Influence of a Greenhouse Adapted to the Ecuadorian Coastal Climate on Pest Dynamics in Tomato Crops

Integrated pest management (IPM) in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) on the Ecuadorian coast represents a critical challenge, given that pest persistence has led producers to abandon the crop, generating significant losses. This study compared pest population fluctuations in greenhouse and open field conditions under realistic management conditions and free infestation, considering the influence of environmental factors and applications of biorational, semisynthetic, and synthetic pesticides. In open fields, infestations were high and sustained, exceeding treatment thresholds, while in greenhouses, levels were lower, attributable to the protection of the aphid netting. Product efficacy depended on the pest and the level of infestation: Azadirachta indica, Bacillus thuringiensis, and Beauveria bassiana were effective in low infestations; spinetoram and abamectin reached efficacies between 80 and 100% in moderate infestations; neonicotinoids had variable efficacy, ranging from 47.8% to 89.9%. Since the system determines the type of pest and the level of infestation, monitoring becomes a key tool for timely decision-making. The findings show that the greenhouse limits the entry of the main pest, Prodiplosis longifila. While it does not prevent the presence of smaller pests, such as thrips and white mites, the combination of physical barriers and low-toxicity pesticides significantly reduces populations, minimizing the number of applications and the use of more toxic insecticides. The proposed strategy provides solid evidence for the effective implementation of a greenhouse to reduce pest pressure and promote IPM in protected coastal systems in Ecuador.