Influence of thrips prey species on the life‐history and behaviour of Orius albidipennis

Abstract

The effects of two diets, i.e., cowpea leaves plus Megalurothrips sjostedti larvae versus cowpea leaves alone, on nymphal development and mortality of Orius albidipennis were studied under controlled laboratory conditions in Benin, West Africa. Nymphal development was longer when O. albidipennis was fed with cowpea leaves only, compared to the diet complemented with M. sjostedti larvae (17.6 days versus 14.8, respectively). Nymphal mortality was very high (78.6%) if fed with cowpea leaves only, and still relatively high if the diet was complemented with thrips larvae (44.4%). In a separate study on the longevity and fecundity of O. albidipennis adult females feeding on M. sjostedti larvae, an average of 6.8 eggs per day (maximum 16 eggs) and a mean total fecundity of 61.1 eggs were observed. The females lived on average 13.5 days. Finally, observations on the predation by O. albidipennis adults on three different thrips species revealed that M. sjostedti larvae were killed at a lower rate than larvae of Ceratothripoides cameroni and Frankliniella schultzei. Higher predation rates were measured using unmated females and males than in mated females. However, the rate of first attack, measured as first larva attacked in dual‐choice assays, was higher for M. sjostedti when a F. schultzei larva was offered simultaneously, and not different when a C. cameroni or Sericothrips adolfifriderici larva was offered. The results of this study are discussed with regard to the lack of efficacy of O. albidipennis as biological control agent for M. sjostedti.

Assessing the potential for biological control of potato field pests in Ardabil, Iran: functional responses of Orius niger (Wolf.) and O. minutus (L.) (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae)

“…Venzon et al (2001Venzon et al ( , 2002 reported that O. laevigatus was attracted more to the two-spotted spider mite-infested cucumber than western flower thrips-infested plants. Fritsche and Tamo (2000) found that the efficiency of O. albidipennis to control of Megalurothrips sjostedti was lower than Ceratothripoides cameroni (Priesner) and F. schultzei …”

Predation byOrius insidiosus(Heteroptera: Anthocoridae) on Life Stages and Species ofFrankliniellaFlower Thrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) in Pepper Flowers

“…In no-choice tests, species such as O. insidiosus (Say) and O. minutus (L.) typically consume more thrips larvae than adults (Isenhour andYeargan 1981, Lichtenauer andSell 1993). Also, in no-choice tests, Fritsche and Tamo (2000) found that O. albidipennis (Reuter) consume more larvae of Ceratothripoides cameroni (Priesner) than of Megalurothrips sjostedti (Trybom), but they This article reports the results of research only. Mention of a proprietary product does not constitute an endorsement or a recommendation by the United States Department of Agriculture for its use.…”

Understanding trophic interactions of Orius spp. (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae) in lettuce crops by molecular methods

“…There are many laboratory predation studies of Orius spp. on thrips, as well as some under field conditions in the Mediterranean basin and the Middle East . However, very little is known about Orius spp.…”