Ifapa is researching the use of reptiles as biological pest controllers in Almeria’s greenhouses.

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The Andalusian Institute of Agricultural, Fisheries, Food, and Organic Production Research, and Training (Ifapa) began research in Almeria to determine and measure reptiles living in greenhouses. It is which aims to evaluate the value the reptiles provide producers in addition to their importance in pest control as well as the ecological balance.

The study, which was developed by the biological control research group and the technical support from the environmental and agronomic consulting firm ARIA It will increase our understanding of the behavior as well as the adaptations and dynamic of vertebrates in the different agricultural settings.

The agro-ecological line that was initiated at Ifapa center located in La Mojonera (Almeria) and funded through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) Recently, it has demonstrated the importance of insectivore aerial vertebrates to control important pests like the tomato moth, or Tuta absolute.

The aim is to keep studying this field to determine the importance of vertebrates for the control of biological pests in greenhouses. Then, translate the results into the entire industry, which will help promote more biological control as well as a better respect for the biodiversity.

The research falls under The “Emerging and re-emerging insects in protected the horticulture industry” project Ifapa has been working on through 2026 to determine the molecular and taxonomic identification of populations of these pests in addition to their natural enemies as well as their effectiveness in the context of biological agents for control.

This project will also provide solutions for particular pests like tobacco Thrips ( Thrips parvispinus) or leaf miner ( Liriomyza spp.) and could pose a significant risk to the Almeria’s greenhouses horticulture.

In this regard, Ifapa researchers and technicians tackle the ecological aspects of the pests in order to know the dynamics of their populations as well as optimize their control strategies and test novel biological pest control methods.

More information is available here:

Junta de Andalucia

www.juntadeandalucia.es

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