Biological pest control using predators in cucurbit crops in greenhouses

S.S. Hogea, G. Sovarel, M. Costache, M. Velea
The Cucurbitaceae family has economically important species including cucumber, melon, watermelon, calabash, squash and pumpkin, cucumber being one of the most important cultivated greenhouse crops. Biological pest control can be achieved through both biological treatments and parasite and predator releases. This experiment aimed to study the efficacy of predators against pests like mites (Tetranychus urticae), thrips and aphids. For the control of the red spider mite were tested the efficacy of Amblyseius andersoni predator (25,000 individuals 500 m‑2), for thrips, Orius laevigatus (100 individuals 500 m‑2) and Transeius montdorensis (50,000 individuals 500 m‑2) predators and for aphids a parasitic wasp was released, Aphidius colemani (1000 individuals 500 m‑2). The O. laevigatus and T. montdirensis recorded an effectiveness in controlling thrips between 88.35 and 94.68% in cucumber crops and in squash crops it was between 82.21 and 86.27%, which denotes that they can achieve effective control of the pest. The A. colemani predator had an effectiveness between 65.31 and 75.26% in cucumber crops and between 62.00 and 77.37% in squash crops. In cucumber crops, the A. andersoni predator had an efficacy for the egg stage of the pest between 73.93 and 79.95%, for the nymph stage an efficacy between 73.76 and 85.77%, and for the adult stage between 81.84 and 90.07%.
Hogea, S.S., Sovarel, G., Costache, M. and Velea, M. (2025). Biological pest control using predators in cucurbit crops in greenhouses. Acta Hortic. 1416, 379-384
DOI: 10.17660/ActaHortic.2025.1416.50
https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2025.1416.50
aphids, cucumber, predators, pests, squash, Tetranychus urticae
English

Acta Horticulturae