Green House Bugs
A number of different species of insects thrive in the high humidity and warmth found in greenhouses. These bugs can cause extensive damage to plants if left unchecked. Gardeners control insects through cultural and chemical methods. Does this Spark an idea?
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Types
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Aphids are usually smaller than 0.125 inches and have soft pear-shaped bodies. They vary in color depending on the species. Other pests include mealybugs, which are soft-bodied, wax-coated insects; whiteflies, small flying insects that look like white gnats; and two-spotted spider mites, which are microscopic mites that have greenish bodies and two prominent dark spots on the abdomen.
Effects
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Mealybugs, two-spotted spider mites, whiteflies and aphids feed by sucking sap from greenhouse plants. They cause yellowed leaves, leaf distortion and stunted growth. Whiteflies, aphids and mealybugs also secrete a sweet, sticky substance called honeydew that falls on the surrounding foliage. A black fungus called sooty mold forms on the honeydew, interfering with photosynthesis and reducing the plant's aesthetic value.
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Control
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Greenhouse growers regularly inspect plants for insect damage and set traps to monitor pest populations. They apply biological controls such as Beauveria bassiana, a fungal spray that sickens and kills bugs, and Bacillus thuringiensis, a bacteria that kills pest species. They also release predatory insects such as lady beetles and parasitic wasps inside the greenhouse. Other control methods include horticultural oils, insecticidal soaps and traditional insecticides.
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References
- University of Kentucky College of Agriculture: Greenhouse Insect Management
- University of Connecticut Integrated Pest Management: Managing Aphids in the Greenhouse
- University of Missouri Extension: Managing Whiteflies on Indoor and Outdoor Plants
- National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service: Integrated Pest Management for Greenhouse Crops
