- Author: Kathy Keatley Garvey
His seminar is from 12:10 to 1 p.m. in 122 Briggs. Host is Michael Parrella, professor and chair of the department.
“There has been a long-standing debate whether biological control is promoted by specialist rather than generalist predators,” Messelink said. “Generalist predators are thought to be less suitable because of their interference with other natural enemies through intraguild predation or hyperpredation, switching behavior between prey and often relatively slow growth rate. Moreover, exotic generalist predators are often considered as an environmental risk because of their potential effects on non-target species.”
“In contrast, specialist natural enemies are well-adapted to their prey and often show higher growth rates,” Messelink said. “Yet, biological control programs in greenhouse crops are increasingly based on releases of generalist predators and they appear to be successful. In this presentation, I will show some of the recent successes that have been achieved with generalist predator in greenhouse crops, but I will also discuss some potential risks. Finally, I will show some current methods that are used to promote the establishment and persistence of natural enemies in greenhouse crops.”
Messelink has worked at the institute, dedicated to applied research for the greenhouse industry, since 1999. Much of his past research was aimed at biological control of thrips, spider mites and whiteflies with generalist predatory mites in several greenhouse cropping systems. His research was also the basis for his PhD thesis, which he completed during his work at the institute in collaboration with the University of Amsterdam.
Messelink’s current research on generalist predators includes anthocorid and mirid predatory bugs and food web complexities among species. “I am now involved in several research projects which in general, are about the evaluation of new natural enemies and developing systems that enhance establishment and persistence of natural enemies for control of thrips, spider mites whiteflies, aphids and mealy bugs.”
Messelink is a council member of the West Palearctic Regional Section of the International Organization for Biological Control (IOBC).
Some key publications:
Messelink, G. J., C. M. J. Bloemhard, M. W. Sabelis, and A. Janssen. 2013. Biological control of aphids in the presence of thrips and their enemies. BioControl 58:45-55.
Messelink, G. J., M. W. Sabelis, and A. Janssen. 2012. Generalist predators, food web complexities and biological pest control in greenhouse crops. Pages 191-214 in M. L. Larramendy and S. Soloneski, editors. Integrated pest management and pest control - current and future tactics. InTech, Rijeka.
Van Maanen, R., G. J. Messelink, R. Van Holstein-Saj, M. W. Sabelis, and A. Janssen. 2012. Prey temporarily escape from predation in the presence of a second prey species. Ecological Entomology 37:529-535.
Huang, N. X., A. Enkegaard, L. S. Osborne, P. M. J. Ramakers, G. J. Messelink, J. Pijnakker, and G. Murphy. 2011. The banker plant method in biological control. Critical Reviews in Plant Sciences 30:259-278.
Pilkington, L. J., G. Messelink, J. C. van Lenteren, and K. Le Mottee. 2010. "Protected Biological Control" - Biological pest management in the greenhouse industry. Biological Control 52:216-220.
Messelink, G. J., C. M. J. Bloemhard, J. A. Cortes, M. W. Sabelis, and A. Janssen. 2011. Hyperpredation by generalist predatory mites disrupts biological control of aphids by the aphidophagous gall midge Aphidoletes aphidimyza. Biological Control 57:246-252.
Messelink, G. J., R. van Maanen, S. E. F. van Steenpaal, and A. Janssen. 2008. Biological control of thrips and whiteflies by a shared predator: Two pests are better than one. Biological Control 44:372-379.
Messelink, G. J., S. E. F. Van Steenpaal, and P. M. J. Ramakers. 2006. Evaluation of phytoseiid predators for control of western flower thrips on greenhouse cucumber. Biocontrol 51:753-768.