PREDATORY MITES FOR BIOCONTROL OF THE GREENHOUSE WHITEFLY, TRIALEURODES VAPORARIORUM IN CUT ROSES

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is successfully used on a year-round scale on only 15% of the area of roses under glass.
Obstacles for further expansion of IPM practices among rose growers are the control of the spidermite Tetranychus urticae and the greenhouse whitefly Trialeurodes vaporariorum.
The research stations of Naaldwijk, Aalsmeer and Boskoop have started initiatives in order to enlarge the choice of predator species available for Dutch growers.
A series of greenhouse experiments were conducted to select phytoseiid mites suitable for commercial cut roses.
Among ten species tested in experimental greenhouses, Euseius ovalis was found to be the most promising control agent of T. vaporariorum. Its efficacy against other pests and its compatibility with chemicals are the subject of further studies.
Since E. ovalis is an exotic species formerly not commercially available, efforts are being made to obtain authorization for experimenting with this species in commercial greenhouses in the framework of new fauna protection regulations in The Netherlands.

IV International Symposium on Rose Research and Cultivation

J. Pijnakker, N. García Victoria, P.M.J. Ramakers

rose, whitefly, Trialeurodes vaporariorum, spider mite, biocontrol, integrated pest management (IPM), predator, Phytoseiidae, Euseius ovalis, Typhlodromips swirskii, Amblyseius andersoni

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2007.751.33