Simply put, the insects that plague your greenhouse operation have enemies. Many people are aware that ladybeetles eat aphids; a classic example of insect destroying insect while growers reap the benefits. Thrips, whiteflies, and spider mites also have natural enemies which can be easily purchased and put to use.
Bio-control does not mean "organic". While it can be a very useful part of organic operations, it can also be a very effective tool for conventional growers. A carefully integrated pest management system combining chemicals and bio-control can have a great rate of success in keeping losses down and production up.
Some benefits of using bio-control are:
Reduction of pests numbers to below economic threshold
Low cost of natural enemies
Reduction in costs spent on pesticides
Learning to monitor and apply chemicals only when necessary (saving money)
Less pest resistance to chemicals
Less toxic chemicals for workers to deal with
Lower chances of sudden pest outbreaks due to presence of natural enemies
Long-term control
Here a big-eyed bug is feeding on whiteflies of various growth stages on a leaf.
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