Predators and parasitoids as biological control agents of Bemisia in greenhouses Academic Article uri icon

abstract

  • Biological control of Bemisia (Hemiptera: Homoptera: Aleyrodidae) infesting protected crops will be difficult to attain by the release of a single natural enemy. This conclusion represents a departure from the widely successful biological control of greenhouse whitefly by releases of commercially available Encarsia formosa (Hymenoptera: Chalcoidea: Aphelinidae). The plentitude of protected crops suitable for whitefly colonization, the geographical variation associated with greenhouse construction, the explosive reproductive potential of Bemisia populations (that may also interact with the dynamics of greenhouse whiteflies), and the low tolerances to damage associated with protected culture may greatly exceed the capabilities of a biological control program built upon the use of a single parasitoid or predator species.

published proceedings

  • Bemisia: 1995. Taxonomy, biology, damage, control and management

author list (cited authors)

  • Heinz, K. M.

complete list of authors

  • Heinz, KM

publication date

  • December 1996