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Biological Insect Pest Control for Greenhouses Brooke Edmunds, PhD CSU Extension-Adams County Regional Specialist, Commercial Greenhouses & Nurseries

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What is Biological Control? <ul><li>The rearing and release of living organisms that seek out and destroy organisms considered to be pests </li></ul><ul><li>First known use: 324 BC </li></ul><ul><ul><li>Chinese growers strategically placed ant colonies to control foliar insects in citrus trees </li></ul></ul><ul><li>Commercial biocontrol started in late 1960’s </li></ul><ul><li>~30 species of insects available today </li></ul>

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Why consider Biocontrol? <ul><li>Pesticide options are limited </li></ul><ul><ul><li>Herbs & vegetables </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>Insecticide resistance </li></ul></ul><ul><li>Reduce risk of worker exposure </li></ul><ul><li>Reduced re-entry times-better scheduling </li></ul>

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Outline <ul><li>General biocontrol agents </li></ul><ul><li>Common biocontrol insects used in greenhouses </li></ul><ul><li>Steps to getting started </li></ul>

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Lysiphlebus testaceipes Parasitoids

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Predators

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Beauveria bassiana Pathogens

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Heterorhabditis bacteriophora Entomopathogenic Nematodes

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Parasitoids Predators

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Today’s Focus: <ul><li>Predators & Parasitoids </li></ul><ul><li>What’s the difference? </li></ul><ul><ul><li>Predator: Insect that utilizes other insects as a food source </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>Parasite: Insect that requires another insect to complete it’s life cycle (eggs laid in other insect) </li></ul></ul>

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Specificity of biocontrols <ul><li>Most biocontrol insects are specific to a pest </li></ul>

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Whitefly <ul><li>Silverleaf whitefly </li></ul><ul><ul><li>Predator – none commercially available </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>Parasite </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><ul><li>Eretmocerus eremicus (wasp) </li></ul></ul></ul><ul><li>Greenhouse whitefly </li></ul><ul><ul><li>Predator – none commercially available </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>Parasite </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><ul><li>Encarsia formosa (wasp) </li></ul></ul></ul>

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Spider mites -know pest species <ul><li>Predators </li></ul><ul><ul><li>Neoseiulus californicus (mite) </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>Mesoseiulus longipes ( mite ) </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>Galendromus occidentalis (mite) </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>Phytoseiulus persimilis (mite) </li></ul></ul><ul><li>Parasite </li></ul><ul><ul><li>None commercially available </li></ul></ul>

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Aphids -Know pest species <ul><li>Predator </li></ul><ul><ul><li>Aphidoletes aphidimiza (midge) </li></ul></ul><ul><li>Parasite </li></ul><ul><ul><li>Aphidius colemani (wasp) </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>Aphidius ervi (wasp) </li></ul></ul>

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Thrips <ul><li>Predator </li></ul><ul><ul><li>Amblyseius cucumeris (mite) </li></ul></ul><ul><li>Parasite </li></ul><ul><ul><li>None commercially available </li></ul></ul>

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Generalists <ul><li>Orius insidiosus (minute pirate bug) </li></ul><ul><li>Amblyseius swirskiis (predatory mite) </li></ul><ul><li>Chrysopa carnea (lacewings) </li></ul><ul><li>Hippodamia convergens (lady beetle) </li></ul>

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Getting started: <ul><li>Accurate Pest ID </li></ul><ul><li>Most biocontrols are host-specific! </li></ul><ul><li>For help with identification: </li></ul><ul><ul><li>CSU Extension Faculty </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>Adams Co. Greenhouse Plant Diagnostic Lab </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>Internet sources </li></ul></ul>

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<ul><li>Scouting </li></ul><ul><li>Scout pest populations before starting: </li></ul><ul><ul><li>What are your pests? </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>Where are your problems? Hot spots? </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>When do they occur? </li></ul></ul>Getting started:

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<ul><li>Scouting </li></ul><ul><li>After biocontrol release: Are the biocontrol insects working? </li></ul><ul><li>Depending on the species released: </li></ul><ul><ul><li>Use trap/indicator plants over sticky traps </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>Look for aphid mummies </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>Look for shriveled spider mites </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>Look for blacken pupa </li></ul></ul>Getting started:

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Eggplant in Gerbera crop Photo: Cornell Univ.

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<ul><li>Scouting </li></ul><ul><li>After biocontrol release: Are the biocontrol insects working? </li></ul><ul><li>Depending on the species released: </li></ul><ul><ul><li>Use trap/indicator plants over sticky traps </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>Look for aphid mummies </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>Look for shriveled spider mites </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>Look for blacken pupa </li></ul></ul>Getting started:

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<ul><li>Scouting </li></ul><ul><li>After biocontrol release: Are the biocontrol insects working? </li></ul><ul><li>Depending on the species released: </li></ul><ul><ul><li>Use trap/indicator plants over sticky traps </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>Look for aphid mummies </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>Look for shriveled spider mites </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>Look for blacken pupa </li></ul></ul>Getting started:

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Photos: UC Davis

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Getting started: <ul><li>Educate yourself </li></ul><ul><li>Know biology/life cycles of pests & biocontrol </li></ul><ul><ul><li>What is optimum environment for biocontrol? </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><ul><li>Humidity? Temps? </li></ul></ul></ul><ul><li>Create resource list & contacts </li></ul><ul><ul><li>Suppliers, other growers, Extension agent </li></ul></ul>

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Encarsia formosa

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Getting started: <ul><li>Start Small </li></ul><ul><li>Learn the ropes in a single house or with a single crop </li></ul><ul><li>Long-term crops (i.e. Poinsettia) work better than short-term crops (bedding plants) </li></ul>

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Getting started: <ul><li>Give biocontrols best chance for success </li></ul><ul><li>Screen vents to restrict pest entry </li></ul><ul><li>Inspect new plants/ quarantine </li></ul>Screen vents to restrict new pest entry

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Getting started: <ul><li>Plan Ahead-Compatible Pesticides </li></ul><ul><li>Compatible pesticides available to treat hot spots? </li></ul><ul><ul><li>www.koppert.com or www.biobest.de (click on ‘side effects’) have great databases showing the effect of insecticides on biological control performance </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>Results are compiled from research studies so small-scale tests should be done </li></ul></ul>

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Encarsia formosa (parasitic wasp) Abamectin (Avid insecticide)

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http://www.biobest.be/ click ‘side effects’ on top menu

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Getting started: <ul><li>Select a Supplier </li></ul><ul><li>Is the supplier a member of the Association of Natural Biocontrol Producers? </li></ul><ul><li>Have other growers you know dealt with the supplier before and been pleased with the service? </li></ul><ul><li>Does the producer provide information about its products? </li></ul><ul><li>Do packages arrive quickly (1-3 days), on time and in good condition? </li></ul><ul><li>Is the supplier a primary producer of the biocontrol insect, or a distributor? </li></ul><ul><li>Is the producer a firm that has been around for some years, or a small start up company? </li></ul>

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Local Sources <ul><li>No endorsements implied-FYI only! </li></ul><ul><li>Hydro Gardens www.hydro-gardens.com (Colorado Springs) </li></ul><ul><li>M & R Durango www.goodbug.com (Bayfield) </li></ul><ul><li>Web search will turn up other sources </li></ul>

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Getting started: <ul><li>Insure quality during & after shipping </li></ul><ul><li>Shipping & holding temp are important! </li></ul>Shaker bottle of predatory mites mixed with vermiculite

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Getting started <ul><li>Insure quality during & after shipping: </li></ul><ul><li>Do counts if possible immediate on arrival </li></ul><ul><li>If you receive a shipment of biological control agents and they are all dead: Call the supplier immediately to file a claim . </li></ul><ul><li>If the counts are low, let the supplier know before you discard the samples. A rep may want to examine the containers to find out what went wrong and how to remedy the problem. Complain about consistently low counts . </li></ul><ul><li>If there is a serious problem or you are having difficulty doing the counts, try to find an extension agent or pest manager to help you. </li></ul>

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Getting started: <ul><li>Know Release Rates & Timing </li></ul>

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Getting started: <ul><li>Success = Patience & Commitment </li></ul><ul><li>Biocontrol doesn’t produce instant results </li></ul><ul><li>Requires intensive management </li></ul><ul><li>Takes more time </li></ul><ul><li>Balance between allowing biocontrol time to work and managing an insect outbreak another way </li></ul>

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Resources <ul><li>Univ. of Wisconsin ‘Biological Control of Insects and Other Pests of Greenhouse Crops’ 108 pp ( http://learningstore.uwex.edu/pdf/NCR581.pdf ) </li></ul><ul><li>The Association of Natural Biocontrol Producers http://www.anbp.org/beneficialinsectprofiles.htm </li></ul><ul><li>Compatible pesticides with biocontrols www.koppert.com or www.biobest.de (click on ‘side effects’) </li></ul>

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Resources-Suppliers <ul><li>Hydro Gardens www.hydro-gardens.com (Colorado Springs) </li></ul><ul><li>M & R Durango www.goodbug.com (Bayfield) </li></ul><ul><li>Koppert www.kopperts.com </li></ul><ul><li>Syngenta Bio-line </li></ul>

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<ul><li>Brooke Edmunds, PhD </li></ul><ul><li>CSU Extension-Adams County </li></ul><ul><li>Regional Specialist, Commercial Greenhouses & Nurseries </li></ul><ul><li>303/637-8016 office </li></ul><ul><li>[email_address] </li></ul><ul><li>www.adamscountyextension.org </li></ul><ul><li>Click on Greenhouse & Nursery then Presentations </li></ul>