Agronomic aspects of strip intercropping lettuce with alyssum for biological control of aphids

Effect of Tomato Rootstock on Hybrid and Heirloom Tomato Performance in a Midwest High Tunnel Production System

“…Each treatment plot was 4.6 m in length with 10 plants spaced at 0.46 m within rows. A guard row of sweet alyssum (Lobularia maritima) was planted on both sides of the high tunnel to attract hoverflies (Syrphidae) and serve as a biological control measure (Brennan, 2013). Treatments included two cultivars (Cherokee Purple or Mountain Fresh Plus) and combinations of the cultivars as grafted and nongrafted plants.…”

Advances and Trends in Organic Fruit and Vegetable Farming Research

“…Alyssum (Lobularia maritima), a well-known flowering species that attracts several beneficial insects but few pest species without being overly aggressive (Chaney 1998), is widely used by organic lettuce growers to attract hoverflies (Diptera: Syrphidae) and control aphids (Hopper et al 2011). It has recently been proposed that lettuce-alyssum strip intercropping in beds to control aphids may constitute a more efficient use of land for growers in comparison with intercropped beds (Brennan 2013). The use in organic strawberry fields of alfalfa trap crops to attract the western tarnished plant bug (Lygus hesperus), in combination with the use of a tractor-mounted vacuum to remove the majority of bugs from the alfalfa trap crops, reduced damage caused by this pest as well as grower's costs by 78% in comparison with whole-field vacuuming practices (Swezey et al 2007).…”

Occurrence of Coccinellids that Prey onDiaphorina citri(Hemiptera: Liviidae) onEuphorbia heterophylla(Euphorbiaceae) andChamaecrista fasciculata(Fabaceae) in a South Florida Residential Area

“…A number of other insectary plant species will be monitored in anticipated studies to determine their utility with respect to attracting coccinellids and other natural enemies of D. citri, such as lacewings and ae]). Natural enemies have been observed foraging on and benefitting from the flowers on these plants (Baggen & Gurr 1998;Chaney 1998;Wäckers & van Rijn 2012;Brennan 2013;Foti et al 2017;Patt & Rohrig 2017). Since the establishment of T. radiata has both been erratic and unpredictable (Hall & Rohrig 2015;Kistner et al 2016), it would be useful to know whether the inclusion of nectary plants in the target landscape would benefit this parasitoid.…”