Outcome of Integrating Biological Control with Trap Crop Management in California Organic Strawberries | Organic Farming Research Foundation

This study confirmed that Peristenus relictus can be effectively used with a vacuum-managed trap crop program. Despite the disturbance caused by vacuums, Lygus bug parasitism was not statistically different in vacuumed and unvaccumed management systems, and was similar between treatments in 2007, 2008 and 2009.

Note that at least two scientific articles have been published on this work:

Swezey, S.L., D. Nieto, and J. Bryer. 2007. Control of western tarnished plant bug, Lygus hesperus, Knight (Hemiptera: Miridae) in California organic strawberries using alfalfa trap crops and tractor-mounted vacuums. Environmental Entomology 36 (6): 1457-1465.

Pickett, C.H., S.L. Swezey, D.J. Nieto, J.A. Bryer, M. Erlandson, H. Goulet, and M.D. Schwartz. 2009. Colonization and establishment of Peristenus relictus (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) for control of Lygus spp. (Heteroptera: Miridae) in strawberries on the California Central Coast. Biological Control 49 : 27-37.

Related Grant:

Integrating Biological Control with Trap Crop Management in California Organic Strawberries

Outcome PDF:

Complete Project Report