Biological control potentials of Chrysoperla zastrowi sillemi (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) against Bemisia tabaci (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) on polyhouse grown parthenocarpic cucumber in North-Western India

AbstractThe silver leaf whitefly, Bemisia tabaci Gennadius (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae), stands out as a highly destructive insect in temperate, tropical, and subtropical regions, inflicting extensive damage to agricultural crops worldwide. Its impact resonates in India, where it has emerged as a formidable pest. Moreover, the excessive use of chemically-derived pesticides has led to the emergence of insect-resistant strains, resulting in environmental pollution and endangering human health. The use of natural enemies is a sustainable and environmentally safe alternative management tactic. The predation potential of green lacewing, Chrysoperla zastrowi sillemi Esben-Peterson (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) on eggs, nymphs and adults of B. tabaci infesting parthenocarpic cucumber grown under polyhouse has been examined here. On cucumber plants, three releases of 2nd instar C. zastrowi sillemi larvae (at one, two and three larvae/plant) were made at 7 days intervals. The release of three larvae/plant resulted in significantly higher predation rate on whitefly population (58.6% on egg, 61.0% on nymph and 32.3% on adult stage of the whitefly) than two or one green lacewing larvae/plant (56.3% on egg, 58.3% on nymph and 30.4% on adult stage of the whitefly & 49.9% on egg, 51.0% on nymph and 24.6% on adult stage of the whitefly, respectively). Significantly higher yields of cucumber were recorded from plots with the release rate of three larvae per plant (2047.9 g/plant). Augmentative biological control of B. tabaci under polyhouse conditions with three weekly releases of 2nd instar C. zastrowi sillemi larvae at three larvae per plant can effectively manage whitefly infestation on parthenocarpic cucumber under polyhouse condition.Keywords: Biological controlmarketable fruit yieldpredation efficiencyprotected structuresvegetable cropwhitefly AcknowledgementsThe authors are grateful to the Dr. Pardeep Kumar Chhuneja, Professor of Entomology and Head, Department of Entomology, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, India, for providing infrastructure and necessary facilities during the study. The facilities provided by Biological Control Section, Department of Entomology, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, for helping in the identification and rearing of whitefly and green lacewing cultures are duly acknowledged.Disclosure statementNo potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.