Fifty greenhouse whitefly (Trialeurodes) were placed in each of 10, one-meter square nylon chiffon cages containing nine regal geraniums in 6-inch pots. After allowing the whitefly to reproduce for 2 weeks, the treatments tested were Delphastus pusillus alone, Azatin sprays alone, D. pusillus and Azatin together, and no control method. Two repetitions for each treatment were conducted. The Azatin, 14 oz/100 gallons, and a spreader/sticker were applied weekly with a mist sprayer. Delphastus pusillus, nine per cage, were released every 2 weeks. Sampling was conducted weekly by placing yellow sticky traps into each box for a 24-hour period, then counting the number of adults caught. All treatments gave statistically significant fewer whitefly than the cages with no control method. The cages with Azatin and/or D. pusillus were not statistically different from each other. Results indicate that D. pusillus can control whitefly as well as a growth regulator/botanical insecticide.
Reduced translucency and the addition of black patterns increase the catch of the greenhouse whitefly, Trialeurodes vaporariorum, on yellow sticky traps