Control of Two Spotted Spider Mite, Sweetpotato Whitefly, and Melon Thrips with Predatory Mites, Metharhizium, and Insecticides on Eggplant, 2014

Abstract

Spider mites are important and consistent pests of eggplant in south Florida where feeding damage often causes decline in the overall health of the plant, leading to lower yields. Sweetpotato whitefly can often build up extremely dense populations in eggplant, leading to plant decline and problems for other crops in the area. Melon thrips feeding can cause fruit scarring and flecking, leading to a reduction in fruit quality. For this trial, two single rows separated with a row of corn were prepared at the Southwest Florida Research and Education Center in Immokalee, FL, on raised beds. Granular fertilizer (10-2-10 N-P-K) was incorporated, and two drip tapes with emitters spaced at 8 inches and a flow rate of 0.67 gpm/100 ft were laid before covering with black polyethylene film mulch and fumigating through the drip with 300 lb/acre PicClor 60 EC. Greenhouse-raised plants were transplanted on 6 Mar at 24-inch spacing, and the remaining 50% required nutrients were delivered by drip irrigation as liquid 7-2-7. Plots contained …