Naturally-Occurring Biological Control: Western Flower Thrips Impact on Spider Mites in California Cotton

Laboratory experimentswere performed with adult female Anthocoris nemorum (Linnaeus) (Heteroptera: Anthocoridae) at 20°C ± 1°C, L16:D8, 60–70% RH to determine voracity and preference on cabbage aphids (Brevicoryne brassicae L.) (Hemiptera: Aphididae), diamondback moth larvae (Plutella xylostella L.) (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae) and Western flower thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis Pergande) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) (model species for cabbage thrips (Thrips angusticeps Uzel) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae)). When offered individually, A. nemorum readily accepted all three species with no significant differences in consumption. When aphids and moth larvae were offered simultaneously, A. nemorum showed preference for the latter (numbers eaten and biomass consumed). When aphids and thrips were offered together, A. nemorum preferred thrips in terms of numbers eaten but preferred aphids in terms of biomass consumed. The results showed that A. nemorum is a voracious predator of B. brassicae, P. xylostella and F. occidentalis and can therefore be considered as a potential candidate for biological control in cabbage.

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Biological control of the western flower thrips,Frankliniella occidentalis(Pergande) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), in glasshouse sweet peppers withOriusspp. (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae). A comparative study betweenO. niger(Wolff) andO. insidiosus(Say)

Biocontrol Science and Technology ◽

10.1080/09583159209355243 ◽

1992 ◽

Vol 2 (4) ◽

pp. 281-283 ◽

Cited By ~ 37

Author(s):

M. Van de Veire ◽

D. Degheele

Keyword(s):

Biological Control ◽

Comparative Study ◽

Frankliniella Occidentalis ◽

Western Flower Thrips ◽

Flower Thrips

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Prey preference ofOrius sauteribetween Western Flower Thrips and spider mites

Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata ◽

10.1111/j.1570-7458.2009.00867.x ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 132 (1) ◽

pp. 93-98 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Xuenong Xu ◽

Annie Enkegaard

Keyword(s):

Western Flower Thrips ◽

Spider Mites ◽

Prey Preference ◽

Flower Thrips

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BIOLOGICAL CONTROL OF FUNGUS GNATS, BRADYSIA SPP. (DIPTERA: SCIARIDAE), AND WESTERN FLOWER THRIPS, FRANKLINIELLA OCCIDENTALS (PERGANDE) (THYSANOPTERA: THRIPIDAE), IN GREENHOUSES USING A SOIL-DWELLING PREDATORY MITE, GEOLAELAPS SP. NR. ACULEIFER (CANESTRINI) (ACARI: LAELAPIDAE)

The Canadian Entomologist ◽

10.4039/ent122975-9 ◽

1990 ◽

Vol 122 (5) ◽

pp. 975-983 ◽

Cited By ~ 36

Author(s):

David R. Gillespie ◽

Donald M.J. Quiring

Keyword(s):

Biological Control ◽

Frankliniella Occidentalis ◽

Western Flower Thrips ◽

Predatory Mite ◽

Flower Thrips ◽

Fungus Gnats ◽

Fungus Gnat ◽

Greenhouse Cucumber ◽

Crop Cycle ◽

Hydroponically Grown

AbstractA soil-dwelling predatory mite, Geolaelaps sp. nr. aculeifer (Canestrini), introduced inundatively at a rate of 6000 mites per plant to the sawdust substrate of hydroponically grown, greenhouse cucumbers significantly reduced numbers of fungus gnat, Bradysia spp., larvae and adults over a 10-week period. Inundative introductions of 1600 mites per plant reduced emergence of western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande), adults to about 30% of that in the controls over a 40-day trial. An inoculative introduction of 125 mites per plant to cucumber plants in selected rows in a commercial greenhouse reduced peak fungus gnat numbers to about 20% of those in untreated rows. These results suggest that a single inoculative introduction of Geolaelaps sp. nr. aculeifer, early in the crop cycle, would maintain control of fungus gnat populations in greenhouse cucumber crops at an acceptable level. This predator would also contribute to biological control of western flower thrips by reducing emergence of adults.

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