Al-Zyoud, F.
2013
Evaluation of the predatory beetle Serangium parcesetosum Sicard (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) release rate and time on the cotton whitefly Bemisia tabaci (Genn.) (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae).
Jordan Journal of Agricultural Sciences 9: 321-335.
There is scarcity of data related to the feasibility of biological control in vegetable systems in Jordan. Therefore, this study aimed at evaluating the effect of the predator, Serangium parcesetosum Sicard (Col., Coccinellidae) release time and rate on the population dynamics of Bemisia tabaci (Genn.) (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae) on caged cucumber inside greenhouses. Adults of B. tabaci were introduced into the caged cucumber plants at two densities of 20 or 30 adults/plant, each group had the following 3 treatments; no S. parcesetosum, release S. parcesetosum one and two weeks after B. tabaci infestation. Results indicated that B. tabaci population increased in control treatment until the 5th week of the experiment, while the population started to decrease from the third week until the end of the experiment in the 1-week and 2-week treatments. In the last experimental week, B. tabaci population was significantly lower in both predator treatments than control treatment at both densities. The whitefly population was significantly lower when the predator was introduced 1 week rather than 2 weeks after the whitefly infestation. A reduction of 64.92 and 61.88% (1: 30) as well as 62.24 and 60.15% (1: 20) in the whitefly population was reported in the last experimental week when the predator was introduced 1 and 2 weeks, respectively. In conclusion, a single release of one S. parcesetosum beetle per plant was effectively checked further increases in prey population on cucumber for up to 7 weeks.
