Bemisia tabaci species complex comprises at least 44 cryptic species worldwide. Here, we analyze the nucleotide sequences of mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (COI) gene obtained from 76 samples of B. tabaci collected from 23 districts in Nepal. This is the first genetic and geographic study of B. tabaci species complex in Nepal. Our phylogenetic study identified the presence of three cryptic species—Asia I, Asia II 1, and Asia II 5—with high interspecific but low intraspecific variations. Among the three cryptic species, Asia II 5 was the most prevalent in Nepal, constituting 64.47% of all the sequenced samples. Based on haplotype network analysis of COI sequences, Asia II 1 was more genetically diversified than the other two cryptic species. Our results provided useful information on the genetic diversity and geographic distribution of B. tabaci in Nepal, which help monitor population changes of B. tabaci at cryptic species level and develop sustainable management strategies for its control.

烟粉虱（Bemisia tabaci）物种复合体在世界范围内至少包含44个隐性物种。在这里，我们分析了线粒体细胞色素氧化酶亚基1（COI）基因的核苷酸序列，该基因是从尼泊尔23个地区收集的76株烟粉虱样本中获得的。这是烟粉虱的首次遗传和地理研究种类复杂的尼泊尔。我们的系统发育研究确定了三种隐性物种（亚洲I，亚洲II 1和亚洲II 5）的存在，这些物种具有高种间但低种内变异。在这三个隐性物种中，Asia II 5在尼泊尔最为流行，占所有测序样品的64.47％。根据对COI序列的单倍型网络分析，Asia II 1在遗传上比其他两个隐性物种更为多样化。我们的结果提供了有关尼泊尔烟粉虱遗传多样性和地理分布的有用信息，有助于监测烟粉虱在隐性物种水平上的种群变化，并制定可持续的控制策略来对其进行控制。