Effect of Integrating the Entomopathogenic Fungus (Hypocreales: Cordycipitaceae) and the Rove Beetle (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) in Suppressing Western Flower Thrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) Populations Under Greenhouse Conditions

2019 ◽  
Vol 112 (5) ◽  
pp. 2085-2093
Author(s):  
Yinping Li ◽  
Raymond A Cloyd ◽  
Nora M Bello
Keyword(s):  
Entomopathogenic Fungus ◽  
Frankliniella Occidentalis ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Insect Pest ◽  
Western Flower Thrips ◽  
Life Stages ◽  
Water Control ◽  
Greenhouse Production ◽  
Flower Thrips ◽  
Rove Beetle

Abstract Western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande), is a destructive insect pest in greenhouse production systems. Therefore, integrating the entomopathogenic fungus, Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin, with the soil-dwelling rove beetle, Dalotia coriaria (Kraatz), targeting different aboveground and belowground life stages may help effectively manage western flower thrips populations. Two greenhouse experiments were conducted evaluating five treatments: 1) insecticides (spinosad, pyridalyl, chlorfenapyr, and abamectin), 2) B. bassiana, 3) D. coriaria, 4) B. bassiana and D. coriaria combination, and 5) water control. The estimated mean number of western flower thrips adults captured on yellow sticky cards was significantly lower for the insecticide treatment (mean range: 0–46 western flower thrips adults per yellow sticky card) than the B. bassiana and D. coriaria combination (0.3–105.1 western flower thrips per yellow card) over 8 wk. There were no significant differences in the final foliar damage ratings of chrysanthemum, Dendranthema × grandiflorum (Ramat.) Kitam., plants among the five treatments in experiment 1, but there were significant differences in experiment 2. In experiment 2, chrysanthemum plants across all treatments were not marketable due to western flower thrips feeding damage. Therefore, using B. bassiana and D. coriaria early in production should suppress population growth by targeting both foliar-feeding and soil-dwelling life stages of western flower thrips simultaneously.

Predation Efficacy of Rove Beetle (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) Adults in Response to Western Flower Thrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) Pupal Stage, Predator–Prey Ratio, and Searchable Area

2020 ◽  
Vol 55 (3) ◽  
pp. 350-365
Author(s):  
Yinping Li ◽  
Raymond A. Cloyd ◽  
Nora M. Bello
Keyword(s):  
Laboratory Experiments ◽  
Frankliniella Occidentalis ◽  
Insect Pests ◽  
Western Flower Thrips ◽  
Pupal Stage ◽  
Predator Prey ◽  
Flower Thrips ◽  
Rove Beetle ◽  
Below Ground ◽  
Minimal Information

Abstract The rove beetle, Dalotia coriaria (Kraatz) (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae), is a soil-dwelling predator that preys upon insect pests residing in growing media. Minimal information exists addressing its predation on western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), below-ground life stages. Two laboratory experiments were conducted to assess the effects of western flower thrips pupal stage, predator–prey ratio, and searchable area on predation efficacy of rove beetle adults. In Experiment 1, predation was recorded in response to two thrips pupal stages (prepupae and pupae); three predator–prey ratios (1:5, 1:10, 1:15) and predator–prey ratios that were 2, 3, and 4 times greater. Experiment 2 was designed to assess predation in response to those predator–prey ratios along with searchable areas in 15.2- and 11.5-cm-diameter containers. Response was measured by capturing thrips adults on yellow sticky cards (YSC) as they emerged from pupation. The estimated mean probability of thrips adults captured on the cards was significantly higher for the 1:5 (61.1%) than for the 1:10 (39%) and 1:15 (34.7%) predator–prey ratios. The estimated mean probability of thrips adults captured on the cards for 2 times the predator–prey ratio (57%) was significantly higher than 3 times (37.2%) and 4 times (40.6%) the ratios. A significantly higher estimated mean probability of thrips adults was captured on the cards in the 15.2-cm-diameter containers than in the 11.5-cm-diameter containers. We conclude that a predator–prey ratio of 1:15 would result in fewer rove beetle adults needed to reduce western flower thrips prepupae/pupae stages and subsequent adult populations.

scholarly journals Effect of Sugar-based Compounds in Enhancing the Efficacy of Insecticides against the Western Flower Thrips

2012 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 177-184 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raymond A. Cloyd ◽  
Joshua D. Gillespie
Keyword(s):  
Frankliniella Occidentalis ◽  
Western Flower Thrips ◽  
High Rate ◽  
Water Control ◽  
Brown Sugar ◽  
Greenhouse Experiments ◽  
Flower Thrips ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Percent Mortality ◽  
The Individual

It has been proposed by greenhouse producers that adding sugar to a stomach poison insecticide enhances the efficacy of the insecticide in controlling western flower thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis). As such, a series of laboratory, including no-choice and multiple-choice assays, and greenhouse experiments were conducted to determine if adding sugar-based compounds to insecticides enhances efficacy against western flower thrips. The sugar-based compounds evaluated were Mountain Dew, Diet Mountain Dew, white sugar, and brown sugar at two rates [initial (0.18 mL/100 mL and 0.12 g/100 mL) and high (0.36 mL/100 mL and 0.24 g/100 mL)]. A water control was also included in all the assays. In the laboratory experiments, western flower thrips adults and nymphs were not attracted to any of the sugar-based compounds with <60 s (out of 300 s total) spent in any of the treatments, and ≤29 s (out of 300 s total) spent in the treatments when the sugar-based compounds were mixed with three insecticides (tau-fluvalinate, pyridalyl, and spinosad). In the greenhouse experiments, the addition of the high rate of Mountain Dew (0.36 mL/100 mL) and brown sugar (0.24 g/100 mL) did not enhance the efficacy (based on percent mortality) of the insecticides against western flower thrips. There was no significant difference between the individual insecticide treatments and the mixtures with either Mountain Dew or brown sugar. This study is the first to quantitatively demonstrate that western flower thrips adults and nymphs are not attracted to sugar-based compounds and that it is not warranted to add these types of materials to spray solutions targeted for control of western flower thrips.

scholarly journals Effects of Spray Volume and Application Frequency on Insecticide Efficacy Against Adult Western Flower Thrips (Frankliniella Occidentalis) under Greenhouse Conditions

HortScience ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 55 (10) ◽  
pp. 1708-1714
Author(s):  
Devin L. Radosevich ◽  
Raymond A. Cloyd ◽  
Nathan J. Herrick
Keyword(s):  
Frankliniella Occidentalis ◽  
Insect Pest ◽  
Western Flower Thrips ◽  
Economic Losses ◽  
Horticultural Crops ◽  
Flower Thrips ◽  
Insecticide Efficacy ◽  
Percent Mortality ◽  
Application Frequency ◽  
Spray Volume

The western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), is a major insect pest of greenhouse-grown horticultural crops. Western flower thrips causes direct and indirect damage by feeding on plant leaves, flowers, and fruits, and by transmitting viruses that can result in greenhouse producers experiencing substantial economic losses. Consequently, insecticides are used to suppress western flower thrips populations. However, issues associated with applying insecticides may affect the suppression of western flower thrips populations. Therefore, experiments were conducted under greenhouse conditions to determine the effects of the spray volume applied and application frequency on insecticide efficacy against western flower thrips adults located in transvaal daisy, Gerbera jamesonii, cut flowers. Four spray volumes (5.0, 10.0, 12.5, and 25.0 mL), two application frequencies (one or two spray applications), and three insecticides [spinosad (Conserve), chlorfenapyr (Pylon), and flonicamid (Aria)], each with a different mode of action, were tested. The insecticide treatments had the greatest effects on the mean percent mortality of western flower thrips adults regardless of spray volume or application frequency. However, in Expt. 3, the 5.0- and 10.0-mL spray volumes resulted in a higher mean percent mortality of western flower thrips adults than the 2.5-mL spray volume. Spinosad and chlorfenapyr resulted in a mean percent mortality of more than 72% for western flower thrips adults, whereas flonicamid resulted in mean percent mortality between 40% and 91%. Our study demonstrates that certain insecticides are more effective against western flower thrips adults located in transvaal daisy flowers than others, which will help greenhouse producers effectively manage western flower thrips populations.

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 &gt;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.

scholarly journals Effects of Growing Medium Type and Predator:Prey Ratio on Rove Beetle, Dalotia coriaria (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae), Adult Predation on Fungus Gnat, Bradysia sp. nr. coprophila (Diptera: Sciaridae), Larvae

HortScience ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 53 (10) ◽  
pp. 1441-1446 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nathan J. Herrick ◽  
Raymond A. Cloyd
Keyword(s):  
Production Systems ◽  
Insect Pests ◽  
Insect Pest ◽  
Greenhouse Production ◽  
Rove Beetles ◽  
Greenhouse Experiments ◽  
Rove Beetle ◽  
Growing Medium ◽  
Fungus Gnat ◽  
Medium Type

Fungus gnats, Bradysia spp. (Diptera: Sciaridae), are major insect pests because the larvae can directly damage plants grown in greenhouse production systems. In general, insecticides are commonly used to suppress fungus gnat larval populations. However, the rove beetle, Dalotia coriaria (Kraatz) (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae), a commercially available predator of insect pests, including fungus gnat larvae, may be an alternative to using insecticides. Growing medium selection used for growing plants can influence insect pest and predator interactions in greenhouse production systems; however, quantitative information is limited. Therefore, we conducted greenhouse experiments and a laboratory experiment to determine the effects of growing medium type on D. coriaria adult predation and fungus gnat, Bradysia. sp. nr. coprophila (Lintner) (Diptera: Sciaridae), larval survival when feeding on the roots of coleus, Solenostemon scutellarioides (L.) Codd, plants. In addition, experiments were conducted to determine the number of rove beetle adults, based on predator:prey ratios, needed to regulate fungus gnat larval populations. In all three experiments, fewer fungus gnat larvae survived in Pro-Mix BX than the Berger BM1 growing medium, and rove beetles reduced the number of fungus gnat larvae in both growing media in the greenhouse experiments. Although predator:prey ratio was not significant, we found that 10 rove beetle adults per 15.2-cm diameter container (1834.82 cm3 with 2.0 L of growing medium) regulated fungus gnat larval populations at the densities investigated. Therefore, greenhouse producers should consider the effects of production practices, such as growing medium type, when using rove beetles to regulate fungus gnat larval populations.

A cold treatment for postharvest control of western flower thrips on strawberry runners

2005 ◽  
Vol 45 (12) ◽  
pp. 1649
Author(s):  
P. Williams ◽  
K. M. Green ◽  
B. Swanson
Keyword(s):  
Frankliniella Occidentalis ◽  
Cold Treatment ◽  
Western Flower Thrips ◽  
Exposure Period ◽  
Life Stages ◽  
Flower Thrips ◽  
Strawberry Runner ◽  
Potential Strategy ◽  
Postharvest Control ◽  
Leaf Disks

In 1998–99, outbreaks of Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergrande), western flower thrips (WFT), caused extensive damage to strawberry crops in the Yarra Valley, Victoria. These crops were within 30 km of Toolangi where over 80% of certified strawberry runners for Australia are produced. Commercial growers store runners for various periods of time at temperatures as low as –2°C. Cold temperature disinfestation was evaluated as a potential strategy in a contingency plan to prevent the spread of WFT on strawberry runners. Western flower thrips at various life stages on gerbera flowers (on which they were reared), were placed in small bags, made from the plastic liners used in commercial strawberry runner cartons, together with strawberry runners and exposed to –2°C for periods of 1, 2, 4, or 8 weeks. All WFT died within 4 weeks. Additional experiments were conducted in which WFT, in bags with runners or on gerbera leaf disks in petri dishes, were exposed to –2°C for 3 weeks. Only a few WFT survived these treatments; however, they were moribund. When they were assessed 2 days after completion of the exposure period, all WFT were dead. It was concluded that strawberry runners carrying WFT can be disinfested by exposing WFT to –2°C for 4 weeks and that this should be achievable under commercial conditions.

scholarly journals Effect of Insecticide Drench Applications on Western Flower Thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis, Pupae in Growing Media

HortScience ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 54 (5) ◽  
pp. 890-895 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yinping Li ◽  
Raymond A. Cloyd ◽  
Nora M. Bello
Keyword(s):  
Frankliniella Occidentalis ◽  
Insect Pests ◽  
Residual Activity ◽  
Western Flower Thrips ◽  
Insect Growth Regulator ◽  
Water Control ◽  
Growing Media ◽  
Flower Thrips ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Untreated Check

Western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis, is one of the most destructive insect pests of greenhouse-grown horticultural crops. The primary method of managing western flower thrips populations involves applications of insecticides; however, there is no information associated with the effect of the insect growth regulator, pyriproxyfen, or the entomopathogenic fungus, Isaria fumosorosea, on western flower thrips pupae in growing media. Therefore, four laboratory experiments were conducted to determine the effect of pyriproxyfen and I. fumosorosea applied as a drench to growing media on western flower thrips pupae. Expt. 1 evaluated the efficacy of pyriproxyfen and I. fumosorosea on western flower thrips pupae. Based on the results from Expt. 1, Expt. 2 assessed the effect of pyriproxyfen in two growing media (LC1 and BM1) on western flower thrips pupae. Expts. 3 and 4 determined the residual activity of pyriproxyfen in growing media on western flower thrips pupae 3, 5, 7, and 14 days after treatments were applied. The pyriproxyfen treatment resulted in a significantly lower estimated mean probability of western flower thrips adults captured on yellow sticky cards (17%) compared with the water control (59%), untreated check (88%), and two I. fumosorosea treatments (46% for 1.0 g and 41% for 2.0 g of Ancora) in Expt. 1. However, for the two growing media in Expt. 2, the estimated mean probability of western flower thrips adults captured on yellow sticky cards was not significantly different between the pyriproxyfen treatment (LC1 = 15%; BM1 = 12%) and the water control (LC1 = 41%; BM1 = 24%). For either the pyriproxyfen treatment or the untreated check, there was no evidence of a significant difference between the two growing media on the estimated mean probability of western flower thrips adults captured on yellow sticky cards. Furthermore, there was no evidence of any residual activity 3 days after drench applications of pyriproxyfen. The results of the study have demonstrated that drench applications of pyriproxyfen are not affecting survival of western flower thrips pupae.

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