Development of Biological Control Informed Thresholds for Management of Whitefly in Cotton

Field studies were conducted to identify the key arthropod predators suppressing populations of silverleaf whiteflies in Arizona cotton and to estimate predator to prey ratios that would indicate functional biological control. These ratios can be used in association with standard threshold measures of whitefly density to determine the need for additional control through insecticide applications. A total of six arthropod predators were identified and predator to prey ratios were estimated for whitefly adults and large nymphs. Plans for implementing these new action thresholds will be presented in a companion presentation.