ISHS Acta Horticulturae 431: Tospoviruses and Thrips of Floral and Vegetable Crops
EVALUATION OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF ORIUS SPP. IN CONTROLLING FRANKLINIELLA OCCIDENTALIS |
| Authors: | L. Tavella, A. Alma, A. Conti, A. Arzone |
| Abstract:
Population dynamics of Frankliniella occidentalis, Thrips tabaci, and Orius spp. were studied in sweet pepper crops on the Albenga Plain (Liguria, northwestern Italy) in 1992–1994. Best control was achieved by Orius laevigatus, which was abundant in greenhouses that practiced integrated pest management (IPM). O. laevigatus overwintered on flowering plants (e.g., Eriobotrya japonica, Rosmarinus officinalis, and Vicia faba), and in the spring, the adults spread to wild and cultivated plants both outside and inside greenhouses. O. laevigatus adults appeared naturally inside sweet pepper greenhouses in June and effectively controlled thrips. Thrips populations decreased rapidly and disappeared after 20–30 days. Predator populations increased and reached their maximum in August. O. laevigatus remained in the sweet peppers even at very low levels of thrips and fed on pollen. When high thrips infestations occurred, O. laevigatus was introduced as a control agent (one adult/m2). Good results were obtained at 25°C when the sweet pepper plants were in flower and covered with foliage. | |
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