Hello friend of the farm in this opportunity I will talk about how we can control pests in our greenhouses. The greenhouses offer producers a favorable environment for the production of fruits and vegetables but also creates a favorable habitat for insects. Unlike open field crops, vegetable pests in greenhouses do not suffer from inclement weather, natural predators. If the pests are not controlled, they can reproduce rapidly and cause great damage in production.
Among the most commonly found pests in the production of tomatoes, lettuces and cucumbers in greenhouses, are aphids, greenhouse whitefly, leaf miners, tomato miners, cucumber beetle, thrips, and mites , among which the red spider stands out.
Next I'm going to name some pests, the damage they cause and how we can control them.
BEETLE OF CUCUMBER. This beetle is oval-oblong, 5-6 millimeters long, its body is bright yellow-green with 12 black spots on the wing covers, or a light yellow body with three black lines on the covers the wings. This pest not only leaves holes in the foliage and leaves, but also feeds on the flowers and heals the fruit.
MINING OF THE LEAF. This larval stage pest varies from colorless to bright yellow and with a pointed head. When the holes are mined, the plague leaves a slightly larger hole at one end. As an adult it measures 1-1.8 millimeters long.
TOMATO MINING. This young, grayish-yellow larva only measures a few millimeters, but is capable of leaving considerable holes in the leaves. The larvae of more advanced age are yellow, green or gray, with purple spots, and have a length of up to 8 millimeters. They pierce the stem, the bulbs and the fruits.
RED SPIDER. This almost microscopic mite is light green to dark green and has two to four dark spots. Nymphs and adults have eight legs; the larvae have six. It feeds on the bottom of the leaf. The infested foliage presents silver or pale yellow traces.
AFIDS. Pear shaped and soft body, may or may not have wings. In any case, this pest feeds on colonies, causing discoloration and variegation on the foliage. Most of the time, the aphid transmits diseases through its excreta, which causes fungal generations.
WORM OF COL. This green capillary with white lines, is approximately 30 millimeters long. It has three pairs of legs near the head. Young larvae can typically be found under the leaves, consuming the tender tissue of the leaf, leaving the veins of the leaves almost intact.
Management and control
An appropriately planned and managed program prevents harmful populations of insects, keeping their levels under control.
Sanitation, insect-free transplants, vents protected with screens, daily inspection of plants and ravaging - these are important considerations to take in the control of pests in greenhouses.
The use of biological control is advisable. Yellow adhesive traps help keep adult white flies and aphids under control, monitoring movement and development, in coordinated use with natural enemies, such as parasitic sighting.
Natural tips
It is recommended to use catarinitas, or other predators to combat aphids, as well as the natural insecticide Bacillus thuringiensis to control and manage pests in greenhouses. Frequent inspections of plants and pests, as well as a registration system are essential.
Environmental management can also influence the development of pests in the greenhouse. Temperatures above 29ºC and below 15ºC retard the development of pests, giving the advantage to parasites.
In addition, a high or low relative humidity also retards the development of certain pests. Likewise, spraying the foliage during the day helps to displace the aphids, the leaf miners, as well as the adult whitefly.
The use of ventilation fans or the constant use of circulatory fans, and the use of sprinkling on plants, also discourages the colonization of whiteflies and adult miners.
Finally, extremely high or low temperatures between crops will also eliminate certain stages of pests.
The use of controls
To obtain effective results in pest control, you must take into account the species involved, the type and location of your diet, the age of the plant, the amount of damage caused by the pest, and the potential for infection in the future. By identifying the pests, you will be able to use the appropriate precautions and formulations for the management of your greenhouse.
Producers can use sprays, fumes, mists, sprinklers, powder formulations, to dissolve and granulates for pest control. Since most pesticides are sensitive to UV rays, the closer to sunset, the more effective the treatment will be.
After application, the greenhouse must be ventilated before workers can enter safely. Mists, fumes, and aerosols should be applied to closed greenhouses. Sprinkling and spraying should be applied with application equipment.
Conclusions
The correct handling in the transplant and sowing of the crops is a determining factor to avoid the contagion of diseases, as well as to prevent any pest from entering the greenhouse. Apply granular insecticides with a manual implement or other device that does not grind the granules. Remember to wear long pants, long-sleeved shirts, rubber gloves and a respirator. Mixtures for plants and substrates should not be handled until the granular pesticide has been rinsed from the foliage and thoroughly irrigated.
SOURCE
https://www.hortalizas.com/proteccion-de-cultivos/controla-plagas-y-enfermedades-en-invernadero/
I hope that my publication has been useful to you