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Factors affecting the biological control of the spiralling whitefly Aleurodicus dispersus (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) in banana plantations in Costa Rica: a study case |
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| Authors: | Helga Blanco-Metzler Sergio Laprade-Coto Phyllis G Weintraub |
| Institution: | 1. Crop Protection Research Centre, CIPROC, University of Costa Rica, San Jose, Costa Ricahelga.blanco@ucr.ac.cr;3. Dirección de Investigaciones, CORBANA, Guápiles, Costa Rica;4. Agriculture Research Organization, Gilat Research Center, Rishon LeZion, Israel |
| Abstract: | ABSTRACTA study was conducted to reveal the causes for Aleurodicus dispersus outbreak in commercial banana plantations in Costa Rica. Biotic and abiotic factors affecting the abundance of the spiralling whitefly were determined. Four nymph parasitoids and nine predators were found to affect A. dispersus population. Seventeen families of host plants for A. dispersus in the banana area were identified, allowing the whitefly to reach a high reproductive and dispersal rate and pest status in short periods. The use of nematicides during the dry season was the key factor for mortality of natural enemies responsible for maintaining pest populations under economic levels. |
| Keywords: | Spiralling whitefly biological control nematicide effects biotic and abiotic factors |