How do OMRI approved insecticides affect silverleaf whitefly populations and conservation of beneficial insects in organic squash?

Organic zucchini squash is a high value vegetable crop in Florida and potential exists to expand its production throughout the state.  A lack of knowledge on the effectiveness of OMRI approved products is one of the constraints to organic squash production in Florida. Research on the effectiveness of OMRI approved insecticides for managing whitefly populations in squash as well as their effects on natural enemies will provide additional information on how these insecticides can be used to regulate pest populations. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effect of OMRI approved insecticides that can be used to control the silverleaf whitefly, Bemisia tabaci B biotype, on organically grown squash; and to determine the effect of selected insecticides on a key natural enemy, Delphastus catalinae. The first experiment compared the effects of four OMRI approved insecticides and an untreated control on whitefly densities. Insecticides include 1)Aza-Sol, 2)PyGanic EC 1.4, 3)M-Pede, 4)Entrust, and 5)untreated control. The second experiment investigated the effect of OMRI approved insecticides on D. catalinae. Treatment effectiveness was evaluated 1, 3 and 5 days post-treatment. Based on the findings from the first experiment, PyGanic and M-Pede were highly effective at controlling whitefly populations on squash. This study will be important for providing information on how insecticides can be used in combination with natural enemies to regulate pest populations in organic crop systems.