Biocontrol Science and Technology (1995) 5, 475-488

R. Gabarra (1995)
The mirid bug Dicyphus tamaninii as a greenhouse whitefly and western flower thrips predator on cucumber
Biocontrol Science and Technology 5 (4), 475-488
Abstract: Dicyphus tamaninii Wagner is a polyphagous predator that also feeds on plants. Its effectiveness against several pests has been tested and good results have been obtained on tomato, but not on cucumber. This paper reports the results of three exclusion cage experiments. The first was carried out to evaluate the effectiveness of D. tamaninii for reducing greenhouse whitefly and western flower thrips populations on cucumber. The second experiment examined the safety of the mirid bug in terms of the potential for damaging cucumber fruits even at very low prey densities. Two predator (3 and 18 insects/plant) and variable prey release rates were used. The predator was able to reduce whitefly populations greatly, even at high initial pest infestation levels, especially at the higher release rate. Western flower thrips populations were maintained at very low densities a few weeks after the predator had been introduced into cages at the two release rates tested. The mirid bug was barely able to reproduce on cucumber in the absence of prey. Mirid feeding punctures on cucumber fruit or yield decrease due to the action of mirids were not observed. The potential of this mirid bug for inoculative and conservation biological control is discussed.
(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): Rosa Gabarra

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
evaluation - screening - selection
non-target effects/fate in environm.

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Frankliniella occidentalis	Cucumber (Cucumis sativus)
	Trialeurodes vaporariorum	Cucumber (Cucumis sativus)
Dicyphus tamaninii (predator)	Frankliniella occidentalis	Cucumber (Cucumis sativus)
Dicyphus tamaninii (predator)	Trialeurodes vaporariorum	Cucumber (Cucumis sativus)