Understanding Major Insect Pests of Greenhouse, Poly house, and Poly Tunnel Crops

Crops grown in greenhouses, poly houses, and poly tunnels are particularly vulnerable to various insect pests that thrive in controlled environments. These pests present significant management challenges due to their rapid reproduction, resistance to chemical treatments, and ability to hide within plant structures. Effective management strategies often require integrated pest management (IPM) approaches, which include biological control agents, cultural practices, and careful monitoring.

The following insect pests are considered most difficult to control, and AI-GENIX offers crop protection systems designed to manage these major pests effectively.

Whiteflies (Bemisia tabaci and Trialeurodes vaporariorum)

• Rapid reproduction and high population density.

• Ability to transmit plant viruses.

• Resistance to many chemical insecticides.

Aphids (Aphididae family)

• High reproduction rate.

• Ability to transmit plant viruses.

• Development of resistance to pesticides.

• Tendency to cluster in hard-to-reach areas of plants.

Spider Mites (Tetranychus urticae)

• Extremely small size makes detection difficult.

• Fast reproduction, leading to rapid infestation.

• Resistance to many miticides.

• Prefer dry, warm environments, which are common in protected cultivation.

Thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis and Thrips tabaci)

• Small size and ability to hide in flowers and buds.

• Vector for many plant viruses.

• Rapid reproduction cycle.

• Resistance to various insecticides.

Fungus Gnats (Bradysia spp.)

• Larvae feed on plant roots, causing damage.

• Prefer moist environments, which are common in greenhouses.

• Adult gnats can be a nuisance and may spread fungal diseases.

Leafminers (Liriomyza spp.)

• Larvae tunnel through leaves, causing extensive damage.

• Adults can spread quickly between plants.

• Resistance to many insecticides.

Caterpillars (Spodoptera spp., Helicoverpa spp.)

• High feeding rates can cause significant damage in a short time.

• Larvae can hide within plant structures.

• Resistance to various insecticides.

Mealybugs (Pseudococcidae family)

• Waxy coating makes them resistant to many contact insecticides.

• Ability to reproduce quickly.

• Hard to detect in early stages of infestation.

Sciarid Flies (Sciaridae family)

• Larvae feed on plant roots and organic matter.

• Prefer moist environments.

• Adults can spread fungal diseases.

Broad Mites (Polyphagotarsonemus latus)

• Small size makes detection difficult.

• Causes distortion and discoloration of leaves and fruits.

• Can spread rapidly under favorable conditions.

Strategies to control insect pests using AI-GENIX’s crop protection systems

BraveHawk Monza (GH): This AI-enabled insect pest control system effectively manages vector populations that transmit viral diseases. By utilizing advanced sensors and AI algorithms, it detects and targets pests like whiteflies, fungu gnats, adult moths, and thrips, reducing their spread and impact on crops.

PathoShield GreenStar: A THF-EMR system designed for exterminating softbodied insects like aphids, various cataerpilars, leafminers, and mites. This is also a very effective tool for the preventive and curative management of pathogenic diseases in plants. It helps in controlling the spread of bacterial, fungal and viral diseases by altering pest behaviour and disrupting their lifecycle.

Additional Strategies:

1. Implement Crop Rotation and Sanitation Practices: Regularly rotating crops and maintaining strict sanitation can reduce the build-up of pests and pathogens.

2. Adopt Integrated Pest Management (IPM): Combining biological controls, cultural practices, and chemical treatments in a holistic approach to manage pest populations.

3. Rigorous Hygiene Standards: Ensuring that tools, equipment, and workers maintain high hygiene standards to prevent the spread of pests and diseases.

By leveraging AI-GENIX’s advanced crop protection systems and implementing these comprehensive strategies, greenhouse, poly house, and poly tunnel farmers can effectively manage pest populations and reduce crop damage, ensuring healthier and more productive crops.

For more information on AI-GENIX’s complete crop protection suite, write an email to AI-GENIX® to schedule a web meeting. Email ID: info@ai-genix.com