Biocontrol Science and Technology (2011) 21, 15-21

H. -R. Pourian, R. Talaei-Hassanloui, A.A. Kosari and A. Ashouri (2011)
Effects of Metarhizium anisopliae on searching, feeding and predation by Orius albidipennis (Hem., Anthocoridae) on Thrips tabaci (Thy., Thripidae) larvae
Biocontrol Science and Technology 21 (1), 15-21
Abstract: The generalist predator Orius albidipennis Reut. (Hem., Anthocoridae) and entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae (Metchnikoff) Sorokin (Ascomycota: Clavicipitaceae) are important biocontrol agents of Thrips tabaci Lindeman (Thys., Thripidae) in most greenhouses. In this study, we estimated searching time, feeding time and predation rate in O. albidipennis feeding on untreated and treated thrips larvae which had been inoculated with three concentrations of M. anisopliae V275 at four time intervals; 0, 24, 48 and 72 h after infestation. Applied concentrations were 1 x 10³, 2 x 10⁴ and 2 x 10⁵ conidia/mL which roughly correspond to the LC₂₅, LC₅₀ and LC₇₅ for second instar-larvae. O. albidipennis responded to the presence of the M. anisopliae on the treated hosts by increasing the searching time and decreasing feeding time and predation rate levels. It was also able to detect and avoid treated patches.
(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): Hamid-Reza Pourian, Ahmad Ashouri

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
environment/habitat manipulation

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Thrips tabaci
Metarhizium anisopliae (entomopathogen)	Thrips tabaci
Orius albidipennis (predator)	Thrips tabaci