Environmental Entomology (1998) 27, 86-93
Jordi Riudavets and Christina Castañé (1998)
Identification and evaluation of native predators of Frankliniella occidentalis (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) in the Mediterranean
Environmental Entomology 27 (1), 86-93
Abstract: Predatory insects of Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) were surveyed from the summer of 1991 through the autumn of 1992 in nonsprayed vegetable and ornamental crops on the north Mediterranean coast of Spain. The predatory fauna comprised insects in 5 orders, 8 families, and 18 species. The anthocorid bugs Orius lavivigatus (Fiever) an O. majusculus (Reuter) and the mirid bugs Dicyphus tamanini Waener and Macrolophus caliginosus Wagner were the most numerous and widely distributed species observed, constituting 95% of all predators. All 4 of these species were able to complete their nymphal development feeding on F. occidentalis nymphs. Developmental periods of both mirid bugs species was longer than that of both anthocorid bug species. Prey consumption during nymphal stages was high and similar for all 4 predator species. Adults of all 4 species consumed a higher number of F. occidentalis nymphs than did their nymphs. Fecundity and longevity were higher for both anthocorid bug species compared with both mirid bug species. The potential of al14 species for biological control of F. occidentalis is discussed.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
(original language: English)
Database assignments for author(s): Jordi Riudavets, Cristina Castañe
Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
surveys/distribution/isolation
