Development of a biological control‐based Integrated Pest Management method forBemisia tabacifor protected sweet pepper crops

The tobacco whitefly,Bemisia tabaciGennadius (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae), is a key pest in commercial sweet pepper crops in southeast Spain. Its biological control is currently based on augmentative introductions of the parasitic waspEretmocerus mundusMercet (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae), which need to be occasionally supplemented with pesticide applications. These pesticides can be harmful for the biological control agents. Therefore, it is important to improve the current strategy by reducing dependency on pesticides. Two potential solutions are conceivable: addition of another effective biocontrol agent or application of pesticide prior to the release of biocontrol agents. The mirid bugNesidiocoris tenuisReuter (Heteroptera: Miridae) and the predatory miteAmblyseius swirskiiAthias‐Henriot (Acari: Phytoseiidae) are promising candidates as additional biocontrol agents. The aim of the present study was to test these possible solutions in two subsequent trials, i.e., a ‘selection’ and an ‘improvement’ experiment. In the selection experiment, four treatments were compared:E. mundus,N. tenuis + E. mundus,A. swirskii + E. mundus, andA. swirskii + N. tenuis + E. mundus.Amblyseius swirskiiappeared able to significantly increase effectiveness against the pest, in contrast toN. tenuis,which did not contribute to whitefly control. The best strategy was the combination ofE. mundusandA. swirskii. In the improvement experiment, three treatments were compared:E. mundus,A. swirskii + E. mundus, andA. swirskii + E. mundus + pesticides.Amblyseius swirskiiagain proved capable of significantly reducing whitefly populations, and the implementation of pesticides before the release of the biocontrol agents was shown to increase the effectiveness against the pest even more.