This webinar took place on February 24, 2021.
Click here for a handout of the slides
About the Webinar
Dr. Oscar Lilburd will introduce the topic of biological control in vegetable crops using predators and parasitoids, including predatory mites and insect predators. Dr. Lorena Lopez will then discuss the use of companion plants in organic vegetables, focusing on enhancing and conserving biological control. She will also discuss predatory mites behavior in organic squash planted adjacent to sweet alyssum (companion plant). Then, Dr. Lilburd will talk about the effect of using pesticides labeled for organic use on these predators and how long after plots have been sprayed that these predators can be released back into the field.
About the Presenters
Dr. Oscar Lilburd is a Professor in the Entomology and Nematology Department at the University of Florida. His expertise is in agricultural pest management specifically working with organic vegetable growers primarily on cucurbits, cole crops and solanaceous crops. Dr. Liburd also works in the area of Small Fruit pest management.
Dr. Lorena Lopez is a postdoc at the University of Florida and the Vice Chair of the ESA’s Early Career Professionals committee. Her research focuses on implementing sustainable management techniques against insect and mite pests in horticultural production.
This webinar is part of a series on biological control in organic vegetables, as part of a NIFA OREI funded project. Find them all on the eOrganic webinar schedule.
