The impact of entomophages on the population dynamics of major greenhouse cucumber pests

Abstract

The potentially effective use of entomophages against melon aphid, spider mite, tobacco thrips, and greenhouse whitefly has been demonstrated. The release rates of several entomophages have been proposed for protecting cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) plants from the aforementioned pests. The predatory mites Amblyseius montdorensis Schicha, Neoseiulus cucumeris (Oudemans), and Amblyseius andersoni (Chant) were used to control the populations of thrips and greenhouse whiteflies. The dose of these entomophagous species applied was 8 to 10 individuals m–2 per plant every 3 wk. To fight spider mite, the predator Phytoseiulus persimilis Athias‐Henriot was used at the rate of 1 individual m–2 every 3 wk as a preventive measure. The parasitoid Aphidius colemani Viereck was released to suppress melon aphid (A. gossypii). The long‐term observations of the population dynamics of pests and the use of natural enemies to manage pests at the local level will enable us to adjust the dose of entomophages applied depending on the geographical location of the greenhouse facility, the regional climatic conditions, and weather conditions typical of certain years, etc. According to these factors, the results of this study are applicable to other greenhouse facilities with similar conditions. In future, the authors intend to elucidate an optimized method of using entomophagous species for farms located in warmer regions.