The European Whitefly Studies Network (EWSN) was established in March 1999 as an EC funded concerted action project (CT98 4303) and coordinated from the John Innes Centre, Norwich UK. The network aimed to collate and disseminate information on the increasing whitefly problems and associated viruses within European agriculture and to standardise working procedures between European laboratories. The importance of EWSN to growers, plant health and the crop protection industry, resulted in a rapid growth of the network and an expansion of its outputs and deliverables. Over 80 people are now involved in EWSN and regular newsletters detailing network activities and new whitefly problems are distributed to over 2000 locations worldwide. Between February 28th and March 3rd 2001, EWSN organised the first European Whitefly Symposium in Ragusa, Sicily, hosted and locally coordinated by the University of Catania. Over 200 delegates attended the symposium where many aspects of whitefly research and control were presented. The symposium provided EWSN with a global audience and an oportunity to propose an international link-up with other whitefly organisations. Since March 2001, EWSN has become an independant organisation that sustains itself through commercial sponsors and benefactors. Its primary aim is to continue providing European crop protection with information and support but to also expand outside of Europe, establishing new and exciting international collaborations to address whitefly problems throughout the world. Further information on EWSN and its activities can be obtained from the EWSN office (Email: network.ewsn@bbsrc.ac.uk)
Species 1: Homoptera Aleyrodidae Bemisia tabaci (tobacco whitefly, cotton whitefly)
Species 2: Homoptera Aleyrodidae Trialeurodes vaporariorum (glasshouse whitefly)
Keywords: Crop protection, virus vectors
The ESA 2001 Annual Meeting - 2001: An Entomological Odyssey of ESA