Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-rdxmf Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-24T12:56:38.595Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Supplemental food affects thrips predation and movement of Orius laevigatus (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae) and Neoseiulus cucumeris (Acari: Phytoseiidae)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 May 2007

D.J. Skirvin*
Affiliation:
Warwick HRI, Wellesbourne, Warwick, CV35 9EF, UK
L. Kravar-Garde
Affiliation:
Warwick HRI, Wellesbourne, Warwick, CV35 9EF, UK
K. Reynolds
Affiliation:
Warwick HRI, Wellesbourne, Warwick, CV35 9EF, UK
J. Jones
Affiliation:
Warwick HRI, Wellesbourne, Warwick, CV35 9EF, UK
A. Mead
Affiliation:
Warwick HRI, Wellesbourne, Warwick, CV35 9EF, UK
J. Fenlon
Affiliation:
RISCU, Department of Statistics, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK
*
*Fax: 024 765 74500 E-mail: [email protected]

Abstract

Two experiments were done to examine the predation of thrips, and the movement of Orius laevigatus Fieber and Neoseiulus cucumeris (Oudemans) in the presence and absence of two supplemental food sources, pollen and the fungus Trichoderma viride. The presence of pollen led to a 55% reduction in predation of the thrips by N. cucumeris and a 40% reduction in thrips predation by O. laevigatus, in experiments using single predators. The presence of fungus had no significant effect on thrips predation by either of the natural enemy species. Movement of the natural enemies was examined in a multiple predator experiment, and this showed that O. laevigatus was more likely to remain on the plant in the presence of thrips and when supplemental food, either pollen or fungus, was present. For N. cucumeris, there was no association between the presence of thrips and the mite, with the majority of the mites being found on the leaves where pollen was present. Although the single and multiple predator experiments were done at different times, the indications are that the predation rates of the N. cucumeris do not differ greatly between the two experiments, suggesting that there may be a potential interference effect between the mites, which is not present for O. laevigatus. The significance of these results for the use of supplemental food sources in biological control is discussed.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2007

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Bakker, F.M. & Sabelis, M.W. (1989) How larvae of Thrips tabaci reduce the attack success of phytoseiid predators. Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata 50, 4751.Google Scholar
Brødsgaard, H.F. (1995) ‘Keep-Down’ a concept of thrips control in ornamental pot plants. pp. 221224in Parker, B.L., Skinner, M. & Lewis, T. (Eds) Thrips biology and management. New York, Plenum Press.Google Scholar
de Courcy Williams, M.E., Kravar-Garde, L., Fenlon, J. & Sunderland, K.D. (2004) Phytoseiid mites in protected crops: the effect of humidity and food availability on egg hatch and adult life span of Iphiseus degenerans, Neoseiulus cucumeris, N. californicus, and Phytoseiulus persimilis (Acari: Phytoseiidae). Experimental and Applied Acarology 32, 113.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Gilkeson, L.A., Morewood, W.D. & Elliot, D.E. (1990) Current status of biological control of thrips in Canadian greenhouses with Amblyseius cucumeris and Orius tristicolor. IOBC/WPRS Bulletin 13, 7175.Google Scholar
Gillespie, D.R. & Quiring, D.J.M. (1992) Competition between Orius tristicolor (White) (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae) and Amblyseius cucumeris (Oudemans) (Acari: Phytoseiidae) feeding on Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae). Canadian Entomologist 124, 11231128.Google Scholar
Hulshof, J., Ketoja, E. & Vänninen, I. (2003) Life history characteristics of Frankliniella occidentalis on cucumber leaves with and without supplemental food. Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata 108, 1932.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Jacobson, R. (1993) Control of Frankliniella occidentalis with Orius majusculus: experiences during the first full season of commercial use in the UK. IOBC/WPRS Bulletin 16, 8184.Google Scholar
Jacobson, R.J. (1997) Integrated pest management (IPM) in glasshouses. pp. 639666in Lewis, T. (Ed.) Thrips as crop pests. Wallingford, Oxon, CAB International.Google Scholar
Murphy, G.D. & Broadbent, A.B. (1996) Adoption of IPM by the greenhouse floriculture industry in Ontario, Canada. IOBC/WPRS Bulletin 19, 111114.Google Scholar
Overmeer, W.P.J. (1985) Rearing and handling. pp. 161170in Helle, W. & Sabelis, M.W. (Eds) Spider mites – their biology, natural enemies and control Vol. 1B. Amsterdam, Elsevier.Google Scholar
Ramakers, P.M.J. (1995) Biological control using oligophagous predators. pp. 225229in Parker, B.L., Skinner, M. & Lewis, T. (Eds) Thrips biology and management. New York, Plenum Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Riudavets, J. (1995) Predators of Frankliniella occidentalis (Perg.) and Thrips tabaci (Lind.): a review. Wageningen Agricultural University Papers 95–1, 4387.Google Scholar
Sabelis, M.W. & Van Rijn, P.C.J. (1997) Predation by insects and mites. pp. 259–35in Lewis, T. (Ed.) Thrips as crop pests. Wallingford, Oxon, CAB International.Google Scholar
Shields, E.J. & Watson, T.F. (1980) Searching behaviour of female Orius tristicolor. Annals of the Entomological Society of America 73, 533535.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Skirvin, D.J., Kravar-Garde, L., Reynolds, K., Jones, J. & de Courcy Williams, M.E. (2006) The influence of pollen on combining predators to control Frankliniella occidentalis on ornamental chrysanthemum crops. Biocontrol Science and Technology 16, 99105.Google Scholar
Tommasini, M.G. & Maini, S. (1995) Predators of Frankliniella occidentalis and other thrips harmful to vegetable and ornamental crops in Europe. Wageningen Agricultural University Papers 95–1, viiix & 142.Google Scholar
Van Delden, A., Diederik, D., Mols, P.J.M., Rossing, W.A.H. & Van der Werf, W. (1995) The influence of flower refugia and pollen on biological control of western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis, by the predatory mite Amblyseius cucumeris; a simulation study. Mededelingen van der Faculteit Landbouwwetenschappen Rijksuniversiteit, Gent 60, 6978.Google Scholar
Van den Meiracker, R.A.F. & Ramakers, P.M.J. (1991) Biological control of the western flower thrips Frankliniella occidentalis, in sweet pepper, with the anthocorid predator Orius insidiosus. Mededelingen van der Faculteit Landbouwwetenschappen Rijksuniversiteit, Gent 56, 241249.Google Scholar
Van Rijn, P.C.J. & Sabelis, M.W. (1990a) Pollen availability and its effect on the maintenance of populations of Amblyseius cucumeris, a predator of thrips. Mededelingen van der Faculteit Landbouwwetenschappen Rijksuniversiteit, Gent 55, 335341.Google Scholar
Van Rijn, P.C.J. & Sabelis, M.W. (1990b) Pollen as an alternative food source for predatory mites and its effect on the biological control of thrips in greenhouses. Proceedings in Experimental and Applied Entomology 1, 4448.Google Scholar
Van Rijn, P.C.J. & Sabelis, M.W. (1993) Does alternative food always enhance biological control? The effect of pollen on the interactions between western flower thrips and its predators. IOBC/WPRS Bulletin 16, 123125.Google Scholar
Van Rijn, P.C.J. & Van Houten, Y.M. (1991) Life history of Amblyseius cucumeris and Amblyseius barkeri (Acarina: Phytoseiidae) on a diet of pollen. Modern Acarology 2, 647654.Google Scholar
Van Rijn, P.C.J., Van Houten, Y.M. & Sabelis, M.W. (2002) How plants benefit from providing food to predators even when it is also available to herbivores. Ecology 83, 26642679.Google Scholar
Wardlow, L.R. (1990) Integrated pest management in protected ornamentals in England. Bulletin OEPP/EPPO Bulletin 22, 493498.Google Scholar