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During the transition period, before using biocontrol, growers might use products that are not necessarily compatible with natural enemies, but have a short residual effect of less than 2 weeks. It is important to phase out the use of pest control materials in the organophosphate, carbamate, and pyrethroid chemical classes prior to releasing natural enemies since many materials in these chemical classes can persist for four months or longer in the greenhouse. It is VERY IMPORTANT to avoid pesticide use 3-4 months prior to using biological control in greenhouses. Many natural enemies will fail if growers also make pesticide applications to the same set of plants before, during, or after natural enemies releases. Natural enemies are living organisms that can be killed by pesticides. Wasp releases are unlikely to work if growers wait until numbers are high before starting to release wasp. For example, whiteflies on poinsettias are easier to control if wasp releases are begun very early in the crop, at a time when whitefly numbers are low and do not yet present a damaging problem. Fungicides act by preventing infection, and hence must be applied before disease develops to high levels.īiocontrol agents differ from insecticides in that they must be used in a preventative manner, rather like the way we use fungicides. They are used in a preventative manner because the fungal pathogen, once inside the plant, cannot be killed. Fungicides, for control of plant diseases, are not used in the same way. Insecticides are capable of quickly suppressing high pest numbers, in many cases. Used in this way, nothing is done until insect numbers become high, at which time a pesticide is applied. When insecticides are used to suppress insects, they often are used in a curative manner. Biological Control: Pesticide Compatibility, Testing Quality