Evaluating Biorational Pesticides for Controlling Arthropod Pests and their Phytotoxic Effects on Greenhouse Crops

Abstract

Horticultural oil and insecticidal soap were as effective as conventional insecticides and miticides in controlling a variety of sap-feeding insects and mites on common greenhouse crops. Neem extract (Margosan-O or Azatin) was less consistent and provided intermediate to good control of a variety of sap-feeding insects and mites on common greenhouse crops. Except for purple heart (Setcreasea purpurea K. Schum. & Sydow) and wax ivy (Hoya carnosa R. Br.), repetitive sprays of horticultural oil, insecticidal soap, and neem extract (Azatin) did not seem to cause any noticeable phytotoxicity or effect the growth of 52 species or cultivars of bedding plants and 13 species of foliage plants examined in this study. Repetitive sprays of horticultural oil and insecticidal soap significantly affected plant height and final quality of some poinsettia cultivars evaluated in this study.