Colonization of tomato greenhouses by the predatory mirid bugs Macrolophus caliginosus and Dicyphus tamaninii

• Published in: Biological control Vol. 30; no. 3; pp. 591 - 597
• Main Authors: Castañé, Cristina, Alomar, Oscar, Goula, Marta, Gabarra, Rosa
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Inc 2004
• Subjects: Aleyrodidae; Biological control; biological control agents; Dicyphus tamaninii; Encarsia formosa; Greenhouse tomatoes; Greenhouse whitefly; greenhouses; intraguild predation; Macrolophus caliginosus; Macrolophus melanotoma; Natural colonization; Parasitoids; population density; predation; predator-prey relationships; Predators; predatory insects; prey preference; Solanum lycopersicum var. lycopersicum; Trialeurodes vaporariorum; Parasitoids; Predators; Greenhouse tomatoes; Trialeurodes vaporariorum; Encarsia formosa; Biological control; Natural colonization; Dicyphus tamaninii; Macrolophus caliginosus; Greenhouse whitefly
• ISSN: 1049-9644; 1090-2112
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biocontrol.2004.02.012

Colonization of tomato greenhouses by native predatory mirid bugs at the end of the spring cycle is common in the western Mediterranean area when no broad-spectrum insecticides are applied. Due to their polyphagy, these predators interact with pest populations and also with other natural enemies present in the crop. In this work we evaluate the abundance and timing of greenhouse colonization by these predators and their interaction with the greenhouse whitefly Trialeurodes vaporariorum, a key crop pest, and its introduced parasitoid Encarsia formosa. Although quite unpredictable, natural colonization of greenhouses by Macrolophus caliginosus and Dicyphus tamaninii, the two predominant species in our location, usually leads to the establishment of predator populations in the crop that subsequently prey on greenhouse whitefly. No preference for parasitized pupae was observed in greenhouse samples, while laboratory experiments revealed a marked tendency to avoid parasitoid pupae. In our area, IPM programs for greenhouse tomatoes and other vegetables should take advantage of the presence of this predator complex by allowing the immigration and establishment of its populations without disturbing them with highly toxic and non-selective insecticides.