BIOLOGICAL CONTROL OF GREENHOUSE WHITEFLY, TRIALEURODES VAPORARIORUM (ALEYRODIDAE: HOMOPTERA), ON SHORT-TERM CROPS BY MANIPULATING BIOTIC AND ABIOTIC FACTORS
AbstractParasitized and unparasitized whitefly populations were sampled on a short-term crop (poinsettia) at 4–7 day intervals until crop harvest. Age-specific whitefly survivorship and parasite activity were evaluated in relation to various biotic and abiotic factors. Three critical factors influenced the outcome of the whitefly–Encarsia formosa interaction during short-term crop production. Commercially acceptable levels of control were achieved on poinsettia by (a) introducing parasites during the first 40 days of crop production, as pupae, when small scales were abundant, (b) introducing sufficient parasite pupae to develop a ratio of one adult parasite for every 30 large whitefly scales, and (c) maintaining an average temperature of 23.3 °C (74°F).