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Risk of damage to tomato crops by the generalist zoophytophagous predator Nesidiocoris tenuis (Reuter) (Hemiptera: Miridae)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 April 2009

J. Arnó ,
C. Castañé ,
J. Riudavets  and
R. Gabarra
J. Arnó
Affiliation:
IRTA, Carretera de Cabrils Km 2, 08348-Cabrils (Barcelona), Spain
C. Castañé*
Affiliation:
IRTA, Carretera de Cabrils Km 2, 08348-Cabrils (Barcelona), Spain
J. Riudavets
Affiliation:
IRTA, Carretera de Cabrils Km 2, 08348-Cabrils (Barcelona), Spain
R. Gabarra
Affiliation:
IRTA, Carretera de Cabrils Km 2, 08348-Cabrils (Barcelona), Spain
*
*Author for correspondence Fax: +34 937 533 954 E-mail: [email protected]
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Abstract

Nesidiocoris tenuis (Reuter) (Hem. Miridae) is a native zoophytophagous predator of the Mediterranean region, and its populations colonize tomato crops when they are not heavily treated with insecticides. This generalist predator has a high capacity for controlling insect pests, and it is currently commercially produced and released in some areas to control Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (Hem. Aleyrodidae). However, its status as a pest and/or as beneficial is controversial. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the risk of damage to tomatoes in extreme conditions of prey scarcity, as well as high predator populations. Three predator densities were tested in a greenhouse cage experiment during a summer tomato crop. The crop did not display any negative effect caused by the predators during the first six weeks of interaction, independently of the density released. However, subsequently, the effect was dramatic, both on the vegetative growth of the plant and on the production of fruits. The reduction in vegetative growth was located at truss eight and it was expressed mainly by a lower number of leaves and a shorter length of the shoot above the truss. There was a significant reduction of yield with a lower number of fruits collected and a smaller mean weight, although this was not observable until truss seven. It seems that feeding on the plant by this mirid bug competed with the vegetative growth and fruiting processes of the plant in the extreme conditions of prey shortage maintained in our experiment.

Keywords

omnivorecrop damagebiological controlpopulation dynamicswhitefly
Type
Research Paper
Information
Bulletin of Entomological Research , Volume 100 , Issue 1 , February 2010 , pp. 105 - 115
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2009

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