Use of Eretmocerus eremicus and Amblyseius swirskii to suppress Bemisia tabaci on potted poinsettias in protected culture: Data set ...

The purpose of this study was to determine whether using two natural enemies (a predator, Amblyseius swirskii, and parasitic wasp, Eretmocerus eremicus) in combination would be better at suppressing the main pest of poinsettias, the sweetpotato whitefly (Bemisia tabaci), compared to each natural enemy alone. To test whether the combination of the two natural enemies is superior at suppressing the whiteflies compared to each natural enemy alone, we used both a substitutive and additive design (see Sih et al. 1998. Emergent impacts of multiple predators on prey) to test for both intraspecific and interspecific interactions between our natural enemies on whitefly suppression. Experimental design: Experimental units consisted of 12 whitefly-infested potted poinsettias (subsamples) within a large cage (4 ft x 5 ft x 3 ft; w x l x h). Each trial consisted a total of 24 cages split between two adjacent greenhouses (block_greenhouse 8 and 9). Cages were assigned to one of six treatments (4 treatment replications): ...