Biological Control Potential and Drawbacks of Three Zoophytophagous Mirid Predators against Bemisia tabaci in the United States
Miridae (Hemiptera) of the tribe Dicyphini are important zoophytophagous predators use to control pest arthropods in vegetable crops. However, the risk that their herbivory may cause economic damage could hinder their application as useful biocontrol agents and may limit the likelihood they would...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | article |
| Language: | Inglés |
| Published: |
mdpi
2020
|
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11939/6621 https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/11/10/670 |
| Summary: | Miridae (Hemiptera) of the tribe Dicyphini are important zoophytophagous predators use
to control pest arthropods in vegetable crops. However, the risk that their herbivory may cause
economic damage could hinder their application as useful biocontrol agents and may limit the
likelihood they would meet regulatory requirements for importation. We conducted field cage studies
to assess the predation capacity and tomato plant damage of three mirid species established in south
USA, a known biocontrol agent (Nesidiocoris tenuis), and two native species (Macrolophus praeclarus
and Engytatus modestus). All three species significantly reduced the number of whiteflies (Bemisia
tabaci) on tomato plants compared to tomato plants without mirids. More damage, evaluated as the
number of necrotic rings, was observed on tomato plants with E. modestus and N. tenuis compared to
M. praeclarus. In our experiments that included sesame plants (Sesamum indicum) with tomato plants,
mirid numbers increased despite a low number of prey, thus showing a benefit of the plant-feeding
habit of these predators. USA’s established mirids may therefore prove to be immediately available
biological agents for the management of present and future tomato pests. |
|---|