Orius minutus - antagonist to Frankliniella occidentalis
In Germany, experiments were carried out to investigate the predation of different developmental stages of Frankliniella occidentalis (EPPO A2 quarantine pest) by adults of Orius minutus. It was found that the predatory bug preys on all developmental stages of the western flower thrips, but is most efficient on larvae of the pest. About 50-60 F. occidentalis larvae were killed by males and females of O. minutus. Males of the predatory bug were only slightly less efficient than the females. Females of O. minutus were also capable to detect eggs of the pest in plant tissue and feed on them.
Sources
Lichtenauer, A.; Sell, P. (1993) Erbeutung verschiedener Entwicklungsstadien des Western Flower Thrips durch Adulte von Orius minutus (Heteroptera: Anthocoridae).
Presentation at the "45th International Symposium on Crop Protection", Gent, 1993-05-04.