Journal of Pest Science (2018) 91, 1291-1300
Taro Saito and Michael Brownbridge (2018)
Compatibility of foliage-dwelling predatory mites and mycoinsecticides, and their combined efficacy against western flower thrips Frankliniella occidentalis
Journal of Pest Science 91 (4), 1291-1300
Abstract: Foliage-dwelling predatory mites and foliar applications of mycoinsecticides are commonly used in biological control programs for Western flower thrips. A laboratory study was designed to examine the compatibility of two foliage-dwelling predatory mites with two commercially available mycoinsecticides, followed by a greenhouse study to assess their combined efficacy against Western flower thrips, with a view to their concurrent use in an integrated strategy. The following commercially available biocontrol agents were evaluated: the predatory mites, Neoseiulus cucumeris (Oudemans) and Amblyseius swirskii (Athias-Henriot); and entomopathogenic fungi, Metarhizium anisopliae (Metschnikoff) Sorokin (now classified as Metarhizium brunneum) strain F52 and Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) GHA strain. Mortality caused by the mycoinsecticides ranged from 0 to 15.98% in the laboratory studies. In the greenhouse, the relative efficacy of predatory mite slow-release breeding sachets, Met52 EC spray, and a combined application was determined. Under high pest pressure, Met52 EC-alone was not as effective as N. cucumeris-alone or the combination treatment over 8 weeks. Neoseiulus cucumeris-alone provided better control of thrips than Met52 EC, but in a mixed infestation of thrips and two-spotted spider mites, the combination treatment worked best overall; the spider mites were effectively suppressed by Met52 EC. Under low pest pressure in the experiment with A. swirskii, use of Met52 EC or A. swirskii sachets effectively suppressed thrips population growth; moreover, the combination treatment completely eliminated both thrips and spider mites.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Michael Brownbridge
Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
application technology
evaluation - screening - selection
Pest and/or beneficial records:
| Beneficial | Pest/Disease/Weed | Crop/Product | Country | Quarant.
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frankliniella occidentalis | ||||
| Beauveria bassiana (entomopathogen) | Frankliniella occidentalis | |||
| Neoseiulus cucumeris (predator) | Frankliniella occidentalis | |||
| Amblyseius swirskii (predator) | Frankliniella occidentalis | |||
| Metarhizium brunneum (entomopathogen) | Frankliniella occidentalis |
