First report of Engytatus varians (Distant, 1884) (Heteroptera: Miridae: Dicyphini) in Eastern Uruguay and preliminary test on its feeding habits

Abstract

The aim of this work is to report the unprecedented presence in Uruguay of Engytatus varians (Distant, 1884), a predator of several pests of Solanaceae, to present its main morphological features and some facts of its biology, and to provide a key for the identification of the Dicyphini species registered in the country. The presence of this predator in our region is of great interest for the development of future research works related to biological pest control and the potential interaction thereof with other predaceous mirids.

Two in one: the neotropical mirid predator Macrolophus basicornis increases pest control by feeding on plants

“…[5][6][7] Studies on zoophytophagous mirid predators as potential biological control agents in the neotropical region have increased in the last 10 years. [8][9][10][11][12] Among the neotropical species, Macrolophus basicornis Stal (Hemiptera: Miridae) is the most promising predator for the major tomato pests, including Bemisia tabaci and Tuta absoluta. [13][14][15] Macrolophus basicornis has also been shown to be attracted to tomato plant volatiles 16 and does not cause economic damage to tomato plants due to phytophagy, 13 which makes this species a potentially safer candidate than the widely used European species Nesidiocoris tenuis, which can become a serious pest in certain circumstances.…”

“…Studies on zoophytophagous mirid predators as potential biological control agents in the neotropical region have increased in the last 10 years 8–12 . Among the neotropical species, Macrolophus basicornis Stal (Hemiptera: Miridae) is the most promising predator for the major tomato pests, including Bemisia tabaci and Tuta absoluta 13–15 .…”