Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata (2015) 155, 54-63

M.M. Davidson, M.-C. Nielsen, R.C. Butler, C. Castañé, O. Alomar, J. Riudavets and D.A.J. Teulon (2015)
Can semiochemicals attract both western flower thrips and their anthocorid predators?
Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata 155 (1), 54-63
Abstract: Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) (western flower thrips, WFT) is a key pest in a range of crops worldwide. Anthocorid species (Hemiptera) are important natural enemies of thrips. Several experiments were undertaken to determine whether a thrips lure, methyl isonicotinate (MI), affected the behaviour of WFT and anthocorids found in outdoor crops. Currently, this volatile compound is used in conjunction with sticky traps for monitoring thrips predominantly in greenhouses in Northern Europe. In the present study, in a nectarine [Prunus persica (L.) (Rosaceae)] orchard and an outdoor capsicum [Capsicum annuum L. (Solanaceae)] crop in Spain, blue sticky and white water traps with MI caught significantly more WFT than traps without MI. The volatile compound also significantly increased both blue sticky and white water trap capture of anthocorids – predominantly Orius laevigatus (Fieber) (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae) – in the capsicum crop. These results indicate that the behaviour of both WFT and O. laevigatus were altered by the presence of the compound and suggest there is potential to develop novel tools based on MI in conjunction with biological control strategies for thrips management.
(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): Melanie M. Davidson, Jordi Riudavets, David A.J. Teulon, Mette-Cecilie Nielsen, Oscar Alomar, Cristina Castañe

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
pheromones/attractants/traps
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.
	Frankliniella occidentalis	Peach/nectarine (Prunus persica)	Spain (continental)
	Frankliniella occidentalis	Green pepper/chilli (Capsicum)	Spain (continental)
Orius laevigatus (predator)	Frankliniella occidentalis	Peach/nectarine (Prunus persica)	Spain (continental)