Lance S. Osborne, an entomology professor and associate director of the University of Florida's Mid-Florida Research and Education Center in Apopka, led a study that found that papaya plants can be used to host a wasp that attacks silverleaf whiteflies, an insect that is a major pest of tomatoes.

Whiteflies feed on tomato leaves and transmit diseases, including tomato yellow leaf curl virus. By introducing papaya plants with wasps into the greenhouse before any pest whiteflies are detected, the wasps act as sentries and attack any whiteflies that might become established in the crop.

The researchers found the wasp significantly controlled silverleaf whiteflies on tomatoes while at the same time preying on papaya whiteflies.

The wasps were able to fly from papaya plants located in the corners of greenhouses to attack silverleaf whiteflies on tomatoes located in the center. Successful tomato production occurred without the use of pesticides.

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