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Research Project: Exotic Whitefly and Subtropical Invasive Pests of Vegetables and Ornamental Plants

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Title: Using Banker plants to control Arthropods

Author
item OSBORNE, LANCE - University Of Florida
item Ahmed, Muhammad
item McKenzie, Cindy

Submitted to: Growertalks
Publication Type: Popular Publication
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/2/2023
Publication Date: 2/1/2023
Citation: Osborne, L., Ahmed, M.Z., Mckenzie, C.L. 2023. Using Banker plants to control Arthropods. Growertalks. https://www.growertalks.com/Article/?srch=1&articleID=26138.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Biological control is one of the most critical tools in pest management programs. Success depends on augmentation and conservation of biological control agents (BCAs). A banker plant’s sole function is to rear an insect used to feed the BCA. Ideally the alternate prey is host specific to the banker plant and will not feed on the cash crop. The BCA will travel from the banker plant to the pest in the cash crop to provide biological control. Growers move to biological controls for many reasons, one of them is often the loss of effective chemical controls and this usually is for one primary pest (aphids, mealybugs, mites, thrips, whiteflies, etc.). As a result, the BCAs are often forced into existing pest management programs and fail to establish their populations. On the other hand, banker plant systems can sustain a reproducing population of BCAs and enhance the success of such pest management programs. In the past, many of the chemicals used precluded integration of BCAs. New chemistry, and in some cases BCAs, make this less of an obstacle. With the introduction of the Q-biotype of Bemisia tabaci and perceived problems controlling whiteflies in many crops in protected agriculture, the importance of biological control in a resistance management program, which utilizes BCAs, can’t be over-emphasized. The banker plant system allows for the application of chemicals without totally disrupting BCAs. This article enlightens growers about the importance of the banker plant system with main emphasis on aphid banker plant systems.