Screening of Natural Enemies: Problems and Further Development Directions

New trends in the technologies of mass breeding of entomophages and their use for biological pest control in greenhouses have been analyzed. The widespread use of new crop varieties, the spreading of new cultivation techniques in the Russian greenhouse crop production, and the increasing number of invasive pests make the selection criteria for entomophages more complicated and increase the need for adaptability of predators and parasitoids. The genetic selection methods of improving entomophages become more important in this context, including the methods for obtaining lines resistant to various phytosanitary preparations. The review covers the current range of entomophages and the directions of their further screening. A gap is noted between the current efforts in studying the ecology of entomophages and the information that is urgently needed for effective screening of species and their further adaptation in modern industrial greenhouses.