Pre-establishment of Amblyseius swirskii (Athias-Henriot) (Acari: Phytoseiidae) using Pinus brutia (Ten.) (Pinales: Pinaceae) pollen for thrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) control in greenhouse peppers

Abstract

ABSTRACT The predatory mite Amblyseius swirskii (Athias-Henriot) benefited from the addition of pollen of Pinus brutia (Ten.) to the sweet pepper (Capsicum annum L.) plants on which they occurred. The mite was able to survive, in the absence of prey, on pepper plants sprayed 2 weeks prior to bloom with pollen at 50, 5, and 0.5 kg/ha dosages. In addition, A. swirskii effectively controlled the western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande), in the plots sprayed with pollen. Within 5 weeks after the introduction of the mite, the population density of A. swirskii reached up to three predatory mites (nymphs and adults) per leaf and they remained in high numbers on the leaves until the end of the study, even when the prey F. occidentalis was present in low numbers. In flowers, the population density of A. swirskii (3 weeks after its release) was 4.35, 2.29, and 1.25 mites per flower in the 50, 5, and 0.5 kg/ha pollen sprayed plots, respectively. Clear trends existed among the various treatments; more predators and fewer pests were found in the plots where pollen was applied compared with those where pollen was not applied. The pollen of P. brutia provides food for the predator, so that they can be introduced and established prior to the arrival of the thrips. This predator-in-first technique makes biological control of thrips on sweet pepper relatively reliable.