2017 Volume 2017 Issue 64 Pages 80-83
Abstract We investigated the effectiveness of augmentation of the mirid bug Nesidiocoris tenuis (Reuter) against the greenhouse whitefly Trialeurodes vaporariorum (Westwood) on tomatoes in greenhouses by pre-plant or post plant releases. In trial 1, the tomatoes were transplanted in May 2014, and the bugs were released three times after transplanting at weekly intervals with a density of 0.5 bugs per plant. In trials 2 and 3, the bugs were released two times before transplanting at weekly intervals with a density of 0.5 bugs per plant in August 2014 or in May 2015. In each trial, N. tenuis colonized the tomato plants. The density of whitefly on tomatoes was significantly lower in the bug-released greenhouse (Repeated measures of ANOVA, p < 0.0001) than in the non-released greenhouse. Nesidiocoris tenuis did not cause economic damage to tomato. These results indicate that pre-plant or post-plant releases of N. tenuis are effective for controlling T. vaporariorum on tomatoes in greenhouses.
