This webinar took place on March 1, 2021.
About the Webinar
In this webinar you will learn about how to manage spider mites in tomatoes and other vegetables using biological control, with an emphasis on the predatory mite Phytoseiulus persimilis. We will review the various natural enemies attacking spider mites, and factors impacting their efficacy. We will also present data from experiments conducted in commercial tomato fields to illustrate how effective these predators can be and how to best incorporate them into a farming system. This includes when and where to release P. persimilis in your fields, how to conserve them with smart insecticide use, and lessons from successes and failures. We will also demonstrate how to rear these predatory mites yourself for year-round use (for either field or greenhouse operations) and potential cost savings.
About the Presenters
Dr. Tom Bilbo is a postdoc researcher in the Walgenbach Lab at the NC State Mountain Horticultural Crops Research and Education Center in Mills River, NC. His research focuses on improving the biological control of spider mites and thrips in vegetable crops.
Dr. James Walgenbach is a professor and extension specialist in the Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology at NC State University, located at the Mountain Horticultural Crops Research & Extension Center, Mills River, NC. He conducts an applied research and extension program on management arthropod pests on vegetables and tree fruits.
This webinar is the final presentation in a series of 4 webinars about biological control as part of a NIFA OREI funded project. Find them all on the eOrganic webinar schedule.
