Biological Control of Thrips on Ornamental Crops: Interactions Between the Predatory Mite Neoseiulus cucumeris (Acari: Phytoseiidae) and Western Flower Thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), on Cyclamen

2001 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 41-55 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. E. De Courcy Williams
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Frankliniella Occidentalis ◽  
Western Flower Thrips ◽  
Predatory Mite ◽  
Neoseiulus Cucumeris ◽  
Flower Thrips ◽  
Ornamental Crops

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)

1990 ◽  
Vol 122 (5) ◽  
pp. 975-983 ◽  
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.

Effect of Pesticide Mixtures on the Survival of the Predatory Mite Neoseiulus cucumeris (Acarina: Phytoseiidae)

2007 ◽  
Vol 42 (3) ◽  
pp. 311-319 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heather E. Lash ◽  
Daniel F. Warnock ◽  
Raymond A. Cloyd
Keyword(s):  
Fungal Pathogens ◽  
Frankliniella Occidentalis ◽  
Western Flower Thrips ◽  
Predatory Mite ◽  
Water Control ◽  
Neoseiulus Cucumeris ◽  
Thiophanate Methyl ◽  
Pesticide Mixtures ◽  
Control Programs ◽  
Flower Thrips

This study was conducted to determine the effect of 2 insecticides/miticides, spinosad and abamectin, and 2 fungicides, thiophanate-methyl and fenhexamid, when applied alone or mixed in all combinations, on the survival of Neoseiulus cucumeris (Oudemans). Neoseiulus cucumeris is a predatory mite utilized in greenhouses for managing western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis Pergande. The deutonymph and adult stages of N. cucumeris were directly exposed to the pesticide treatments or a water control. Overall, the deutonymphs were more susceptible to the pesticide treatments, based on percent survival 24 h after treatment, than the adults. Five of the 7 pesticide mixtures containing spinosad and 4 of the 7 mixtures containing abamectin resulted in deutonymph mortality values between 50 and 69%. Thiophanate-methyl alone and in combination with either spinosad or abamectin resulted in >35% mortality of the deutonymphs. Based on the results of this study, spinosad and abamectin, when used alone or in mixture with thiophanate-methyl will reduce N. cucumeris populations by killing the deutonymphs. This information is important to greenhouse managers who want to use pesticide mixtures to manage arthropod pests and fungal pathogens without disrupting biological control programs for western flower thrips.

Biological control of Western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis using a self-sustaining granular fungal treatment

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Agrin Davari ◽  
Bruce L. Parker ◽  
Cheryl Frank Sullivan ◽  
Arash Ghalehgolabbehbahani ◽  
Margaret Skinner
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Frankliniella Occidentalis ◽  
Western Flower Thrips ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Spore Production ◽  
Fungal Treatment ◽  
Sterile Soil ◽  
Flower Thrips ◽  
Ornamental Crops ◽  
Extensive Damage

Abstract Western flower thrips (WFT), Frankliniella occidentalis, is one of the most destructive pests of vegetables, fruits and ornamental crops worldwide, causing extensive damage by direct feeding of the crop and transmitting economically important viruses. Despite the successes of biocontrol agents to control WFT, more efficient and cost-effective ways must be found to encourage grower adoption of integrated pest management. A sustainable fungal treatment was developed to preserve fungal inoculum in potting soil and reduce thrips populations. Combining cooked, oven-dried millet with BotaniGard® (a commercial form of Beauveria bassiana strain GHA) to potting soil increased spore production and persistence of the fungus in the soil. In treated pots with millet, spore concentrations were 3–4 times greater after 30 days compared with spore yields at 10 days. The number of WFT adults was significantly lower in the marigold pots treated with GHA mix + millet than untreated controls, 12% and 10% in treated pots and 70% and 68% in untreated pots in sterile and non-sterile soil, respectively. Incorporation of millet in the potting mix enhanced the effect of the fungal treatments by providing a nutritive substrate on which the fungus could become established. This method is relatively inexpensive and easy for growers to use in greenhouses because granular formulations of B. bassiana are not commercially available.

scholarly journals Intra-guild vs extra-guild prey: effect on predator fitness and preference of Amblyseius swirskii (Athias-Henriot) and Neoseiulus cucumeris (Oudemans) (Acari: Phytoseiidae)

2009 ◽  
Vol 100 (2) ◽  
pp. 167-173 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Buitenhuis ◽  
L. Shipp ◽  
C. Scott-Dupree
Keyword(s):  
Frankliniella Occidentalis ◽  
Western Flower Thrips ◽  
Predation Rate ◽  
Predatory Mites ◽  
Amblyseius Swirskii ◽  
Neoseiulus Cucumeris ◽  
Predator Species ◽  
Flower Thrips ◽  
Fast Development ◽  
High Predation Rate

AbstractThe relationships between the predatory mites, Amblyseius swirskii (Athias-Henriot) and Neoseiulus cucumeris (Oudemans) (Acari: Phytoseiidae), and their prey, western flower thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis Pergande) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), were investigated to determine the effects of predation on intra-guild or extra-guild prey and predator preference. Life history characteristics of both predatory mites were measured when fed eggs and larvae of the other predator species and compared to data obtained when the predators were fed thrips larvae. In addition, choice tests were conducted to determine if the predators had a preference for different prey or if they were indiscriminate predators. Amblyseius swirskii appears to be an important intra-guild predator of N. cucumeris juveniles because of a high predation rate and a preference for N. cucumeris juveniles over thrips. Neoseiulus cucumeris is also an intra-guild predator of A. swirskii juveniles; however, it has a lower predation rate than A. swirskii. Contrary to intra-guild predation theory, intra-guild prey was an equally good or better food source than thrips (extra-guild prey) for both predators, based on high oviposition rates and fast development times. The results of this study indicate a high potential for negative interactions between A. swirskii and N. cucumeris when used together in biological control of thrips.

scholarly journals Anthocoris nemorum (Heteroptera: Anthocoridae) as predator of cabbage pests – voracity and prey preference

2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 12-18 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marie-Louise Rugholm Simonsen ◽  
Annie Enkegaard ◽  
Camilla Nordborg Bang ◽  
Lene Sigsgaard
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Plutella Xylostella ◽  
Frankliniella Occidentalis ◽  
Diamondback Moth ◽  
Western Flower Thrips ◽  
Potential Candidate ◽  
Model Species ◽  
Flower Thrips ◽  
Cabbage Pests ◽  
Cabbage Aphids

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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