Situation of glasshouse pests in Hungary¹

Abstract

The area of protected crops in Hungary is about 5300 ha. Most of it is under plastic, the area under glass being only about 250 ha. Vegetable growing makes up 80%, mostly on private farms. The main crops are capsicum, tomato and cucumber. On relatively small areas, ornamentals, principally cut flowers, are produced: carnation, gerbera, rose and chrysanthemum. The three most important, commonly occurring pests are Trialeurodes vaporariorum, Tetranychus urticae and aphids (Aphis gossypii, Myzus persicae, A. nasturtii). Polyphagotarsonemus latus, Liriomyza trifolii and Aculops lycopersici caused considerable economic damage during the eighties. However, in the last few years these pests have not been observed in any crops. Two new glasshouse pests have been described from ornamentals during the last 2 years in Hungary: Frankliniella occidentalis and Bemisia tabaci. Their accidental appearance in vegetable crops could lead to direct economic loss, besides endangering biological control systems.

Biological control of thrips pests (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) in a commercial greenhouse in Hungary

“…Sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) is the most important greenhouse crop in Hungary: it is grown on approximately 2 000 hectares. Growers most often produce traditional Hungarian cultivars (HATALA ZSELLÉR 1992, TOMPOS 2006, where the success of plant protection is based on the management of thrips. Chemical control is not always feasible because of certain ecological characteristics of these thrips species: thigmotactic behaviour, high reproductive capacity and tolerance to insecticides.…”