Aphelinid parasitoids as sustainable biological control agents in greenhouses

Abstract

AbstractAphelinid parasitoids have been used for control of pests in greenhouses since the 1920s, but large scale application started only some 25 years ago. Today, several aphelinid parasitoids are commercially used for the biological control of scale, aphid and whitefly pests in greenhouses. A success story is the biological control of greenhouse whitefly, Trialeurodes vaporariorum, with the aphelinid Encarsia formosa. Encarsia is applied on 5000 ha of vegetable crops worldwide. Weekly, more than 20 million individuals of E. formosa are mass reared and shipped to growers in 20 countries. About 10 years ago, another whitefly species, Bemisia sp., developed to pest status and a search for control of scales and aphids in greenhouses is summarized, as well as the status of commercial biological control with aphelinid parasitoids. Further, the questions whether effective natural enemies can be identified before introduction and if autoparasitoids should be imported and released are addressed. Finally, the usefulness of parasitoid biotype studies to recognize suitable candidates for biological is considered.