Potential of Orius sauteri as a biocontrol agent against Thrips palmi
Studies have been carried out in Japan on the potential of Orius sauteri as a biocontrol agent against Thrips palmi (EPPO A1 quarantine pest). Orius sauteri is a predator present in Japan, Korea, China and Russian Far East. In Japan, O. sauteri is a major predator of thrips (T. palmi, T. setosus, Mycterothrips glycines) in aubergine fields. Potted eggplants were placed in screen cages where both T. palmi and O. sauteri had been released. When sprayed with fenthion, which control O. sauteri but not T. palmi, an increase of T. palmi populations was observed. Without treatment, T. palmi populations were kept at low levels. Similar experiments were carried out in the field and when treated, the peak density of T. palmi was four times larger than on the untreated plots where O. sauteri could effectively reduce thrips populations.
Sources
Yano, E. (1996) Biocontrol of Orius sauteri (Poppius) and its potential as a biocontrol agent for Thrips palmi Karny.
IOBC Bulletin, 19(1), 203-206.