Evaluation of Integrated Control of Greenhouse Whitefly, Trialeurodes vaporariorum West. Using Chrysoperla carnea (Steph.) and Insecticide Confidor in Greenhouse Conditions

Greenhouse whitefly, Trialeurodes vaporariorum West., is one of the most important pests of field crops and ornamental plants in greenhouses which usually controlled by chemical insecticide and/or by biologic control factors. In this study the effect of singular and integrated use of Confidor and predator, Chrysoperla carnea (Steph.) against different nymphal instars of the pest on tomato plant was investigated. This experiment was carried out in 7 treatments, each in 3 replicates. Treatments included predator alone, the use of insecticide alone, and 4 integrated treatments of both the predator and insecticide. The predator was released at 5, 10, 15 and 20 day intervals after insecticide application. The control (water), insecticide spray and release of the predator were repeated each 10 days. In integrated treatments, insecticide was applied only once at the beginning of the experiment. The results showed that there was a significant difference between treatments. Pest control was not achieved with one or two attempts of release of predator or spray of insecticide. Pest elimination was only observed after third spray in insecticide treatment and 3 releases of predator beginning 20 days after spray in integrated treatment. These two treatments were shown to be of equal effectiveness in pest control. Also pest population was controlled after 5 releases which began 5 days after insecticide application. The use of the alone predator was statistically found to be less effective than treatment with the insecticide alone. Generally, integrated treatment is a promising alternative approach to pest control in longterm. It has clear advantages over chemical control in terms of pest resistance, environmental and general pest control issues. .