Journal of Pest Science (2019) 92, 1049-1056

Gaetano Siscaro, Carmelo Lo Pumo, Giovanna Tropea Garzia, Simona Tortorici, Antonio Gugliuzzo, Michele Ricupero, Antonio Biondi and Lucia Zappalà (2019)
Temperature and tomato variety influence the development and the plant damage induced by the zoophytophagous mirid bug Nesidiocoris tenuis
Journal of Pest Science 92 (3), 1049-1056
Abstract: Nesidiocoris tenuis (Hemiptera: Miridae) is an important biocontrol agent of several key arthropod pests, including the South American tomato pinworm, Tuta absoluta (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae). However, it can cause economic damage owing to its herbivory. Risk assessment on plant for the predator under different temperature thresholds is necessary for managing its phytophagy in tomato cultivation. We investigated the predator plant damage and its development under the influence of temperature and tomato variety. Ten commercial tomato varieties of different types (round red, small cherry, date baby plum, piccadilly plum and marmande beefsteak) were tested in the laboratory under five constant temperatures (15, 20, 25, 30 and 35 °C). The amount of fourth-instar nymphs moulted into adults and stem necrotic rings induced by the feeding activity was evaluated. The plant damage differed among the varieties and increased significantly across the temperatures up to 30 °C, with a slight decline at 35 °C. Temperature and variety significantly affected the nymphal development with an increasing number of moulted adults at increasing temperature, but with slight differences among tomato varieties. Our findings provide valuable information on the mirid response to the tested abiotic and biotic factors, which can help in the management and exploitation of N. tenuis as a biocontrol agent in tomato crop.
(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): Antonio Biondi, Lucia Zappala

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
general biology - morphology - evolution

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Phthorimaea absoluta	Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum)
Nesidiocoris tenuis (predator)	Phthorimaea absoluta	Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum)