Impact of the Zoophytophagous Plant Bug <I>Nesidiocoris tenuis</I> (Heteroptera: Miridae) on Tomato Yield

Abstract

Nesidiocoris tenuis Reuter (Heteroptera: Miridae) is one of the most controversial dicyphines because of the injuries it causes to tomato (Solanum esculentum) crops. The aim of this study was to quantify the impact of N. tenuis on fruit yield. Tomato plants were exposed to an average of 0.53 +/- 0.26, 3.4 +/- 1.1, 12.0 +/- 1.4, and 35.2 +/- 7.7 N. tenuis per plant for 3 wk. When fruit were exposed to N. tenuis as flowers, the percentage of aborted fruit was higher in compartments infested with N. tenuis, and this was related directly to the cumulative number of N. tenuis (CNN). However, compartments with the highest abortion rates had heavier and bigger fruit and were not significantly different from the controls. The variation in fruit weight was satisfactorily explained with a logistic equation in relation to the proportion of aborted fruit. To estimate the density thresholds, the variation in truss weight was predicted as a function of fruit weight and aborted fruit. The two latter variables were expressed as a function of the CNN. A maximum of 15% truss weight overcompensation was predicted at 15.8% of fruit abortion. Yield reduction was predicted at fruit abortion rates > or = 27.7%, which corresponded to 566 CNN per plant or 32.11 CNN per leaf. N. tenuis may be considered a useful predator of small pests in tomato crops if kept under these thresholds. Mathematical models predict a yield increase and fruit upgrade that overcompensates for the reduction in the number of fruit below the density threshold.

The combined use of Bacillus thuringiensis and Nesidiocoris tenuis against the tomato borer Tuta absoluta

“…When this predator feeds directly from vegetative and reproductive parts of the plant, it produces necrotic rings on stems and leaf petioles, it produces flower abortion, and can also puncture tomato fruits, possibly reducing yields (Sánchez 2008). The intensity of plant feeding by N. tenuis on tomato crops under Mediterranean conditions has been addressed by several authors (Sanchez and Lacasa 2008;Calvo et al 2009;Sanchez 2009;Arnó et al 2010), who concluded that damage caused by this mirid on tomato plants was directly related to the abundance of N. tenuis and inversely related to the interaction between the number of N. tenuis and the number of prey. All these studies were conducted using the sweet potato whitefly Bemisia tabaci Gennadius (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) as prey.…”

Preplant release of Nesidiocoris tenuis and supplementary tactics for control of Tuta absoluta and Bemisa tabaci in greenhouse tomato

“…Therefore, suppression of B. tabaci is a high order objective in most greenhouse tomato production. Nesidiocoris tenuis is known as an effective natural enemy of whitefly (Sánchez & Lacasa, 2008;Calvo et al, 2009) and more recently as potential biological control agent of T. absoluta (Urbaneja et al, 2009). Nesidiocoris tenuis is known as an effective natural enemy of whitefly (Sánchez & Lacasa, 2008;Calvo et al, 2009) and more recently as potential biological control agent of T. absoluta (Urbaneja et al, 2009).…”

Enhancing pest management in sweet pepper by the exploitation of zoophytophagy

“…Our results are not the first to describe the efficiency of N. tenuis and M. pygmaeus in managing thrips and whiteflies; this has already been seen in several agricultural crops (Castañé et al, 1996;Riudavets and Castañé, 1998;Blaeser et al, 2004;Bonato et al, 2006;Sánchez and Lacasa, 2008;Calvo et al, 2012b;Malo et al, 2012). However, in the case of sweet pepper, this is the first study that evaluates the effectiveness of both mirids when Calvo et al, 2009aCalvo et al, , 2012avan Lenteren, 2012, van Lenteren et al, 2018.…”

“…Their ability to switch between zoophagy and phytophagy enhanced their establishment and sustained population densities. In turn the population was capable of controlling incipient pest outbreaks early in the season following the initial colonization of the crop by pests or later in the season following a period of pest scarcity (Sánchez and Lacasa, 2008;Castañé et al, 2011). In this group, predatory mirid bugs (Hemiptera: Miridae) such as Nesidiocoris tenuis Reuter ( Fig.1.5) and Macrolophus pygmaeus Rambur ( Fig.1.6) are important predators of several agriculture pests.…”

“…Overall, phytophagous behaviour of N. tenuis seems to affect the final number of fruit per plant and may lead to some economic loss (Sánchez, 2009;Arnó et al, 2010a). However, according to Sánchez and Lacasa (2008), such loses might be compensated by the greater weight of the remaining fruit. Indeed, these authors did not observe yield when population levels of N. tenuis ranged from 0.53 to 35.2 individuals per plant.…”