Biological Control in

Greenhouses
David Orr, N.C. State University
 Biological Control is a Part of
Most IPM Programs:
■ IPM uses combined control methods

IPM

Pesticidal Mechanical

Biological Cultural
 Natural Control
■ maintenance of fluctuating
population density of an organism
within upper and lower limits over
time by actions of abiotic and/or
biotic environmental factors

ENT402/01/33
 Population Density Natural Control

Time
ENT402/01/34
 Factors in Natural Control
■ weather - physical factors
■ food
■ competition (inter & intraspecific)
■ spatial or territorial requirements
■ natural enemies

ENT402/01/35
 Field of Biological Control

■ The manipulation of beneficial

organisms to regulate population
densities of other organisms

ENT402/01/36
 Beneficial Organisms
■ a.k.a. “Natural enemies”

PREDATORS

MICROORGANISMS
PARASITOIDS

HERBIVORES
ENT402/01/12
 Population Density Natural Control

Economic
Injury

Time
ENT402/01/37
 Biological Control
Natural Enemy
Introduced
Population Density

Economic
Injury

Time
ENT402/01/38
Chemical Control: Greenhouse
Pesticide applied
Population Density

Economic
Injury

Time
ENT402/01/38
Biological Control: Greenhouse
Population Density

Natural Enemy
Introduced
Economic
Injury

Time
ENT402/01/38
 Scope of Biological Control
■ beneficial organisms = parasitoids
predators
pathogens
antagonists
competitors

ENT402/01/39
 Scope of Biological Control
■ beneficial organisms = parasitoids,
predators, pathogens, antagonists, or
competitors
■ Plant breeding,
cultural control, X Biological control
semiochemicals

ENT402/01/40
 Scope of Biological Control
■ beneficial organisms = parasitoids,
predators, pathogens, antagonists, or
competitors
■ Plant breeding,
cultural control, X Biological control
semiochemicals
■ Chemicals from X Biological control
plants or microbes

ENT402/01/41
 Scope of Biological Control
■beneficial organisms = parasitoids,
predators, pathogens, antagonists, or
competitors
■ Plant breeding,
cultural control, X Biological control
semiochemicals,
■ Chemicals from X Biological control
plants or microbes
■ biocontrol = population level process
ENT402/01/42
 Scope of Biological Control
■ In greenhouses, 3 types of natural
enemies used for insect control:

PREDATORS DISEASES
PARASITOIDS
 Natural Enemies Manipulated
2 Ways in Greenhouses:
1. Augmentation:
■ Inoculative releases
■ control from released
organisms
and their
progeny
 Natural Enemies For Aphids

■ Aphidius
(Aphidius matricarae)
-parasitic wasp
 Natural Enemies For Aphids

■ Aphidoletes
(Aphidoletes
aphidomyza)
-predatory midge
Natural Enemies For Whiteflies

Greenhouse Whitefly

Silverleaf/SP Whitefly
Natural Enemies For Whiteflies

Greenhouse Whitefly

Encarsia
formosa

Silverleaf/SP Whitefly
Eretmocerus
eremicus
Natural Enemies For Whiteflies

Greenhouse Whitefly

Silverleaf/SP Whitefly

Whitefly Destroyer
(Delphastus pusillus)
Natural Enemies For Spider Mites

■ Predator Mites
(Neoseiulus fallacis;
Phytoseiulus)
-predatory mites
 Natural Enemies For Thrips

■ Insidious
Flower
Bug (Orius)
(Orius spp.)
■ Soil-Dwelling
Mite
(Hypoaspis miles)
 Natural Enemies For Scale

■ Chalcids
(Aphytis; Metaphycus)
-parasitoid wasps
Natural Enemies For Leafminer

■ Parasitoids Adult
(Dacnusa; Diglyphus)
-larval parasitoids
Natural Enemies For Citrus Mealybugs

■ Mealybug Adults

Destroyer
(Cryptolaemus
montrouzieri)
-ladybeetle Larva

Citrus Long-tailed
Mealybugs
Natural Enemies For Fungus Gnats

■ Soil-Dwelling
Mite
(Hypoaspis miles)
-predator and
scavenger mite
 Natural Enemies Manipulated
2 Ways in Greenhouses:
2. Conservation
 Conserving Natural Enemies
in Greenhouses
2. a Carefully integrate natural enemies
and other management practices
(e.g. pesticide applications)
 Conserving Natural Enemies
in Interiorscapes
2. b Provide appropriate habitat for enemies:
Temperature / humidity

Lighting

Reproduction
Purchasing and Handling Natural
Enemies to Ensure Quality
Purchasing
– supplier
selection
critical

Handling
– proper
handling
critical
Where to get More Information
■ “Biocontrol Virtual Information Center”,
URL
http://ipmwww.ncsu.edu/biocontrol/biocon
trol.html
■ Cooperative Extension Service
■ Your Supplier