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Title: COMPATIBILITY OF LIGHT-EMITTING DIODE EQUIPPED PLASTIC CUP TRAPS WITH BIOLOGICAL CONTROL OF BEMISIA TABACI BY ERETMOCERUS MUNDUS IN GREENHOUSE TOMATOES

Author
item MUNIZ, MARIANO - MADRID, SPAIN
item NOMBELA, GLORIA - MADRID, SPAIN
item CHU, CHANG CHI
item HENNEBERRY, THOMAS

Submitted to: Journal of the Agricultural Association of China
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/11/2004
Publication Date: 2/1/2005
Citation: Muniz, M., Nombela, G., Chu, C., Henneberry, T.J. 2005. Compatibility of light-emitting diode equipped plastic cup traps with biological control of bemisia tabaci by eretmocerus mundus in greenhouse tomatoes. Journal of the Agricultural Association of China, Vol 6, No. 1: 92-102.

Interpretive Summary: Following the development of light-emitting-diodes (LED) technology to increase trap catches of yellow sticky (YC) card and plastic cup (PC) traps by C. C. Chu, we conducted two tests for their efficacy in Spain. Results confirmed that equipped YC traps with LEDs did increase the trap catches of whiteflies. More importantly, LED-PC traps caught fewer whitefly parasites compared with YC traps. Use of LED-YC traps is recommended in a biological control program is greenhouses.

Technical Abstract: Three trap types (yellow sticky cards, yellow sticky cards equipped with light-emitting-diodes and plastic cups equipped with light-emitting diodes) were evaluated in tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) to compare their attractiveness to adults of Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae) B-biotype (= Bemisia argentifolii Bellows and Perring) and Eretmocerus mundus Mercet (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae). Free-choice assays were carried out under greenhouse conditions in Madrid (Spain). Yellow sticky cards equipped with light-emitting-diodes caught more B. tabaci adults per trap per day than yellow sticky card traps. Yellow sticky cards caught significantly more B. tabaci adults than plastic cup traps equipped with light-emitting diodes. However, plastic cups equipped with light-emitting diodes caught fewer E. mundus compared with those for the yellow sticky card traps. The results suggest that plastic cups equipped with light-emitting diodes are compatible with E. mundus when biological control programs are applied in tomato greenhouses, where these parasitoids are released to reduce B. tabaci nymph populations. Control of B. tabaci by simultaneous use of plastic cup traps equipped with light-emitting diodes and E. mundus parasitoids in Integrated Pest Management systems is recommended.