Orius albidipennis (Rueter) as an effective biocontrol agent against Tetranychus urticae Koch on pepper crops in greenhouse in Egypt

Abstract

The present study was carried out in greenhouses, on sweet pepper crops, during the winter plantations 2015-2016 and 2016-2017 in a commercial farm located at Berkash district, Giza, Egypt. During the first season, three acariphagous biocontrol agent species, the predatory mite, Amblyseius swirskii Athias-Henriot (Acari: Phytoseiidae) (at a rate of 2 individuals/m 2), and two of predatory insect, Macrolophus caliginosus Wagner (at a rate of 1 individual/m 2) and Orius albidipennis (Reuter) (at a rate of 1/2 individual adults/m 2), were applied to control Tetranychus urticae. The obtained results showed that T. urticae was controlled successfully using A. swirskii and O. albidipennis. Releasing of A. swirskii and O. albidipennis caused 26 and 24% yield increases, respectively, as compared to control treatment. During the second season of 2016-2017, the efficiency of O. albidipennis at a rate of 1/2 per m 2 was compared to three recommended pesticides, for controlling T. urticae. The obtained results revealed that applying O. albidipennis proved to be the most efficient control method against T. urticae on sweet pepper, with the lowest remaining pest density of T. urticae (2.9 mites/leaf); while with chemical control, the remaining density of T. urticae reached 20.13 mites/leaf at the end of the season. Thus, results demonstrated that the released insect predator, O. albidipennis, was the most effective method to control T. urticae under greenhouse conditions for two reasons. On the one hand, it resulted in a 31.36% yield increase, and on the other hand, it could reduce the chemical application, to improve food safety and environmental pollution reduction.

Comparative study between biological and chemical control programs of certain sweet pepper pests in greenhouses

“…The land area devoted to greenhouses production of color sweet peppers has been increased substantially over the past decade. In Egypt, it reached 400 ha with total plant-houses area of 11,300 ha (El Arnaouty et al 2018). Also, pepper production is affected by different environmental and management systems, where it ranged from 5 to 28.8 kg/m 2 and export percentage ranged from 50 to 90%.…”

Evaluation of release rates of predator, <i>Apertochrysa astur</i> (Banks) (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) against Rugose Spiraling Whitefly (RSW), <i>Aleurodicus rugioperculatus</i> Martin

“…The highest reduction percentage (79.27 per cent) was obtained after releasing H. convergens at a rate of one adult predator per 73 prey individuals. El-Arnaouty et al (2000) studied the effect of releasing Harmonia axyridis (larvae and adults), for the biological control of the cowpea aphid A. craccivora (3 rd instar predator larvae were released at 1/30 and 1/50 aphid individuals). Results showed that the predator H. axyridis was able to control the aphid species and the best rate of release was 1 predator / 30 aphids/faba bean plant.…”

Suppression of the Two-Spotted Spider Mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch Infestations by Some Biocontrol Agents on the Sweet Pea, Lathyrus odoratus Crop under A Greenhouse.

“…persimilis during two seasons on sweet pepper that gave the highest reduction percentage in population of T. urticae movable stages, but a low reduction in egg populations, while N. californicus preferred T. urticae eggs than movable stages. El-Arnaouty et al (2018) and Taghizadeh et al (2018) stated that O. albidipennis exhibited suitable efficacy on T. urticae stages.…”

“…had promising control capacities especially as Orius albidipennis in Mediterranean countries (Al-Kherb, 2013). The biological control using of O. albidipennis was the most effect bio-agent method against T. urticae under greenhouse conditions, which increased about 31.36% in yield, food safety, and reduce the environmental pollution (El-Arnaouty et al, 2018). On the other hand, Azadirachtin act as a bio-agent, which isolated from Neem tree seeds, Azadirachta indica (Meliaceae) (Sundaram, 1996).…”