Insects (2020) 11 (10 - 670)

Amy Roda, Jose Castillo, Carina Allen, Alberto Urbaneja, Meritxell Pérez-Hedo, Scott Weihman and Philip A. Stansly (2020)
Biological control potential and drawbacks of three zoophytophagous mirid predators against Bemisia tabaci in the United States
Insects 11 (10 - 670)
Abstract: Miridae (Hemiptera) of the tribe Dicyphini are important zoophytophagous predators use to control pest arthropods in vegetable crops. However, the risk that their herbivory may cause economic damage could hinder their application as useful biocontrol agents and may limit the likelihood they would meet regulatory requirements for importation. We conducted field cage studies to assess the predation capacity and tomato plant damage of three mirid species established in south USA, a known biocontrol agent (Nesidiocoris tenuis), and two native species (Macrolophus praeclarus and Engytatus modestus). All three species significantly reduced the number of whiteflies (Bemisia tabaci) on tomato plants compared to tomato plants without mirids. More damage, evaluated as the number of necrotic rings, was observed on tomato plants with E. modestus and N. tenuis compared to M. praeclarus. In our experiments that included sesame plants (Sesamum indicum) with tomato plants, mirid numbers increased despite a low number of prey, thus showing a benefit of the plant-feeding habit of these predators. USA's established mirids may therefore prove to be immediately available biological agents for the management of present and future tomato pests.
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Database assignments for author(s): Alberto Urbaneja, Philip A. Stansly

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
evaluation - screening - selection
application technology

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Bemisia tabaci biotype MEAM1	Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum)	U.S.A. (SE)
Nesidiocoris tenuis (predator)	Bemisia tabaci biotype MEAM1	Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum)	U.S.A. (SE)
Macrolophus praeclarus (predator)	Bemisia tabaci biotype MEAM1	Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum)	U.S.A. (SE)