Whitefly, Bemisia tabaci is pest of broad host range. In pulse crops, it generally infests greengram, blackgram and cowpea but not Pigeonpea. There might be some biochemical or morphological factor(s) working behind.
When I was a pigeon pea researcher and plant pathologist I became acquainted with a wide gamut of pigeon pea diseases and pests.
Pigeon pea has a notable allelopathic potential which my studies showed were related to terpenoids complex excreted through the leaves as golden exudate drops. These compounds will suppress plants around the pigeon pea plant.
I believe that this terpenoid complex could have diverse effects like neem terpenoids.
Structurally the pigeon pea is highly hirsute with many trichomes. These pigeon pea mechanisms are not necessarily found in dry beans and other grain legumes.
This question would be worthy of further investigation to elucidate the potential mechanism.
While dry beans became very infected with geminivirus after the global introductions of Argentina whitefly strains I am aware of many issues in pigeon pea I was active and believe you observation of pigeon pea having a resistance or avoidance mechanism is probably a good one.
Excellent to know from @ Paul Reed Hepperly . I have also experienced less infestation of Bemisia tabacci in redgram.
Kindly check https://infonet-biovision.org/PlantHealth/Pests/Whiteflies
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