Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
FIGURE 4.17
Bug-Scan card to monitor insect populations. Note the grid and
insects on the card.
photos of these insects. Clear drawings and life cycles are also given in my
topic
Hydroponic Food Production
.
The most difficult part is to determine what control measures to use on
these pests. I hope to simplify that for you here with an outline of some
of the safe bioagents that I have used very successfully. Most are available
from your local hydroponic shop or from other greenhouse suppliers. Also
you may use beneficials. These are insects that are predators or parasites
on the insect pests. This combined with the use of safe natural bioagents
make up an integrated pest management (IPM) program that is purely bio-
logical control.
Briefly I am going to discuss the beneficials that help to control a
number of the pests. Whiteflies are parasitized by
Encarsia formosa
and
Eretmocerus eremicus
, parasitic wasps. The two-spotted mite can be con-
trolled with the predators
Phytoseiulus persimilis, Metaseiulus occidenta-
lis
, and
Amblyseius californicus
.
Metaseiulus occidentalis
is more active
under cooler temperatures and
Amblyseius californicus
prefers warmer
temperatures. Aphids are kept in check with various lady beetles and the
green lacewing,
Chrysopa carnea.
Aphidoletes aphidimyza,
a midge larva,
