Push-pull Strategy for Control of Sweet-potato Whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) in a Tomato Greenhouse

This study was conducted to develop a technology for environmentally friendly control of sweet-potato whitefly, Bemisia tabaci, by controlling their behavior using a push-pull strategy in a tomato greenhouse. B. tabaci was attracted the most by yellow color, light source of 520 nm, whereas it avoided the complex light treatment of 450 + 660 nm. The two natural enemies of B. tabaci, Cyrtopeltis tenuis and Orius laevigatus, were attracted the most by 520 nm light source. B. tabaci was repelled by the volatile organic compounds ocimene and carvacrol and was the most attracted by methyl isonicotinate. When buckwheat was added into the tomato greenhouse, the density of C. tenuis was maintained at about 16 times higher than when untreated for 15 days. As a result of the combined treatment of push-pull strategy, the density per trap of B. tabaci was three times lower than when no treatment was applied, and the control of this pest increased with time and reached up to 68.7%.