Abstract
Integrated Pest Management strategies are widely implemented in sweet peppers. Aphid biological control on sweet pepers includes curative applications of parasitoids and generalist predators, but with limited efficiency. Macrolophus pygmaeus is a zoophytophagous predator which has been reported to predate on aphids, but has traditionally been used to control other pests, including whiteflies. In this work, we evaluate the effectiveness of M. pygmaeus in controlling Myzus persicae (Homoptera: Aphididae) by testing different combinations of aphid and predator densities in cage-experiments under greenhouse conditions. The impact of the presence of an alternative factitious prey (E. kuehniella eggs) was also investigated. Macrolophus pygmaeus, at densities of four individuals/plant, caused rapid decline of newly established aphid populations. When aphid infestations were heavy, the mirid bug reduced the aphid numbers but did not fully eradicate aphid populations. The availability of a factitious prey did not influence M. pygmaeus predation on aphids. Based on our data, preventive application of M. pygmaeus, along with a supplementary food source , is recommended to control early infestations of aphids.
Highlights
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies are being increasingly used in greenhouses [1,2].The demand for non-chemical solutions is driven by consumer demands for low pesticide residues on fruits and vegetables, by the reduction in available active compounds due to more stringent regulations and by the hazard of pest resistance development
IPM strategies based on the release of biocontrol agents are very well implemented in European greenhouses [3,4,5,6,7]
In southeast Spain, A. swirskii and the minute pirate bug Orius laevigatus Fieber (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae) are the main biocontrol agents used in sweet pepper production [9]
Summary
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies are being increasingly used in greenhouses [1,2].The demand for non-chemical solutions is driven by consumer demands for low pesticide residues on fruits and vegetables, by the reduction in available active compounds due to more stringent regulations and by the hazard of pest resistance development. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies are being increasingly used in greenhouses [1,2]. IPM strategies based on the release of biocontrol agents are very well implemented in European greenhouses [3,4,5,6,7]. In southeast Spain, A. swirskii and the minute pirate bug Orius laevigatus Fieber (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae) are the main biocontrol agents used in sweet pepper production [9]. Aphids are another major pest of sweet peppers, and cause problems on a wide range of cultivated plants [10,11]. The most common aphid pest species include Myzus persicae Sulzer (having the highest incidence), Aphis gossypii Glover, Macrosiphum euphorbiae Thomas, and Aulacorthum solani Kaltenbach (Hemiptera: Aphididae) [11]
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