Take Back the Greenhouse Learning how to control pests with biocontrols
Paul Koole Technical Team Coordinator North America Biocontrol of thrips
• Knowledge is Key • Think about what crops you want to grow – possible pest pressure – Extra focus on ‘Problem children’ • Control options: – BCA’s – Time of year – Cultural practices – Pesticides (compatibility w/BCA’s)
6/18/2018 Aphid behaviour in the greenhouse • Arrival and adaptation to the plant – Winged / alate from conducting exploratory probe into phloem • Inject fluids into the plant and manipulate host • Explosive reproduction – Asexual (no males present) – Viviparous • Developing alates and migration to other plants* * Influenced by multiple factors 18 juni 2018 Problematic species
• Limited N° of problem species
• Despite polymorphism, recognizing species “easier” than expected
• Specific problems not only caused by the species itself, but also by presence of bacteria or fungi
– Facultative symbionts: – Reproduction – Heat stress – Plant manipulation – Resistance to parasitoids 18 juni 2018 Identification
Importance of identification: • When using BCA’s → parasitoids work on specific species! • When using traditional control → some pesticides and or application technique work better then others depending on species! • Some aphid species cause more damage then others (e.g. Foxglove aphid) “common mistakes” • Color is not a good indicator! • Aphids have a very wide range of host plants → plant spp does not tell what aphid spp you have
18/06/2018 Identification
Based on morphological characteristics:
• Abdomen: - shape and color patern - dorsal lines and stripes • Wings: - vain pattern • Head: - shape, color and position of tubercles - size, color and position antenna • Cornicle: - shape, color and size • Cauda: - shape, color and size Aphid anatonomy
18/06/2018 Aphid identification
18/06/2018 Documents
Blackman & Eastop (2000). Aphids on the world crops. An identification guide. Wiley, Chichester, UK.
Available at http://www.aphidsonworldsplants.info
18/06/2018 Aphis gossypii
A.K.A. Cotton or Melon Aphid • Relatively small, size varies (0,9 – 1,8 mm); • Black cornicles • Red eyes • Relatively short antennae • Colour: depends on food source, temperature and population density
18 juni 2018 Myzus persicae subsp. Persicae Myzus persicae subsp. nicotianae
• A.K.A. Green peach aphid & Tobacco aphid • Relatively small, size varies (1,2-2,1 mm) • Colour varies from green to pink; • Tobacco aphid is always pink or red (but not a distinctive characteristic) • Antenna same length or slightly shorter then body • Medium size cornicles • Red morph* behaviour is different: – more tolerant to higher temperatures; – less suceptible to pesticides; – Difference in predator preference
*Due to adoption of a gene from a fungi Macrosiphum euphorbiae
A.K.A. Potato aphid • Larger aphid species (1,7 – 3,6 mm) • Long cornicles with darker tips & long legs • Antenna very long, longer than body • Dark, longitudinal stripe on dorsal surface • Yellowish, bright green or pink • Easily disturbed, which works as a defense mechanism → aphids
drop when plant is touched 18/06/2018 Aulacorthum solani
A.K.A. Foxglove aphid / Glasshouse potato aphid • Larger aphid species (1,8-3,0 mm) • Glossy yellowish-green to brownish green • Medium - long cornicles • Dark green patches around the cornicles • Antennae exceeds length of the body marked by a number of dark bands • Black tips on legs • When piercing leaves or fruits (SP), excretes toxic substance which causes deformation → plant destructive!
18/06/2018 Parasitoids
Aphidius colemani Parasitizes • Green peach aphid (myzus persicae) • Cotton aphid (Aphis gossypii) • Potato aphid (Macrosiphum euphorbiae) • Foxglove aphid (Aulacorthum solani)
• Strawberry aphid (Aphis forbesi) • Blackcurrant aphid (Aphis schneideri) Strengths • Small bramble aphid (Aphis ruborum) • Quick • Raspberry aphid (Aphis idaei) • high search capacity • High oviposition (approx. 80-100/day) • Majority of eggs laid first 3 days Banker system(s) • Excellent searching behaviour at low aphid • Oleander aphid (Aphis nerii) densities • Bird cherry-oat aphid (Rhopalosiphum padi) Weaknesses • Sensitive to hyper-parasitism
18 juni 2018 Parasitoids Aphidius ervi Parasitizes • Potato aphid (Macrosiphum euphorbiae) • Foxglove aphid (Aulacorthum solani) • Green peach aphid (Myzus persicae)
• Rose aphid (Macrosiphum rosae) • Large raspberry aphid (Amphorophora idaei) • Blueberry aphid (Ericaphis fimbriata) Strengths • Quick (faster than A. abdominalis) Banker system(s) • high search capacity • English grain aphid (Sitobion avenae) • Aggressive! • High oviposition (approx. 80-100/day) • Majority of eggs laid first 3 days • Active search from 10C°
Weaknesses • Sensitive to hyper-parasitism
18 juni 2018 Parasitoids
Aphidius matricariae Parasitizes: • Green peach aphid (myzus persicae) • Cotton aphid (Aphis gossypii) • Potato aphid (Macrosiphum euphorbiae) • Foxglove aphid (Aulacorthum solani)
Banker system(s): Strengths • Oleander aphid (Aphis nerii) • Quick start up, faster than A. colemani • Bird cherry-oat aphid • high search capacity (Rhopalosiphum padi) • High oviposition (approx. 80-100/day)
• Less sensitive to hyper-parasitism
18 juni 2018 Parasitoids
Aphelinus abdominalis Parasitizes • Green peach aphid (myzus persicae) • Cotton aphid (Aphis gossypii) • Potato aphid (Macrosiphum euphorbiae) • Foxglove aphid (Aulacorthum solani)
• Strawberry aphid (Chaetosiphon fragaefolii) • Blueberry aphid (Ericaphis fimbriata)
Banker system(s) • English grain aphid (Sitobion avenae)
Strengths • Long life span: 30 day – 2 months • Substantial contribution by hostfeeding
18 juni 2018 Aphidoletes aphidimyza
Strengths • Excellent searching behaviour /very mobile • Deposit eggs where needed (e.g.hotspots) • Larva kill up to 80 aphids per day • Makes way for parasitoids Oddities • Mating first night after hatching • Pupae drought prone • Presence of honeydew strong influence on ovi-position and longevity of the adult Diet • Adults → nectar and pollen • Larvae → all aphid species • 10 -100 aphids per gall midge 50% during last larval stage Aphidoletes aphidimyza
Cycle: 15°C : 4,5 weeks 20°C: 3 weeks 25°C: 2 weeks
Longevity: 7-10 days
Conditions: > 16°C, 80% RH Aphidoletes aphidimyza
18/06/2018 Adalia bipunctata
Strengths • Hotspot “cleaner” (but not completely…) • Reproduction inside the greenhouse • Direct “In action”
Weaknesses: • Relatively expensive • Limited search behaviour • Adults are able to leave the greenhouse
Diet: • Aphids • 100 prey/ dag • 80% total consumption during last 2 larval stages Adalia bipunctata
Cycle: Egg - larve: 1 week Larvae - pupae: 3 weeks Pupae - adult: 1 week
Ovi-position: In groups of 10-40 eggs 500 eggs in total over 30 days
Longevity: 50 days
Conditions: 24-28°C, 70- 80%RV Chrysopa carnea(lacewing)
Strengths • Relatively cheap • Direct “in action” • Tolerant to low temperatures (< 0°C) if daily temperature is higher
Weaknesses • Installation difficult • Cannibalistic
Diet • Adults → nectar and pollen • Larvae → polyphage, prefers aphid species • Consumes 300-500 aphids in total Parasites & Predators
Parasitoids vs Predators Parasitoids • Generally better searchers → find that first aphid! • Use host to lay egg inside and reproduce → life depends on it! (specialist) • Are often more specific to one or a few species of host • Used as a “first line of defense”, in combination with banker plants.
Predators • Better/faster in cleaning up hot spots • Eat or such dry their prey and are often very varocious (true killers) • Develop better in hotspots • Are not very species specific → are not picky eaters!
18/06/2018 Biobest strategy
Severity scales of aphid infestation Preventative 1 2 • Free of aphids / no detection
Semi-curative • Expect first aphids / first detected 2 • Distributed over the whole plant
Curative 4 • Aphids present • Mainly in the head bigger colonies 3 High curative • Multiple, big colonies • Honeydew production, alate forms Biobest strategy
Preventative Curative Parasitoids (with/without banker plants) Gall midge / searchers • Aphelinus abdominalis • Aphidoletes aphidimyza • Aphidius spp. • (Episyrphus balteatus) Semi-curative High curative Parasitoids (with/without banker plants) Voracious predators / less searchers • Aphelinus abdominalis • Adalia bipunctata • Aphidius spp. • Chrysoperla carnea
More “organic” More “conventional” Tools
• Banker systems: – Parasitoid bankers – predator bankers • Induced resistance • Feeding stations – Artificial – “Nectar”-bankers • Feeding spray Barley banker plants
18/06/2018 Feeding stations or spray
Goal • Increase fecundity and longevity of BCA’s Plants • Allisum • Artemisia • Crambe cardifolia • Polygonum • Artifical flowers (experimental)
• Sprays (experimental) Pitfalls
• “Balance swings” • Aphid reproduction • Hyper-parasitism • Intraguild • Impatience • ...... Balance swings Aphid reproduction
• Mainly in organic production • Certain periods of the year, a boost of aphid population is to be expected • Anticipate with different BCA’s in advance • Meticulous monitoring of aphids AND beneficials! Intraguild
• Swirskii → Aphidoletes eggs • Coenosia adults→ parasitic wasps • Coenosia larvae → Aphidoletes? • Macrolophus → Aphidoletes/Episyrphus larvae • ... Aphid hyper parasitoïds…
The enemy of my enemy is my friend?
18/06/2018 Knowing them better… Tritrophic relations
Hosts (Aphids)
Primary Parasitoids = more specific
Hyperparasitoids = generalists
Source: Mustata & Mustata
So there is not an existing list of hyperparasitoid per parasitoid species, because that will depend on too many parameters: crop, aphid species, presence of nectar, location, climate, etc… Knowing them better… Endoparasites Common species: Alloxysta sp, Lytoxysta, Phanaeoglyphis sp, Tetrastichus They have more specific hosts Some of them can parasitize mummies too Young Colemani larva (remains alive for a while)
Aphid not yet mummified (recently parasitized by colemani) Knowing them better… Endoparasites Knowing them better… Endoparasites
A. colemani
Alloxysta victrix Knowing them better… Endoparasites Knowing them better… Chronology, their weakness Primary Parasitism Mummy Hatching Total
7-8 days 5-7 days 13-16 d Parasitoid
Secondary parasitism Hatching
2-3 d 14-21 16-24 d
days Endo
7-10 days 14-21 days 21-31 d Ecto
18 juni 2018 Knowing them better… Some elements from literature
• Hyper parasitoids appear after a certain density of mummies.
• Primary parasitoids can escape in presence of hyper parasitoids
• Presence of plant nectar, or honey dew can increase attraction and help development of hyper parasitoids (better fecundity + longevity)
18/06/2018 Strategy to avoid hyper parasitoids
• Check hyper parasitism rate in a regular base (mummies or adults)
• Try to keep aphid density low (prefer preventive strategy releases)
• Bankerplant management! Strategy to avoid hyper parasitoids
Be careful with banker plants!! • Check bankers for hyper parasites • Don’t let them fade out in the greenhouse ➢ (not longer than 4 weeks and 6 weeks max!) • If possible, introduce the banker plants already parasitized in a cage (protected from hypers) Banker scheme to avoid hyper parasitoids
Egg larva larva adult adult adult adult adult adult adult adult adult
(Sting)egg larva pupa (mummy) adult
(Sting)egg larva pupa (mummy) adult
Protected sting cage/room Carry off bankers (close-cropped) before hatching of hyperparasites! Strategy to avoid hyper parasitoids
Variation in terms of BCA’s: – Use predators like Aphidoletes, Chrysopa… they kill also parasitized + hyper parasitized aphids!
– Use parasitoid species less susceptible to be parasitized (Matricariae / Aphelinus?)
18/06/2018 THRIPS
6/18/2018 Thrips
Different thrips species found in the industry: • Frankliniella occidentalis (Western Flower Thrips – most common) • Franklinella intonsa (European Flower Thrips) • Franklinella tritici (Eastern Flower Thrips) • Thrips tabacii (Onion Thrips) • Echinothrips americanus (becoming more common) • Scirtothrips dorsalis (Chili Thrips)
Very important to get proper ID if you are unsure!
June 18, 2018 Thrips ID
The enemy: • Frankliniella occidentallis (Western flower thrips)
6/18/2018 Thrips ID
Echinothrips americanus
6/18/2018 Thrips life cycle
egg Larvae 1
Adult
Larvae2
pupae
6/18/2018 Thrips – WFT development
Egg Larva Pupa Adult (In leaf tissue) 1 & 2 (in soil) (on plant → exposed) (on plant → exposed)
68F 6 days 3 + 3 Days 6 days up to 60 days 86F 3 days 1.5 + 1.5 Days 3 days 20 - 40 days
3 • Fecundity in vegetative4 stage of crop → 4 – 5 eggs / female • Fecundity when pollen available → 15 eggs per female
June 18, 2018 Thrips – WFT development
Egg Larva Pupae Adult (In leaf tissue) 1 & 2 (in soil) (on plant → exposed) (on plant → exposed)
68F 6 days 3 + 3 Days 6 days up to 60 days 86F 3 days 1.5 + 1.5 Days 3 days 20 - 40 days
3 Amblyseius spp4 Hypoaspis miles Orius insidiosus Orius insidiosus Atheta coriaria Steinernema f. Steinernema f (40% effective) • Fecundity in vegetative stage of crop → 4 – 5 eggs / female • Fecundity when pollen available → 15 eggs per female
June 18, 2018 Thrips development time
Development of thrips in 60 days (@ 68°F)
30 days 30 days
One female thrips
± 90 thrips
6/18/2018 ± 5800 thrips Thrips Benefical Insects
• Amblyseius cucumeris vs Amblyseius Swirskii ➢ Bulk or Sachets??? ➢ Mini Sachets, Regular Sachets, Sachets on a stake • Degenerans ➢ w/Nutrimite • Orius ➢ Banker Plants ➢ Nutricards • Nematodes ➢ Steinernema f. • Hypoaspis • Atheta Biological Control of Thrips
Amblyseius cucumeris
June 18, 2018 Biological Control of Thrips
Amblyseius swirskii
June 18, 2018 Biological Control of Thrips
A.degenerans
6/18/2018 Biological Control of Thrips
Hypoaspis spp.
June 18, 2018 Biological Control of Thrips
Atheta
June 18, 2018 Biological Control of Thrips
Orius insidiosus (can be in combination with banker plants → pepper and/or allysum plants)
June 18, 2018 Orius feeds on larval and adult thrips
Nutricard: enhances introductions of Orius; gives extra protein, just like in production.
6/18/2018 Which nematode is effective for thrips??
Steinernema feltiae • active searcher • wetting agent recommended • penetrates larvae • most activity b/t 15 -20C • release of symbiotic bacteria in reproduction • kills host in 48hrs Controls: • fungus gnat larvae • Western Flower Thrips larvae & adults - NOT: Echinothrips, Chilli thrips(Scirtothrip dorsalis), Banded Grhs thrips(Hercinothrips femora)
6/18/2018 Biological Control of Thrips
Steinernema feltiae (R. Buitenhuis AAFC – Harrow)
Steinernema Steinernema feltiae coming feltiae inside out of larva adult thrips
Thrips larva
Adult thrips
June 18, 2018 Nematodes ‘swimming’
6/18/2018 No Hitch hikers??
• Thank you to Wendy Romero, U. of Guelph, Ontario, Canada and Flowers Canada!
6/18/2018 “Clean” cuttings & plugs
Wendy Romero’s work at U of Guelph (Hitchhikers on mum cuttings): • Followed incoming cuttings at potted mum grower from supplier for 8 months (January to August 2009) • Sampled every 2 weeks • 5 varieties • Cuttings where washed out in Ethanol (Adults and Larva) • Not one sample had zero thrips • Number of thrips were as high as 3 Adult thrips per cutting and even more L1 and L2 • This is visually almost not detectable!
6/18/2018 “Clean” cuttings & plugs
Average number of adults and immature per sample per cultivar
6/18/2018 Controlling pests in propagation
Incoming plant material and own propagation: • Use nematodes and /or botanigard to minimize problems getting foothold in propagation • Pro-actively → dip / submerge rooted or unrooted cuttings in a nematode solution (Steinernema spp) and / or Beauveria bassiana (BotaniGard) • Be very consistent with all the propagation → this is the main part of the overall program! • As soon as mist is reduced or off → start with other BCA’s
June 18, 2018 Dipping & sprenching
June 18, 2018 Application: dipping Application: sprenching
Planting line water ‘tunnel’
6/18/2018 Application: tips
• Think like a nematode: it’s alive!! ; naturally occurring in the soil; it needs water/moisture to ‘swim’/move around • UV light kills • Rates: How often; When to apply, how much per application • Use low of pressure as possible while still getting good ‘mist’; from 75psi – 300psi recommended??; pump or nozzle? • Remove filters: <1mm diameter • Nozzles: should be >1mm
6/18/2018 Application: tips
• Avoid sharp differences is water temperature vs. nematodes when mixing • Cooler water better – more capacity to hold oxygen • Use entire package: not necessarily mixed homogenously • Premix larger volumes of nematodes with water in separate bucket; min of 10L • Ensure solution remains agitated (bubbler) throughout application; nematodes settle 1cm/min • Apply immediately, do not store solution
6/18/2018 BCA’s for thrips
Cucumeris sachets in propagation
June 18, 2018 BCA’s in action
Amblyseius cucumeris mini sachets on baskets
6/18/2018 Biocontrol innovation
Nutrimite:
6/18/2018 Bio-control in Action
Pepper plants to establish and support Orius:
June 18, 2018 Bio-control in Action
Plants with Orius also used outside:
June 18, 2018 Quick review
• Thrips population can and usually starts early in crop cycle • Know & understand your pest biology • Know & understand possible pest issues in your crops • Start BCA program ASAP • Use BCA’s to manage chemical resistance
6/18/2018