Biological Control of Insects and Other Pests of Greenhouse Crops
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North Central Regional Publication 581 Biological control of insects and other pests of greenhouse crops Susan E. Rice Mahr Raymond A. Cloyd Daniel L. Mahr Clifford S. Sadof acknowledgements This publication was funded, in part, by a grant from the National Agricultural Pesticide Impact Assessment Program of the United States Department of Agriculture. University of Wisconsin- Extension and the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison provided additional support, as did the National Biological Control Institute of USDA-APHIS. We thank Dr. David R. Gillespie, Agriculture Canada; Carol Glenister, IPM Laboratories, Inc.; Dr. Kevin Heinz, University of California, Davis; Dr. Richard K. Lindquist,The Ohio State University; Dr. Oscar Minkenberg, University of Arizona; Dr. Lance Osborne, University of Florida; Dr. Karen Robb, University of California Cooperative Extension; Dr. John A. Sanderson, Cornell University; Dr. J. Les Shipp, Agriculture Canada; and Dr. Kirk Smith for reviewing and providing insightful comments on earlier versions of the manuscript. We extend sincere gratitude to those who provided photographs of natural enemies, without which this publication would be much less useful.Their contri- butions are acknowledged alongside the individual photographs. The support of the Cooperative Extension Publishing Unit of University of Wisconsin-Extension—especially Susan Anderson, Linda Deith, Jody Myer-Lynch, and Tim Steller—is deeply appreciated. Biological control of insects and other pests of greenhouse crops Susan E. Rice Mahr Raymond A. Cloyd Daniel L. Mahr Clifford S. Sadof University of Wisconsin-Extension, Cooperative Extension preface Why use biological control? Why this publication? Since the late 1940s, much of the insect Biological control relies on living organ- research, or to “tinker with the system” control in the United States has been isms that must have food and shelter to get optimum results.Therefore, we based on the use of synthetic chemical and that interact, often in complex ways, provide background information on bio- insecticides. Insecticides are relatively with the pests, the crop, and other envi- logical control in general, and on the easy to use and have generally provided ronmental factors.The pest manager (a specific pests and their natural enemies effective pest control; it is likely that they grower or crop consultant) should be that occur in greenhouse crops to help will always be a component of pest man- able to recognize important natural you refine your pest management agement programs. Unfortunately, insec- enemies, understand their needs, and program. More than 1,000 research, ticides have some undesirable attributes. know how to maximize their effective- technical, and popular publications have They usually present some degree of ness. A good understanding of the rela- been carefully reviewed and summa- hazard to the applicator and other people tionships between pests, their natural rized for this publication. I hope who may come in contact with them; enemies, and the environment is essen- Biological Control of Insects and Other they can leave residues that some find tial for the successful implementation of Pests of Greenhouse Crops helps you plan unacceptable; they can contaminate soil biological control.The need for this type and conduct successful biological and water and affect wildlife, aquatic life, of knowledge is the rationale for this control. and other nontarget organisms; they can publication. Daniel L. Mahr, Coordinator interfere with beneficial organisms, such Most insects that attack greenhouse Extension Biological Control Programs as pollinating insects and the natural crops are readily controlled by biological Department of Entomology enemies of pests; and insects can develop means.This publication provides infor- University of Wisconsin-Madison resistance to insecticides, effectively elim- mation on important natural enemies September 2001 inating those materials as pest manage- and offers practical advice on how to ment options. For these reasons, there is use beneficial organisms for pest man- growing interest among farmers, horti- agement in greenhouses.The publica- culturists, and gardeners to explore and tion emphasizes the use of biological adopt methods that reduce pesticide use. control, but it also tells how best to use Biological control represents one alterna- cultural and least-toxic chemical controls tive to the use of insecticides. Biological if it becomes necessary to supplement control is the conscious use of living ben- biological control.Therefore, the publi- eficial organisms, called natural enemies, cation is truly a manual for biologically for the control of pests.Virtually all pests based integrated pest management. have natural enemies, and many pests Chemical insecticides are fairly straight- can be effectively controlled by forward to use—after identifying the managing these natural enemies. pest problem, you can choose an appro- Although biological control will not priate material, read the label, and follow control all pests, it can be the foundation directions to achieve good control. of an approach called integrated pest Because biological controls are based management, which combines a variety upon living organisms that have specific of pest control methods in an ecologi- needs and behaviors, it is not always cally safe system. Biological control can easy to give a recipe to assure success. be effective, economical, and safe, and it With commercially available natural should be used more widely than it is enemies, there will be instructions as to today. release rates and timing. However, with other approaches to biological control, it may be necessary to conduct your own table of contents Section 1 Understanding pests and their biological control ................1 The biology of insects ..............1 The natural enemies of insects .........5 The general approaches to biological control ..............7 The economics of pest control .........9 Section 2 Practical approaches to the biological control of greenhouse pests .........11 Aphids ......................14 Caterpillars ...................26 Fungus gnats and shore flies .........30 Leafminers ...................34 Mites .......................41 Scales and mealybugs .............49 Thrips ......................60 Weevils ......................69 Whiteflies ....................72 Miscellaneous pests ..............84 Section 3 Overview of biological control of greenhouse pests .............89 Contemporary biological control .......89 Integration of biological control of all pests: Examples .............92 Additional reading .................94 Glossary .......................96 Index .........................98 Disclaimer The complex interactions between a These references do not constitute pest, its host crop, its natural enemies, recommendations but are included various environmental factors, and to indicate potential future develop- crop management practices make it ments or to point to areas of possible difficult to provide exact recommen- experimentation by the grower.We dations for the use of natural have made every attempt to be enemies in biological control. accurate regarding the commercial Therefore, the suggestions in this availability of natural enemies and publication for the release of natural products at the time of publication. enemies in augmentative biological However, as more natural enemies control are guidelines rather than are proven to be effective, they will specific recommendations. Some likely become commercially available. experimentation on your part will be Check with biological control distrib- necessary to achieve optimal pest utors to determine the best available management using natural enemies natural enemies for your needs. and other control approaches. References to products or companies Some states have regulations regard- in this publication are for your con- ing the shipment and release of com- venience and are not an endorse- Measurements mercial natural enemies, and permits ment over similar products or compa- Many of the beneficial natural enemies are required in some cases. If you are nies.You are responsible for using described in this publication are very uncertain about such regulations, pesticides according to the manufac- small. Because of its accuracy, we contact your state’s department of turer’s current label directions and include metric measurements when agriculture for more information. federal and state laws. Follow label giving the size of organisms. If you remember that 1 inch equals approxi- In several cases we refer to experi- directions exactly to protect the envi- mately 25 mm, you will be able to make mental controls that have not been ronment and people from pesticide rapid conversions.You can also use the fully evaluated in the United States, exposure. Failure to do so violates the accurate conversion scale below to get a have not been commercialized, or, in law. sense of insect size. the case of pesticidal products, have not been registered with the Environmental Protection Agency. MM 10 20 30 40 INCH 1 A note about scientific names Most beneficial natural enemies do not have common names.Therefore, we use scientific names throughout the publi- cation.To gain an understanding of the nature and use of scientific names, read the section entitled “Insect Classification” on page 4. 1SECTION Understanding pests and their biological control iological control is the use of one or more types