Predators and Parasitoids-in-First: From Inundative Releases to Preventative Biological Control in Greenhouse Crops

Abstract

Repeated mass introductions of natural enemies have been widely used as a biological control strategy in greenhouse systems when the resident population of natural enemies is insufficient to suppress the pests. As an alternative strategy, supporting the establishment and population development of beneficials can be more effective and economical. The preventative establishment of predators and parasitoids, before the arrival of pests, has become a key element to the success of biological control programs. This “Predators and parasitoids-in-first” strategy is used both in Inoculative Biological Control (IBC), and in Conservation Biological Control (CBC). Here, we provide an overview of tools used to boost resident populations of biocontrol agents.

Dual protection: A tydeoid mite effectively controls both a problem pest and a key pathogen in tomato

“…Therefore, both species have potential to control TRM in greenhouse‐grown tomatoes. Furthermore, the fact that both P. ubiquitus and H. anconai feed and reproduce on pollen, 17,18 as well as feeding on plant sap, would allow preventative establishment in the absence of prey 19–22 …”

Small-Scale Production of Amblyseius tamatavensis with Thyreophagus cracentiseta (Acari: Phytoseiidae, Acaridae)

“…Although predatory mites can often be reared on plants infested with phytophagous mites in greenhouses, their production with the use of astigmatines is usually considered much less expensive [6], comparing the requirements for infrastructure (mainly) and other production costs of both systems. Despite the concerns raised by Pijnakker et al [7] about the use of astigmatine mites to maintain predatory mites on plants, the production of T. cracentiseta and its use for trials with those predators in the laboratory has not shown any type of undesirable side effect.…”

“…This process is relatively cheap, facilitating the use of biological control by growers. Despite worries about the possibility that the use of factitious food could result in the production of biological control agents less effective in the field, this had not been demonstrated, and thus astigmatine has been widely used in predatory mite production [7].…”

Biodiversity in and around Greenhouses: Benefits and Potential Risks for Pest Management

“…Biodiversity may not only be useful outside greenhouses but can also be utilized with various methods inside greenhouses to conserve and augment natural enemy populations [95,96]. A well-proven implemented method is the use of banker plants, which are specific plants that produce ("banker") natural enemies with alternative prey/hosts or alternative food that poses no threat for the crop (Figure 2) [97,98].…”