Biological control of thrips with Neoseiulus cucumeris and Orius majusculus in strawberry tunnels
Abstract: Several cases of thrips resistance to pesticides have been observed due to heavy usage of insecticides during the seventies-eighties. Thrips complex enzyme metabolic detoxification system and fast reproduction has lead to a classification of major pest in strawberry production. This study evaluated a combination of two polyphagous biocontrol agents, the predatory mite Neoseiulus cucumeris and the minute predatory bug Orius majusculus and using the following research questions: Can the combination Neoseiulus cucumeris and Orius majusculus reduce thrips population in tabletop strawberry tunnels? This combination should theoretically target several thrips instars to reduce the thrips. The result showed a significant effect of biocontrol the last two weeks for total thrips and thrips on flowers. The experiment was terminated after five weeks due to threshold reached at experiment site and pesticides where applied. The result shows that biocontrol treatment could not completely control the thrips populations, but has an important potential as a part of IPM as it procrastinate pesticide usage. Additional experiments are required with biocontrol agents tested separately and in combination to analyze efficacy and evaluate reported intraguild predation (IGP) from Orius spp. on predatory mites, but also study the possible delayed insecticide resistance.
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