The life cycle and management of <i>Echinothrips americanus</i> (Thysanoptera: Thripidae)

Authors

  • G. P. Opit Pro-Tect Division of Coast Agri Ltd. 19574 60th Avenue Surrey, BC V3S 8E5
  • B. Peterson Pro-Tect Division of Coast Agri Ltd. 19574 60th Avenue Surrey, BC V3S 8E5
  • D. R. Gillespie Pacific Agri-Food Research Centre P.O. Box 1000 Agassiz, BC V0M 1A0
  • R. A. Costello British Columbia Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food 1767 Angus Campbell Road Abbotsford, BC V3G 2M3

Abstract

The development times of Echinothrips americanus (Morgan) (Thysanoptera:Thripidae) on greenhouse peppers and cucumbers were determined, and commercially available predators of thrips were evaluated as potential biological controls for this pest. Development times on cucumber were 15.6 d ± 1.8, 3.6 d ± 0.8, 2.1 d ± 0.4, and 5.2 d ± 0.9 for egg, first-instar, second-instar and pupa, respectively. Development times on pepper were 15.0 d ± 2.1, 6.0 d ± 2.1, 5.5 d ± 1.2, and 5.2 d ± 1.0 for egg, first-instar, second-instar and pupa, respectively. Development from egg to adult took 26.5 d on cucumber and 31.7 d on pepper. The development time for the pest on pepper is about 20% longer than on cucumber. The predators, Orius insidiosus (Say) (Heteroptera: Anthocoridae), Amblyseius cucumeris (Oudemans) (Acarina:Phytoseiidae) and Amblyseius degenerans (Berlese) (Acarina: Phytoseiidae) were compared on E. americanus. Orius insidiosus significantly reduced thrips populations, but the two predator mite species did not. Our results indicate that O. insidiosus has the most potential as a biocontrol agent.

Key words: Life cycle; biological control; predators; British Columbia; greenhouse; pepper; cucumber; Orius insidiosus; Amblyseius cucumeris; Amblyseius degenerans

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Vol. 94 (1997): Journal of the Entomological Society of British Columbia

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Articles

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