Potential use of predaceous mites (Acari: Phytoseiidae) for the biological control of thrips and whiteflies on ornamental plants

Abstract

The whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Genn.), is a cosmopolitan insect species that causes serious damage to several agricultural crops in Brazil, mainly due to the transmission of viruses. Some thrips (Thysanoptera) species, such as Frankliniella occidentallis (Pergande), Thrips palmi Karny and Thrips tabaci Lindeman, can affect the development of plants of different crops, as well as transmit viruses. Some species of predaceous mites of the Phytoseiidae family, especially the generalists, have potential for the control of insects like thrips and whiteflies. The objectives of the present research are: 1) to evaluate the performance of predaceous mites of the species Amblydromalus limonicus (Garman & McGregor) and Amblyseius tamatavensis Blommers (Acari: Phytoseiidae), for the biological control of whiteflies and thrips, under laboratory conditions; 2) to evaluate the potential use of A. limonicus (and / or A. tamatavensis) for the control of whiteflies, thrips and pest mites in gerbera commercial field in Holambra county, State of São Paulo, Brazil.