaci were tested in multi-choice situation whereas preference performance relationships were also studied under no choice situation. Whitefly preferred cotton and tomato for adult feeding and cucumber and cantaloupe for oviposition and immature feeding. A pronounced effect was noticed for host plants on different statistics of individual development and population growth.

Distribution characteristics of whitefly were also studied and used to develop a presence-absence sampling procedure as a simple and quick method for determination of population changes through the season.