Macrolophus basicornis (predator)
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Macrolophus basicornis (predator) (Stål, 1860)
This mirid bug is found in South America, where it regarded as a beneficial predator of several groups of pest insects. It has been mainly studied as a predator of eggs and larvae of the South American tomato moth, Tuta absoluta, which is invasive in Europe and other regions. It also preys on whiteflies and other small insects. Like other species of Macrolophus, M. basicornis is zoophytophagous and feeds on tomato and tobacco plants in the absence of insect pray. However, the damage on the plants is small and outweighed by its beneficial effects. In greenhouses, the presence of M. basicornis on tomato plants reduces pest populations and increases yield significantly (van Lenteren, 2018).
