although the economic damage caused has been brought under control (Baker and
Arbabi 2015). Its attack is confined mostly to new growths resulting in curling of leaf
margins, firmness of infested leaves, necrosis of growing points, aborted buds,
malformed fruits and growth inhibition (Grinberg et al. 2005).
15.4 The Main Biological Control Agents of Greenhouse
Crop Pests
Biological control is an important component of integrated pest management (IPM)
in greenhouses. Augmentaion biological control involves the inoculative and
inundative releases of natural enemies (predators, parasitoids and pathogens) for
the control of insect and mite pests (Koul and Dhaliwal 2003).
Greenhouses are isolated units therefore they are suitable for the use of biological
control agents, because: (1) its closed system prevent to dispersal of natural enemies,
(2) the greenhouse conditions may be more favorable for the natural enemies than
pests, (3) the protected environment of greenhouses also make possible application
of biological control agents in low pest population However, biological control can
be also effective under high pest population, but in these cases, the costs increase
significantly (Perdikis et al. 2008).
In this part, effective biological control agents against pests of greenhouse crops
in Iran are discussed.
15.4.1 Biological Control of Aphids
Natural enemies evaluated against aphid pests in greenhouse crops in Iran include
predators, parasitoids and pathogens. The most important species are listed in
Table 15.2.
15.4.1.1 Predators
The efficiency of several species of predators as potential candidates for suppression
of greenhouse aphids populations are evaluated in Iran. Most of them belong to the
families Coccinellidae (Coleoptera), Syrphidae, Cecidomyiidae (Diptera),
Chrysopidae (Neuroptera), Miridae and Anthocoridae (Hemiptera) (Table 15.2).
The population of C. septempunctata on A. gossypii was able to multiply 3.45
times per week (r w ) (Mollashahi et al. 2009). The production indices, 41.3 and 43.12
were calculated for H. variegata and C. septempunctata fed on A. gossypii at 30
C,
respectively (Mollashahi et al. 2012). Each individual ladybeetle (H. variegata)
during their life, the average of 432 green peach aphid is consumption (Hassankhani
15 Biological Control of Greenhouse Pests in Iran
559
Arbabi 2015). Its attack is confined mostly to new growths resulting in curling of leaf
margins, firmness of infested leaves, necrosis of growing points, aborted buds,
malformed fruits and growth inhibition (Grinberg et al. 2005).
15.4 The Main Biological Control Agents of Greenhouse
Crop Pests
Biological control is an important component of integrated pest management (IPM)
in greenhouses. Augmentaion biological control involves the inoculative and
inundative releases of natural enemies (predators, parasitoids and pathogens) for
the control of insect and mite pests (Koul and Dhaliwal 2003).
Greenhouses are isolated units therefore they are suitable for the use of biological
control agents, because: (1) its closed system prevent to dispersal of natural enemies,
(2) the greenhouse conditions may be more favorable for the natural enemies than
pests, (3) the protected environment of greenhouses also make possible application
of biological control agents in low pest population However, biological control can
be also effective under high pest population, but in these cases, the costs increase
significantly (Perdikis et al. 2008).
In this part, effective biological control agents against pests of greenhouse crops
in Iran are discussed.
15.4.1 Biological Control of Aphids
Natural enemies evaluated against aphid pests in greenhouse crops in Iran include
predators, parasitoids and pathogens. The most important species are listed in
Table 15.2.
15.4.1.1 Predators
The efficiency of several species of predators as potential candidates for suppression
of greenhouse aphids populations are evaluated in Iran. Most of them belong to the
families Coccinellidae (Coleoptera), Syrphidae, Cecidomyiidae (Diptera),
Chrysopidae (Neuroptera), Miridae and Anthocoridae (Hemiptera) (Table 15.2).
The population of C. septempunctata on A. gossypii was able to multiply 3.45
times per week (r w ) (Mollashahi et al. 2009). The production indices, 41.3 and 43.12
were calculated for H. variegata and C. septempunctata fed on A. gossypii at 30
C,
respectively (Mollashahi et al. 2012). Each individual ladybeetle (H. variegata)
during their life, the average of 432 green peach aphid is consumption (Hassankhani
15 Biological Control of Greenhouse Pests in Iran
559