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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 #396522
Research Project: Managing Invasive Weeds and Insect Pests Using Biologically-Based Methods

Location: Insect Behavior and Biocontrol Research

Title: Eco-based pest management of whiteflies 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: 8/11/2022
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Sweetpotato whitefly is a major insect pest in horticultural crops in high tunnels. The use of repellent plants to “push” away the pests and companion planting to enhance beneficial insects may mitigate damage by whiteflies. We monitored whiteflies and beneficial insects using yellow sticky traps. Leafy greens were grown in a top vented high tunnel at the Florida A&M University Research and Extension Center, Quincy, Florida, USA. A strawberry crop was grown in a high tunnel. Potted repellent plants of mustard, arugula (var. nemat) and society garlic were placed in 4 sections of the crop in the high tunnels. Flowering plants, such as marigold (var. French marigold), sweet alyssum and potted basil (var. African blue) were placed on two sides of the top vented high tunnel to attract beneficial insects. Potted basil and sweet alyssum/Coreopsis plants were on 4 corners of the high tunnel with a strawberry crop. Commercial “preda-lure” was placed near the basil plants to increase the population of beneficial insects. Population densities of whiteflies were monitored by taking weekly samples of yellow sticky traps. Preliminary results indicate that sweetpotato whiteflies numbers were relatively low. 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 whiteflies in high tunnels.