Whitefly
Adult whiteflies feeding on a leaf
The whitefly, Trialeurodes vaporariorum is a small, white-winged insect measuring approximately 1.5 mm long that breeds rapidly in the warm environment of a glasshouse. Infested leaves often appear yellow and deformed, and the sticky honeydew waste secreted by the feeding whiteflies can encourage ants, as well as promoting the growth of a black sooty mould (Cladosporium species) on surrounding foliage and fruit. Many different types of glasshouse vegetable crops and ornamentals can be affected costing the agricultural community an estimated $300 million per year.
Whitefly control is often difficult:
- Insecticide application is often inadequate against a rapidly breeding whitefly population
- Chemical resistance is an increasing problem
- Insecticides can also affect natural whitefly predators and enemies
Eden's non-toxic products, which contain ingredients that are used in the food industry, could offer several advantages over existing whitefly management programs, including a low risk of incurring resistance, the ability to apply treatment at a late pre-harvest interval and a minimal impact on beneficial biological agents.
Eden Research and Development - Whitefly trials
Preliminary efficacy testing of Eden products against glasshouse whitefly (T. vaporariorum) by independent contractors i2LResearch Ltd (Cardiff) indicated that terpene formulations are highly effective whitefly control agents and they compared favourably with the commercial standard treatment bifenthrin (see Figure 1).
Figure 1. Efficacy testing against whitefly: Eden products at 500 ppm
Whitefly control
Whitefly mortality was evaluated 72 hours after the application of four different Eden products (each tested at 500 ppm) and compared with the effects of bifenthrin used at the label dose rate.
The four Eden products were more successful than bifenthrin 72 hours after treatment application.
- Eden plans to focus on the investigation of terpene products as potential whitefly control treatments
- Further research will include testing Eden's products against the highly resistant whitefly species Bemisia tabaci,and carrying out several small-plot replicated field trials on key glasshouse crops based in Southern Europe
- Future plans include exploring the potential for Eden products as control agents against household and personal care pests including head lice, bed bugs, houseflies, slugs, locusts and mosquitoes
For further detailed information on Eden's products, please contact Eden at info@edenresearch.com