Banker Plant Research Articles

Banker Plant Efficacy to Boost Natural Predators for Management of Field Populations of Scirtothrips dorsalis Hood (Thysanoptera Thripidae) in Strawberries.

Since 2015, Scirtothrips dorsalis Hood has emerged as the main pest of strawberries in Florida. Given the limited management options, there is a recognized need to expand on the management strategies for this pest. Therefore, we explored the possibility of using banker plants to recruit naturally occurring predators of thrips into strawberry fields to suppress S. dorsalis. The study began in the 2021-2022 strawberry season where five banker plants were screened to determine which ones could consistently attract thrips predators by flowering throughout the strawberry season. Capsicum annum L. (ornamental pepper) and Lobularia maritima L. (sweet alyssum) were selected for further evaluation. In the 2022-2023 strawberry season, using a randomized complete block design we assessed the capability of these banker plants to attract thrips predators into the strawberry field. In addition, we examined how the banker plant distance from the strawberry plants influenced the S. dorsalis pest suppression. Our results showed that strawberries located within 3.7 m of ornamental pepper plants had less leaf damage from S. dorsalis compared with those farther away, which may result from the repellent effect of the ornamental peppers. Additionally, Geocoris spp. and Orius spp. were identified as the main thrips predators in the system, although in relatively low numbers. Therefore, these results highlight the potential of incorporating ornamental pepper as a banker plant in strawberry production. Additional applications of this research are explored below.

The right banker plant for the right application: Comparison of three candidates for aphid biocontrol, barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), corn (Zea mays L.), and finger millet (Eleusine coracana (L.) Gaertn).

In temperate regions, aphid biological control in greenhouses is mostly achieved by the regular release of biocontrol agents. Due to the rapid growth rate of the aphid population, biocontrol agents must be released frequently in order to be present before pest outbreaks and to act rapidly to prevent exceeding the economic threshold. Banker plants reduce these numerous releases by providing natural enemies with a high-quality environment to develop and reproduce. Optimally, banker plants should be easy to produce, resistant to environmental conditions, provide a large amount of suitable banker prey in order to produce a high number of biocontrol agents, and resist the herbivory pressure of the banker prey. The present study aimed to compare the value of three banker plant candidates of the Poaceae family under laboratory and greenhouse conditions: barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), finger millet (Eleusine coracana (L.) Gaertn), and corn (Zea mays L.). Our results show that the three plants were suitable for different contexts. Finger millet yielded the biggest fresh plant biomass, supported the highest load of banker prey, and resisted aphid feeding longer than the other plant species. Corn was the cheapest to produce, and barley was the fastest to grow. Overall, finger millet could be more fitted for long crop cycles, pests with rapid population growth rates, and voracious or fast-reproducing biocontrol agents. Meanwhile, barley and corn may be better suited for rapid crop cycles, pests with slow population growth rates, and biocontrol agents that are not too voracious or have low reproductive rates. © 2024 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

Integration of the Generalist Predator Nabis americoferus (Hemiptera: Nabidae) in a Greenhouse Strawberry Biocontrol Program with Phytoseiid Predatory Mites and the Entomopathogenic Fungus Beauveria bassiana.

In strawberry production, western flower thrips (WFT) and two-spotted spider mites (TSSM) inflict feeding damage and reduce the yield. Biological control for these pests often includes phytoseiid predatory mites and entomopathogenic fungi. The hemipteran family Nabidae have been reported as prominent predators in open-field strawberry. Nabis americoferus Carayon is a new biocontrol agent developed in Canada. This study examined if this species was a good candidate for integration with biological control for greenhouse strawberry production. The laboratory trials showed that Phytoseiulus persimilis Athias-Henriot and Amblyseius swirskii Athias-Henriot were compatible with N. americoferus, especially when alternative food was available. In contrast, the nabid was not compatible with the Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) GHA strain. A greenhouse cage study was conducted to determine if it was beneficial to add N. americoferus to the phytoseiid-mites-based biological control program for WFT and TSSM in greenhouse strawberry. The release of N. americoferus on a banker plant together with the placement of sachets of Neoseiulus cucumeris (Oudemans) and Neoseiulus californicus (McGregor) was beneficial, not only potentially reducing the number of sachet applications, but also providing better pest control than phytoseiid mites alone. Neither the phytoseiids nor the N. americoferus numbers were significantly affected by the presence of each other.

Olfactory responses of Nesidiocoris tenuis to uninfested or conspecific-infested banker plants and Thrips palmi-infested eggplants

Olfactory responses of Nesidiocoris tenuis to uninfested or conspecific-infested banker plants and Thrips palmi-infested eggplants

Tithonia diversifolia: beneficial companion plant to control Yellow Aphids on sugarcane fields in Tanzania

To find sustainable ways to protect its sugarcane areas from the key pest Sipha flava (Hemiptera: Aphididae) in north Tanzania, the local company TPC Limited funded a 6 months project in coordination with the French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development (CIRAD) to assess different agroecological practices, such as the use of companion plants around sugarcane fields. In this study, the influence of the flowering species Tithonia diversifolia located at the field edges as a potential banker plant for conservation biological control of the yellow sugarcane aphid was evaluated. Predatory species were identified by direct capture and/or regular observations and the intensity of aphid damage was evaluated through number of colonies. Twenty-four aphid predator species were identified being hosted by T. diversifolia, and the vicinity of this plant reduced by 86% the number of S. flava colonies in the sugarcane edges. These species belonged mostly to family Coccinellidae (ladybugs), Syrphidae (hoverflies), Chrysopidae (green lacewings), Dolichopodidae (long legged flies). This is the first paper evaluating T. diversifolia’s potential as a banker plant in sugarcane crops for pest control.

Effect of vegetational diversification on the gene flow of natural enemies in a plum orchard

Plant diversity strategies promote positive effects on the delivery of ecosystem services by establishing winter refuges and other food resources for populations of natural enemies. Cover crops are encouraged as a sustainable practice able to stimulate the early recruitment of natural enemies. However, there is insufficient evidence of the dispersal of natural enemies between added vegetation habitats and targeted crops in orchards. Here we study the genetic diversity and population genetic structure of a plum aphid parasitoid using microsatellite markers developed specifically for Aphidius platensis. We seek to understand whether parasitoid wasps are able to shift between alternative and target aphid hosts (winter vs. spring hosts) developing on winter oat cover crops, spontaneous vegetation, and the target plum trees in an organic orchard system. Our results supported aspects of our hypotheses by providing evidence that added habitat diversity, through a cereal cover crop, can act as banker plants of parasitoid populations for the dispersion of migrants within a fruit orchard, which could favor suppression efficiency of orchard pests, as well as enable population persistence of parasitoids.

Construction of a Banker Plant System via the Host Switch Trait of a Natural Enemy Aenasius bambawalei.

Understanding the most effective host switch patterns in parasitic wasps, specifically Aenasius bambawalei (AB), is crucial for effectively controlling pests like Penacoccus solenopsis (PSS). This study aims to elucidate AB's ideal host switch pattern and assess its utility in maintaining synchronization between AB and PSS, thereby aiding in PSS control. We examined various host switch patterns and cycles to evaluate their impact on AB's offspring's parasitism rates and fitness in laboratory conditions. Concurrently, we assessed the fitness of both PSS and AB on tomato plants using different banker plant systems to maintain field synchronization. Results indicate that the three-repeat T1 host switch pattern of PSS-Penacoccus solani (PSI)-PSS was the most effective. Additionally, a specific banker plant system, "System B", which provided succulent plants hosting PSI, was optimal for synchronizing AB and PSS in a summer greenhouse setting. Our findings underscore the importance of employing specific host switch patterns and banker plant systems to effectively control PSS in the field. This research offers foundational data for incorporating a banker plant system into integrated pest management strategies for enhanced PSS control.

Emergence of the aphid Hysteroneura setariae (Thomas, 1878) and ladybird predators Coccinella septempunctata L., 1758 (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) on the grass Muhlenbergia capillaris (Lamark) Trinius in central Japan

Pink muhly grass Muhlenbergia capillaris (Lamark) Trinius is a perennial, tussock-forming grass that is native to North and Central America. The reddish-purple coloration of the spikes of this species has resulted in this grass becoming popular as an ornamental plant around the world. Interestingly, very few insects have been reported to be associated with this grass. I therefore examined arthropod assemblages on M. capillaris in two urban parks in central Japan in autumn and found that the aphid Hysteroneura setariae (Thomas, 1878) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) and its natural ladybird predator Coccinella septempunctata L., 1758 (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) occurred at high densities at one of the parks (ca. 9000 vs 3.4 individuals/m2). Other insect pests, such as the moth Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner, 1808) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) and mirid bugs were also present, but at markedly lower densities. Since H. setariae is not a pest in Japan and C. septempunctata is a beneficial predator, M. capillaris could be used as a banker plant in agricultural fields as well as in urban green spaces.

Larval development and voracity of Eupeodes americanus (Diptera: Syrphidae): comparison of the focal prey Aphis gossypii (Hemiptera: Aphididae) and the banker prey Rhopalosiphum padi (Hemiptera: Aphididae).

Unlike European species, the potential of Nearctic syrphids as biological control agents is still poorly studied. However, the American hoverfly, Eupeodes americanus (Wiedemann), has recently demonstrated promising traits as a biocontrol agent, notably against the foxglove aphid, Aulacorthum solani Kaltenbach, on pepper. The present study aims to extend our knowledge of the American hoverfly by evaluating its potential as a biocontrol agent in a banker plant system against the melon aphid, Aphis gossypii Glover, in a greenhouse cucumber crop. The preimaginal development and voracity of E. americanus were compared when preying upon the focal prey/pest (A. gossypii) or the banker prey (bird cherry-oat aphid, Rhopalosiphum padi L.) by daily observations of larvae from egg to adult. Preimaginal development time, survival rate, and occurrence of deformation were similar on both prey species. The weight of third instar and pupae, however, washigher for larvae that fed on the banker prey. The ad libitum voracity of the syrphid larvae was generally very high and did not significantly differ between prey species, except for the third-instar larvae which consumed more focal prey. Results suggest that a banker plant system involving the bird cherry-oat aphid may be a promising tactic for utilizing E. americanus for melon aphid biocontrol.

A comparison of candidate banker plants for management of pests in lettuce.

Agricultural systems are often lacking in resources for natural enemies. Providing alternative prey can help natural enemies persist through periods of low pest abundance, although this approach has been rarely commercially implemented in open field crops. In this study, we tested the potential of eight plant species to provide alternative prey to natural enemies in lettuce fields over a 2-yr period. Results showed that the tested plants would not act as sources of the lettuce aphid Nasonovia ribisnigri Mosley (Hemiptera: Aphididae), the primary lettuce pest. Of the banker plants tested, barley contained high numbers of non-lettuce aphids and appeared to provide reliable habitat for hoverfly larvae. However, lettuce aphids were present on lettuce early in the season, and may have dwarfed any effects of nonlettuce aphids on natural enemy populations. Numbers of hoverfly larvae were also high in lettuce, but did not appear to track numbers of non-lettuce aphids on banker plants. In contrast, numbers of lacewing larvae were highest on plants containing high numbers of non-lettuce aphids, and predatory hemipterans appeared to be associated with numbers of thrips on banker plants. Although barley showed promise as a source of alternative aphids, it did not appear to improve pest control in the adjacent crop.

Banker Plant Bonuses? The Benefits and Risks of Including Brassicas in Field Margins to Promote Conservation Biocontrol of Specialist Pests in Oilseed Rape.

European agri-environment schemes include the use of flower-rich field margins to promote on-farm biodiversity, but species mixtures rarely include Brassicaceae. As pests of oilseed rape (OSR; Brassica napus) and their parasitoids are mostly brassica specialists, including brassica 'banker plants' in the mixtures would help support these important biocontrol agents and improve pest control throughout the crop rotation. We assessed the potential of six brassicaceous plants (replicated plots grown in the field) to enhance populations of parasitoids of OSR pests whilst minimising proliferation of their pest hosts. Fodder radish (Raphanus sativus) facilitated high production of parasitoids of the pollen beetle pest (Brassicogethes aeneus) but may proliferate Ceutorhynchus weevil pests due to low parasitism. Turnip rape (B. rapa) and the B. rapa hybrid 'Tyfon' showed potential to perform a trap cropping function for pests, but their early flowering phenology resulted in B. aeneus larvae escaping parasitisation, potentially assisting proliferation of this pest. Forage rape B. napus exhibited similarly high B. aeneus parasitoid production characteristics to R. sativus but did not potentiate problems with other pests, indicating that it would be a favourable banker plant option. Careful selection of plants in field margin mixtures is therefore needed to maximise their benefits and ideally the whole crop pest-beneficial complex needs to be studied, as focus on a single major pest risks unintended consequences with other pest problems.

Oviposition Preference of the American Hoverfly, Eupeodes americanus, between Banker Plants and Target Crops.

Assessing the oviposition preferences of predatory hoverflies is a key factor in the prediction of the success of these biological control agents against aphids in greenhouses, especially when using banker plant systems or in mixed-crop contexts. In this study, two aspects of the oviposition preferences of the American hoverfly, Eupeodes americanus (Wiedemann, 1830) (Diptera: Syrphidae), were evaluated. Firstly, the preference between the banker plant and the target crop was evaluated for three banker plant species (barley, finger millet, or corn) and two target crops (cucumber or pepper). Secondly, the preference between the same two target crops was assessed. Female oviposition preferences were evaluated via two-choice experiments using different plant/aphid systems. The results showed that, for the cucumber crops, the species of banker plant used drastically influenced the oviposition preference of the hoverfly, with a preference for barley over cucumber, cucumber over finger millet, and no preference between corn and cucumber. Unlike cucumber, when used with pepper, barley engendered a preference for the target crop. We conclude that the barley banker plant could be adequate for aphid control in pepper but not in cucumber crops. In a mixed-crop context, the American hoverfly had no preference between cucumber and pepper, which means it has the potential to protect both crops in a mixed-crop greenhouse context. This study shows that the banker plant system should be carefully chosen according to the crops/aphids present in the greenhouse to optimize the impact of the hoverfly as a biocontrol agent. Further work is required to confirm this choice of banker plant in semifield or field testing.

Direct and indirect effects of banker plants on population establishment of Harmonia axyridis and aphid control on pepper crop.

Banker plant systems increase biological pest control by supporting populations of natural enemies, i.e., using non-pest arthropod species as alternative prey. However, the presence of alternative prey does not always result in improved control of the target pest species owing to the complexity of biotic interactions. To increase the effectiveness of banker plants in IPM programs, a fine understanding of the indirect interactions between target aphid and alternative prey mediated by biocontrol agents is necessary. In this study, we first established a banker plant system, banker plant (Vicia faba)-alternative prey (Megoura japonica)-predator (Harmonia axyridis), to control the target pest (Myzus persicae) on pepper. We found that M. japonica strongly preferred faba bean as a host plant and posed no risk to Solanaceous crops. Harmonia axyridis adults had no significant predation preference for the alternative prey. In the short term, the interaction direction of the two aphid species depended on the relative initial density and the timescale. Harmonia axyridis showed a stronger negative effect on M. persicae than that on M. japonica. In the long term, the presence of alternative prey, M. japonica, enhanced the control effect of H. axyridis to M. persicae with initial density of 100-500 aphids per plant. The presence of the alternative prey could proliferate the population of H. axyridis, with from 0.2- to 2.1-fold increase of H. axyridis eggs. Overall, we put forward a strategy for setting the initial density of alternative prey of the banker plant system to target the high and low density of aphids, which highlighted the importance of indirect interactions in designing a proper banker plant system.

Ladybird-Mediated Indirect Interactions between Two Aphid Species When Using a Banker Plant System

Banker plant systems have the advantages of introducing natural enemies preventively and maintaining by providing alternative prey, thus controlling the pests sustainably. Banker plant systems are usually composed of three factors: a banker (secondary) plant, an alternative prey, and a shared predator (attacking an alternative prey on the secondary plant, and the targeted pest on the crop). However, for most banker plant systems, there is a lack of understanding regarding the dynamic relationship among these elements, with detrimental effects on practical applications. Therefore, in this study, the control of Myzus persicae on Capsicum annum by the Coccinella septempunctata–Megoura japonica–Vicia faba banker plant system was used as the research system. The effects of different release time of predators, different initial numbers of alternative prey (Me. japonica) and different initial ratios of target pests/alternative prey on the indirect interaction of two aphids and the biological control effect of shared predators were tested. The occurrence of indirect interactions between the two aphid preys, the impact on population dynamics, and biological control effectiveness of the shared predator C. septempunctata were investigated. When the initial numbers of both species of aphids were equal (200 each), the delay between aphid and C. septempunctata introduction in the cage had no effect on My. persicae, but Me. japonica showed lower numbers when testing the least time between predatory introductions. When the numbers of the two aphids were manipulated, the My. persicae population was significantly reduced by the predator only at a ratio of My. persicae to Me. japonica < 1, while initial ratios ≥ 1 enabled My. persicae population growth. In 1–6 days, the control effect of C. septempunctata was the best. Principal component analysis showed that the experimental time, initial numbers of Me. japonica, and relative numbers of Me. japonica affected the predation of My. persicae by C. septempunctata. In addition, when the initial aphid ratio was greater than 1/4, C. septempunctata was able to effectively control My. persicae. Overall, our study confirmed the number-mediated indirect interaction (apparent competition) relationship and its impact on prey population dynamics. We provide useful information for optimizing banker plant systems, to boost biocontrol of aphid pests.

Prospects for Integrating Augmentative and Conservation Biological Control of Leaffolders and Stemborers in Rice

Possibilities to combine augmentative biological control using Trichogramma spp. egg parasitoids and conservation biological control through habitat manipulation, for the management of rice leaffolder and rice stemborer pests have received only cursory mention in the literature. We reviewed information on the use of Trichogramma releases and on habitat manipulation to manage leaffolders and stemborers in rice. Stemborers have become a priority for biological control since the 1990s with research focusing mainly on Chilo suppressalis in China and Iran, Scirpophaga incertulas in South and Southeast Asia, and Chilo agamemnon in Egypt. In most cases, 100 K wasps (T. japonicum or T. chilonis) released over 30–100 release points ha−1 at least once during early crop stages, resulted in good control (>50% reduction in damage). Despite positive results accumulated over decades, larger scale releases in rice have only been conducted very recently. Research on conservation biological control of stemborers has focused on manipulating rice field habitat, particularly along rice bunds (levees). Several studies reported higher Trichogramma densities or greater egg parasitism in rice fields with flowering plants on bunds compared to control fields (without bund vegetation and usually with insecticides). These trends have mainly been attributed to nectar as a supplementary food for the adult wasps, although evidence for this mechanism is weak. Trap plants, such as vetiver grass (Chrysopogon zizanioides) attract ovipositing stemborers, but suppress larval development. Repellent and banker plants have not yet been identified for rice stemborers or leaffolders. We outline the opportunities and challenges for combining augmentative and conservation biological control of leaffolders and stemborers in rice.

Aphid suppression by natural enemies in hedgerows surrounding greenhouses in southern Spain

Southern Spain is home to the most intensively grown protected crop area in the EU. The area is currently characterized by greenhouse monocultures and a homogenous landscape. The establishment of hedgerows among greenhouses can enhance the diversity of natural enemies of pests around the greenhouses and help them thrive. However, the effect of hedgerows on pest control has not been addressed. Thus, we used aphid banker plants, i.e. wheat infested with Rhopalosiphum padi (L.), as sentinel plants in the surroundings of three paired greenhouses with and without hedgerows. We assessed the effect of hedgerows on the abundance of aphids and arthropod community populations. In addition, we assessed the importance of the surrounding environment on aphid survival. There were 4.1-fold more aphids on sentinel plants excluded from the action of natural enemies than ones exposed to them, showing that biological control occurs naturally even in a simplified greenhouse agrosystem. Aphid populations were slightly higher (albeit not significantly) in replicates without hedgerows than in those with hedgerows. The percentage of greenhouses, rather than hedgerows, was an essential factor in suppressing aphids, highlighting the importance of using commercial biological control in greenhouses. The presence of hedgerows resulted in changes in arthropod composition populations, i.e. in a lower occurrence of pests and a higher occurrence of natural enemies, especially in the most simplified replicate. We propose increasing the amount of hedgerows for reducing pressure from pests on simplified greenhouse agrosystems.

Artificial shelters enhance the establishment of the aphidophagous predator Scymnus interruptus on sweet pepper plants

The success of biological control programs often depends on the establishment of natural enemies in or around the crop. An emerging strategy that aims to improve establishment is through the provision of niches that act as shelters. These shelters can enhance the natural enemies’ effectiveness by providing: a suitable microclimate; protection against other predators or pesticides; and/or alternative food. Generally, shelters are natural habitats such as flower strips, intercropped areas, hedgerows, or banker plants. The use of artificial devices as shelters remains underexplored. In this study, we assessed the functionality of an artificial shelter for the aphidophagous predator, Scymnus interruptus Goeze (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae). A tailor-made artificial shelter for oviposition was developed and tested in both laboratory and greenhouse conditions. Our results showed that S. interruptus females strongly preferred to use the shelters as an oviposition site compared with sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) leaf discs supporting the aphid, Myzus persicae (Sulzer) (Hemiptera: Aphididae), its primary prey. Furthermore, S. interruptus oviposition rate was doubled when shelters were supplied. In a greenhouse experiment, population densities of S. interruptus larvae increased twofold when shelters were provided. Additionally, providing artificial shelters in a sweet pepper crop has the potential to enhance aphid control and could also be a valuable method for monitoring predator densities in the crop.

Host Range of Coconut Rugose Spiralling Whitefly Aleurodicus rugioperculatus Martin

Coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) is attacked by a wide variety of insect pests of which rugose spiralling whitefly (RSW), Aleurodicus rugioperculatus Martin has been causing widespread damage in growing major coconut growing districts of Tamil Nadu since 2016 and has been recorded as an invasive pest in coconut. The pest is expanding its host range in economic field and horticultural crop plants besides weed fauna, posing a real threat to farming community. Extensive survey undertaken in Tamil Nadu during 2018 to 2020 to study the expanding host range of RSW which revealed the presence of the pest in about 67 host plants including coconut. Management of the pest through chemical means is highly difficult and the parasitoid, Encarsia guadeloupae has been observed to effectively suppress the pest. Host plants that harbor more Encarsia parasitoids (which are referred as banker plants) would help in biosuppression of the pest. Upon studying the host range, it was found that, the RSW was able to complete its life cycle and successfully emerge as adults in only six hosts viz., coconut, teak, banana, guava, maize and Spanish cherry, while five other hosts viz., Annona muricata, A. squamosa, A. reticulata, Theobroma cacao and Ficus religiosa supported RSW up to its nymphal stage and harboured Encarsia guadeloupae parasitoids in larger numbers. These hosts can be used as banker crops in and around coconut plantations so that the emerging parasitoids will aid in biosuppression of the target pest.

Chilli thrips rose management using an Amblyseius swirskii or Amblydromalus limonicus (Acari: Phytoseiidae) pepper banker plant

AbstractBanker plant systems can enhance biological control of arthropod pests in protected agriculture if they facilitate the persistence of beneficial organisms by providing them with persistent habitats or supplemental food such as pollen or nectar. Ornamental pepper banker plants infested with either the predatory phytoseiid mites Amblyseius swirskii (Athias‐Henriot) or Amblydromalus limonicus (Garman and McGregor) were tested under greenhouse conditions in Florida, USA, for management of the chilli thrips, Scirtothrips dorsalis Hood on Double Knock Out® roses. After two 6‐week studies, performed from October to December 2019 and 2020, both mite species reduced populations of S. dorsalis on roses to nearly undetectable levels (<1 thrips/leaf) compared with predator‐free controls. There was no difference in the mean number of thrips on leaves between the two mite species treatments. Lower S. dorsalis numbers observed on roses when mites were present led to significantly reduced foliar damage assessed as the degree of tissue scarring from S. dorsalis feeding compared with the control. This study may provide rose growers in Florida an alternative option for managing S. dorsalis populations on roses, a typically unsuitable plant for maintaining mite populations.

World experience in the production and use of phytoseiid mites

This review discusses various aspects of biology, production and application of phytoseiid mites in plant protection. Phytoseiids are one of the most widely used groups of natural enemies for biological control in greenhouses. Currently, 45 species are available on the market; many of them are produced in weekly amounts of tens of millions. The most popular biocontrol agents are omnivorous species Neoseiulus cucumeris, N. barkeri, Amblyseius andersoni, A. swirskii, Typhlodromus pyri, and T. montdorensis. They control wide range of pests but have no strong food preferences. As a result, they are used mostly in inundative augmentation, which means instant releases of large numbers of of individuals. Entomophages of this group quickly develop resistance to pesticides in the field, which opens up opportunities for selecting resistant lines. The review also talks about the introduction and maintenance of predator populations in greenhouses, including the use of banker plants.