Chilli thrips rose management using an Amblyseius swirskii or Amblydromalus limonicus (Acari: Phytoseiidae) pepper banker plant

Abstract

AbstractBanker plant systems can enhance biological control of arthropod pests in protected agriculture if they facilitate the persistence of beneficial organisms by providing them with persistent habitats or supplemental food such as pollen or nectar. Ornamental pepper banker plants infested with either the predatory phytoseiid mites Amblyseius swirskii (Athias‐Henriot) or Amblydromalus limonicus (Garman and McGregor) were tested under greenhouse conditions in Florida, USA, for management of the chilli thrips, Scirtothrips dorsalis Hood on Double Knock Out® roses. After two 6‐week studies, performed from October to December 2019 and 2020, both mite species reduced populations of S. dorsalis on roses to nearly undetectable levels (<1 thrips/leaf) compared with predator‐free controls. There was no difference in the mean number of thrips on leaves between the two mite species treatments. Lower S. dorsalis numbers observed on roses when mites were present led to significantly reduced foliar damage assessed as the degree of tissue scarring from S. dorsalis feeding compared with the control. This study may provide rose growers in Florida an alternative option for managing S. dorsalis populations on roses, a typically unsuitable plant for maintaining mite populations.