Monitoring, manipulatie en biologische bestrijding van schadelijke wantsen in de glastuinbouw

Samenvatting

This report presents the results of 4 years of research on the European tarnished plant bug Lygus rugulipennis, an important pest in chrysanthemum, cucumber and eggplant, and the exotic southern green stink bug Nezara viridula, an important pest in bell pepper. The research was part of the PPP “Functional Biodiversity in and around the greenhouse” (TKI-LWV 19162). The goal of this project was to develop new non-chemical ways of control for both pest bugs. For the European tarnished plant bug, the research focused on predicting invasion, manipulating the behavior of invading bugs with attractants and repellents (push-pull) and deployment of selective biological control agents based on entomopathogenic fungi. Isolates of the fungus Beauveria bassiana were able to significantly reduce the population growth of L. rugulipennis. Research on the southern green stink bug focused on monitoring with trap plants and pheromone traps and biological control with predatory bugs, parasitic wasps and entomopathogenic fungi. Preventive releases of the predator Posidus maculiventris show potential for the control of N. viridula.