Predation by Neoseiulus cucumeris and Amblyseius swirskii on Thrips palmi and Frankliniella schultzei on cucumber

Efficacy of two predatory phytoseiid mites in controlling the western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) on cherry tomato grown in a hydroponic system

“…The higher increases in populations of A. swirskii than N. cucumeris might be related to its better adaptation under Table 3 Density of different stages (±SE) of Amblyseius swirskii per leaf of tomato after feeding on Frankliniella occidentalis at different periods (days) the experimental conditions. The results of the current experiment differed than the findings of Kakkar et al (2016) who found that eggs and motile stages of A. swirskii were higher than those of N. cucumeris only on leaves of treated plants, while no eggs and motile stages were observed on flower samples.…”

“…Moreover, Lee and Gillespie (2011) demonstrated that A. swirskii in the Mediterranean region with an optimum temperature for survival and growth might have better adaptation to this local temperature than N. cucumeris. Kakkar et al (2016) found that A. swirskii was more effective in diminishing Thrips palmi (Karny) populations than N. cucumeris on cucumber leaves. So, we could suggest that A. swirskii had a higher adaption for the greenhouse conditions than N. cucumeris under the hydroponic system.…”

“…They explained the low inability of N. cucumeris or A. swirskii to control F. schultzei by the low presence of mites on flowers of the infested plants. Also, Kakkar et al (2016) showed that N. cucumeris and A. swirskii were effective under shade house and field trial against T. palmi on cucumber leaves, but failed to control F. schultzei in its flowers. Combination of the used predatory mites (A. swirskii and N. cucumeris) showed large reductions in population of larvae and adults of F. occidentalis on leaves and flowers of tomato plants that were grown in hydroponic conditions.…”

“…Phytoseiid mites (Acarina: Phytoseiidae) are vital polyphagous predators and have got a great attention to be applied as bio-control agents or as alternative approaches to pesticides against F. occidentalis on different plants such as vegetable, fruit, and ornamental crops under both greenhouse and field conditions (Jacobson et al, 2001;van Houten et al, 2005 andMesselink et al, 2006). These predatory mites have been successfully used against several pests, including spider mites, whitefly, and thrips (Chow et al, 2010;Fouly et al, 2011 andKakkar et al, 2016) but their beneficial effects in managing F. occidentalis (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) on tomato plants have not been evaluated thoroughly and are needed to be reported. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of the two phytoseiid predatory Typhlodromips (Amblyseius) swirskii and Neoseiulus cucumeris in controlling F. occidentalis on cherry tomato plants grown under a hydroponic system.…”

Biological control of Echinothrips americanus by phytoseiid predatory mites and the effect of pollen as supplemental food

“…In general, control of thrips with phytoseiid predatory mites has proven to be very successful (Gerson and Weintraub 2007), and was shown for western flower thrips (Messelink et al 2006;van Houten et al 1995), tobacco thrips (Ramakers 1980), melon thrips (Kakkar et al 2016) and chilli thrips (Arthurs et al 2009). However, biological control of E. americanus by predatory mites has not received much attention and the few studies done indicate that predatory mites are not very effective (Hoogerbrugge et al 2014;Opit et al 1997).…”