THE ROLE OF BENEFICIAL INSECTS IN THE BIOLOGICAL CONTROL OF PESTS IN GREENHOUSE PRODUCTION

Teodora Ilieva

Abstract


Maintaining plant health in greenhouse systems is a challenge that requires integrated pest management strategies, minimizing chemical use, and preserving ecosystem balance. Biological control, through the use of natural enemies of pests-predators, parasitoids, and entomopathogenic microorganisms is a key component of these strategies. This approach reduces the risk of resistance development, minimizes adverse effects on non-target organisms, and enhances food safety and quality. The article discusses the main methods of applying biocontrol agents: introduction, seasonal colonization, and conservation, as well as the factors influencing their effectiveness. Specific examples of successful biological control of major pests, such as whiteflies, thrips, and aphids, using predatory mites, bugs, and lacewings are presented. The importance of an integrated approach-including monitoring, use of resistant cultivars, agronomic practices, and environmentally friendly measures is emphasized for sustainable and safe production of high-quality vegetables in greenhouses.



Keywords


biological control, beneficial insects, greenhouse production, pests, predators, parasitoids, entomopathogenic microorganisms, integrated pest management (IPM), biodiversity, healthy and safe food.

References


Андреев, Р. 2021. Земеделска ентомология за всички.

Машева, С., В. Янкова, Д. Маркова. 2015. Полезни видове за контрол на вредителите при отглеждане на зеленчукови култури, 2015, 1-22 стр.

Попов, В., И. Велчева, С. Петрова, И. Моллов. 2017. Биологично земеделие и агробиоразнообразие: /Учебно помагало/: Унив. изд. "Паисий Хилендарски", Пловдив, 2017. - 172 с.

Bigler, F., D. Babendreier, U. Kuhlmann. 2006. Environmental impact of invertebrates for biological control of arthropods: methods and risk assessment. CAB Int, Wallingford.

Binns, M. R., J. P. Nyrop, W. van der Werf. 2000. Sampling and Monitoring in Crop Protection (first ed.), CABI Publishing, New York. 284 pp. BioControl 63, 39–59. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10526-017-9801-4

Calvo, F. J., J. E. Belda. 2007. Amblyseius swirskii, un depredador para el control de mosca blanca y trips en cultivos hortícolas. Phytoma España 190:58–62.

Calvo, F. J., K. Bolckmans, J. E. Belda. 2011. Control of Bemisia tabaci and Frankliniella occidentalis in cucumber by Amblyseius swirskii. BioControl 56:185–192. doi:10.1007/s10526-010-9319-5

Calvo, F. J., K. Bolckmans, J. E. Belda. 2012. Biological control-based IPM in sweet pepper greenhouses using Amblyseius swirskii (Acari: Phytoseiidae), Biocontrol Science and Technology, 22:12, 1398-1416.

Calvo, F. J., M. Knapp, Y. M. van Houten, H. Hoogerbrugge, J. E. Belda. 2015. Amblyseius swirskii: what made this predatory mite such a successful biocontrol agent? Exp Appl Acarol. 2015 Apr;65(4):419-33. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10493-014-9873-0

Cock, M. J. W., J. C. van Lenteren, J. Brodeur, B. I. P. Barratt, F. Bigler, K. Bolckmans, F. I. Consoli, F. Haas, P. G. Mason, J. R. P. Parra. 2010. Do new access and benefit sharing procedures under the convention on biological diversity threaten the future of biological control? Biocontrol 55:199–218.

Collier, T., R. Van Steenwyk. 2004. A critical evaluation of augmentative biological control. Biol. Control 31, 245–256. doi: 10.1016/j.biocontrol.2004.05.001

De Backer, L., F. L. Wäckers, F. Francis, F. J. Verheggen. 2015. Predation of the Peach Aphid Myzus persicae by the mirid Predator Macrolophus pygmaeus on Sweet Peppers: Effect of Prey and Predator Density. Insects 2015, 6, 514-523. https://doi.org/10.3390/insects6020514

DeBach, P. 1964. Biological control of insect pests and weeds. Chapman and Hall, London.

El Arnaouty, S. A., A. H. El-Heneidy, A. I. Afifi., et al. 2020. Comparative study between biological and chemical control programs of certain sweet pepper pests in greenhouses. Egypt J Biol Pest Control 30, 28 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1186/s41938-020-00226-z

El Kenway, A. H., W. E. A. El-Sheikh, M. Ali Mohamed. 2022. Evaluation of Chrysoperla carnea and Macrolophus pygmaeus as biological control agents of Frankliniella occidentalis on Batavia lettuce under hydroponic cultivation. JCP; 11 (2) :269-278 http://jcp.modares.ac.ir/article-3-59905-en.html

Hassell, M. P. 1978. The Dynamics of Arthropod Predator-Prey Systems. Princeton University Press, Princeton, N.J.

Hoogerbrugge, H., Y. van Houten, M. Knapp, K. Blockmans. 2011. Biological control of thrips and whitefly on strawberries with Amblydromalus limonicus and Amblyseius swirskii, Integrated Control in Protected crops, IOBW/wprs Bullentin Vol. 68, 65-69.

Hussey, N. W., L. Bravenboer. 1971. Control of pests in glasshouse culture by the introduction of natural enemies. In: Huffaker CB (ed) Biological control. Plenum, New York, pp 195–216.

Messelink, G. J., J. Bennison, O. Alomar, B. L. Ingegno, L. Tavella, L. Shipp., et al. 2014. Approaches to conserving natural enemy populations in greenhouse crops: current methods and future prospects. Biocontrol 59, 377–393. doi: 10.1007/s10526-014-9579-6

Messelink, G. J., R. Van Maanen, S. E. F. Van Steenpaal, A. Janssen. 2008. Biological control of thrips and whiteflies by a shared predator: two pests are better than one. Biological Control, 44 (3) (2008), pp. 372-379, doi:10.1016/j.biocontrol.2007.10.017

Messelink, G. J., S. E. F. Van Steenpaal, P. M. J. Ramakers. 2006. Evaluation of phytoseiid predators for control of western flower thrips on greenhouse cucumber. BioControl 51, 753–768. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10526-006-9013-9

Messina, F. J., S. M. Sorenson. 2001. Effectiveness of lacewing larvae in reducing Russian wheat aphid population on susceptible and resistant wheat. Biological Control. 21 (1), 19-26.

Nomikou, M., A. Janssen, R. Schraag, M. W. Sabelis. 2001. Phytoseiid predators as potential biological control agents for Bemisia tabaci. Exp Appl Acarol 25:271–291.

Parrella, M. P., L. S. Hansen, J. C. van Lenteren. 1999. Glasshouse environments. In: Bellows TS, Fisher TW (eds) Handbook of biological control. Academic Press, San Diego, pp 819–839.

Pijnakker, J., D. Vangansbeke, M. Duarte, R. Moerkens F. L. Wäckers. 2020. Predators and Parasitoids-in-First: From Inundative Releases to Preventative Biological Control in Greenhouse Crops. Front. Sustain. Food Syst. 4:595630.

Rehman, H., A. Bukero, A. G. Lanjar, L. Bashir, Z. Lanjar, S. Ali Nahiyoon. 2020.Use of Chrysoperla carnea larvae to control whitefly (Aleyrodidea:Hemiptera) on tomato plant in greenhouse. Pure and Applied Biology. Vol. 9, Issue 4, pp2128-2137. http://dx.doi.org/10.19045/bspab.2020.90227

Saleh, A. A. A., H. El-Nagar, A. A. Khalifa, M. F. M. Zawrah. 2023. The Role of Chrysoperla carnea (Steph.) and Beauveria bassina for Controlling Cabbage Aphid, Brevicoryne brassicae L. on Cabbage Plants. Arab Journal of Plant Protection, 41(3): 321-326. https://doi.org/10.22268/AJPP-041.3.321326

Sarkar, S. C., E. Wang, Z. Zhang., et al. 2019. Laboratory and glasshouse evaluation of the green lacewing, Chrysopa pallens (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) against the western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis (Thysanoptera: Thripidae). Appl Entomol Zool 54, 115–121. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13355-018-0601-9

Shukla, N., E. A. Negi, A. Singh, B. C. Kabadwa, R. Sharma, J. Kumar. 2019. Present Status and Future Prospects of BioAgents in Agriculture. International Journal of Current Microbiol Applied Sciences. 8:2138-2153.

Stinner, R. E. 1977. Efficacy of inundative releases. Ann. Rev. Entomol. 22, 515–531. doi: 10.1146/annurev.en.22.010177.002503

Tauber, M. J., C. A. Tauber, K. M. Daane, K. S. Hagen. 2000. Commercialization of Predators: Recent Lessons from Green Lacewings (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae: Chrosoperla), American Entomologist, Volume 46, Issue 1, Spring 2000, Pages 26–38, https://doi.org/10.1093/ae/46.1.26

Turquet, M., J. J. Pommier, M. Piron, E. Lascaux, G. Lorin. 2009. Biological control of aphids with Chrysoperla carnea on strawberry. Acta Horticulture 842: 641–644.

Usman, M., I. Mian, U. Amjad, S. Kamran, F. S. Syed. 2012. Effect of Egg Parasitoid, Trichogramma chilonis, in Combination with Chrysoperla carnea and Neem Seed Extract against Tomato Fruitworm, Helicoverpa armigera. Sarhad Journal of Agriculture, 28, 253-257.

van Houten, Y. M., M. L. Ostlie, H. Hoogerbrugge, K. Bolckmans. 2005. Biological control of western flower thrips on sweet pepper using the predatory mites Amblyseius cucumeris, Iphiseius degenerans, A. andersoni and A. swirskii. IOBC/WPRS Bull., 28(1): 283–286.

van Lenteren, J. C. 2012. The state of commercial augmentative biological control: plenty of natural enemies, but a frustrating lack of uptake. BioControl 57, pp.1–20. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10526-011-9395-1

van Lenteren, J. C., J. Woets. 1988. Biological and integrated pest control in greenhouses. Annu Rev Entomol 33:239–269.

Waage, J. K., D. J. Greathead. 1988. Biological control: challenges and opportunities. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B 318:111–128

Zia, K., F. Hafeez, R. R. Khan, M. Arshad, U. N. Ullah. 2008. Effectiveness of Chrysoperla carnea (Stephens) (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) on the population of Bemisia tabaci (Genn.) (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae) in different cotton genotypes. Journal of Agricultural and Social Sciences. 4, 112-116.


Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.


New knowledge Journal of science is financed by the National Science Fund of the Republic of Bulgaria - contract № КП-06-НП1/5 of 17.12.2019 in the competition of Bulgarian scientific periodicals – 2019

New knowledge Journal of science is financed by the National Science Fund of the Republic of Bulgaria – contract № ДНП 05/52 от 22.12.2016 in the competition of Bulgarian scientific periodicals – 2016

The contents of this publication do not necessarily reflect the position or opinion of the National Science Fund of the Republic of Bulgaria. The opinions expressed are those of the author(s) only and should not be considered as representative of the National Science Fund’s official position.

https://www.fni.bg/

National Science Fund of Bulgaria