Influence of weedy field margins on abundance patterns of the predatory bugs Orius spp. and their prey, the western flower thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis), on faba bean

Abstract

The influence of weedy field strips on the abundance patterns of western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), and predatory bugs of Orius spp. (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae), on faba bean and on weeds was investigated in Adana province, Turkey, during 2005-2006. There were two treatments: in one treatment, weeds at the margins and inside the plots were regularly controlled by tillage; in the other treatment no weed control was done. Thrips and Orius were sampled by beating faba bean plants and weeds. Orius niger (Wolff) was the most abundant predatory insect species in faba bean and flowering weeds, with numbers of adults and nymphs significantly greater in plots with weedy margins than in weed-free plots. Flowering weeds did not contribute to the abundance of F. occidentalis on faba bean. Abundance of adults of Orius spp. did not coincide with the abundance of F. occidentalis on faba bean or weeds. There were significant negative associations for numbers of Orius spp. among faba bean and the weed species Lamium amplexicaule L. or Sinapis arvensis L. (P<0.05), indicating movement of Orius individuals from the weeds to faba bean during March-April. Finally, faba bean and weeds may provide some benefits to predators, such as nectar, pollen, shelter and egglaying sites rather than as sources of insect prey. Cultivation of faba bean could be useful for conservation and augmentation of beneficial insects, including Orius spp. Furthermore, field margins bearing flowering weeds such as S. arvensis and L amplexicaule should be protected against destructive management practices, because they host considerable numbers of the Orius species.

Effects of floral and extrafloral resource diversity on the fitness of an omnivorous bug, Orius insidiosus

“…Other work has shown that this bug changes its preference for oviposition sites on a plant species depending on whether it was offered singly or with other plants (Lundgren & Fergen, ), whereas other work shows that different combinations of plant species did not influence the proportion of eggs laid by O. insidiosus on each plant species (Coll, ) (although this study just examined small cuttings of trifoliates). Atakan () found that O. insidiosus may prefer fava bean plants as a site for egg laying when it was compared with many other plants. In the first experiment, O. insidiosus females raised on fava beans with covered nectaries survived well relative to the other plant species when their flowers were covered, which is consistent with the hypothesis that vegetative structures of fava beans may have good nutrition for maintaining O. insidiosus survival.…”

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.…”

“…on thrips, 9 -14 as well as some under field conditions in the Mediterranean basin and the Middle East. 3,15 -17 However, very little is known about Orius spp. predation on N. ribisnigri and F. occidentalis, as well as on other pests, alternative prey or even natural enemies, i.e.…”

Quantification of regulating ecosystem services provided by weeds in annual cropping systems using a systematic map approach

“…The range of values obtained for pest control varied considerably (Table ). The highest value for pest reduction in the field was obtained from Atakan () in which it was shown that infestation of the western flower thrips ( Frankliniella occidentalis Pergande) on faba bean ( Vicia faba L.) was reduced by a maximum of 98% due to weedy margins that hosted beneficial insects. For pest predation, the highest value was obtained in a laboratory experiment by Araj and Wratten (), in which they demonstrated that the predation of cabbage aphids Brevicoryne brassicae L. on Capsella bursa‐pastoris L. increased by 255%.…”