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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Gainesville, Florida » Center for Medical, Agricultural and Veterinary Entomology » Insect Behavior and Biocontrol Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #395563
Research Project: Managing Invasive Weeds and Insect Pests Using Biologically-Based Methods

Location: Insect Behavior and Biocontrol Research

Title: Eco-based pest management of insect pests of vegetables in high tunnels

Author
item Legaspi, Jesusa
item BOLQUES, ALEJANDRO - Florida A & M University
item OSPINA, FANNY - Florida A & M University

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/1/2022
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Sweetpotato whitefly, thrips and aphids are major insect pests of vegetables in high tunnels. The use of repellent plants to “push” away the pests and companion planting to enhance beneficial insects is a cultural control method, which may mitigate damage by these insect pests. We monitored the insect pests and beneficial insects using yellow sticky cards from December 2019 – March 2020. Leafy greens were grown in a top-vented high tunnel at the Florida A&M University Research and Extension Center, Quincy, Florida, USA. Potted repellent plants of mustard (var. red giant, caliente), arugula (var. nemat) and society garlic were placed in 4 sections of the vegetable crop. Flowering plants, such as marigold (var. French marigold), sweet alyssum and potted basil (var. African blue) were placed on both sides of the screenhouse to attract beneficial insects. Commercial “preda-lure” was placed near the basil plants to increase the population of beneficial insects. Population densities of insect pests and natural enemies throughout the season were monitored by taking weekly samples of sticky traps. Preliminary results indicate that sweetpotato whiteflies, aphids and thrips were common at relatively low populations. The natural enemies collected were mainly whitefly parasites, Encarsia spp. and Eretmocerus spp. Results indicate that the combined use of repellent and companion flowering plants may be an eco-based pest management tool to suppress insect pests in high tunnels.