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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

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