Potential of predatory mites to control the western flower thrips Frankliniella occidentalis (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) in Brazil

• Ano de defesa: 2023
• Autor(a) principal: Cardoso, André Costa
• Tipo de documento: Tese
• Tipo de acesso: Acesso aberto
• Idioma: eng
• Instituição de defesa: Universidade Federal de Viçosa
• Palavras-chave em Português: Flores - Doenças e pragas - Controle biológico; Frankliniella occidentalis; Ácaros no controle biológico de pragas; Entomologia Agrícola
• Link de acesso: https://locus.ufv.br//handle/123456789/30808; https://doi.org/10.47328/ufvbbt.2023.159

Western flower thrips Frankliniella occidentalis Pergande (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) is a major invasive pest worldwide and a vector of plant viruses of economic importance. Several biological control agents are efficient in control F. occidentalis and many of them already commercialized by biological control companies around the world. Phytoseiid mites (Acari: Phytoseiidae) are among the most used natural enemies applied in biological control programs of F. occidentalis. Despite the richness of Brazilian phytoseiid fauna, no species are been used in biological control of this pest in Brazil. Therefore, the aim of this study was to select potential native phytoseiid mites to be used in biological control of this pest in Brazil. In the first chapter, it was evaluated the potential of three predatory mites, Amblyseius herbicolus Chant and Amblyseius tamatavensis Blommers and Proprioseiopsis ovatus Garman to control F. occidentalis. Proprioseiopsis ovatus showed low predation and oviposition rate on F. occidentlais first instar larvae and, therefore, this species has a low potential to be used in biological control of this pest. In the other hand, A. herbicolus and A. tamatavensis were capable to develop and reproduce preying on F. occidentalis larvae and, therefore, are promising agents to be used in biological control of F. occidentalis. In the second chapter, it was evaluated the potential of the two predatory mite species, A. tamatavensis and A. herbicolus, to control F. occidentalis on isolated bell pepper plants using pollen as alternative food. Both predatory mites were able to reduce pest population and significantly reduce pest damage. In the third chapter, it was evaluated the potential of A. tamatavensis to control F. occidentalis and simultaneously also other key pest of bell pepper crop, the whitefly Bemisia tabaci. Experiments were conducted on bell pepper plants and were also evaluated plants yield with and without A. tamatavensis. Amblyseius tamatavensis was able to control both pests at the same time and at the end of the experiment, plants that received predatory mites also produced heavier fruits. In conclusion, it was showed that the predatory mites A. tamatavensis and A. herbicolus have potential to be used in biological control programs of the western flower thrips in Brazil. Phytoseiid mites are known to be efficient control agents for this pest in several countries, in addition of being cheap to produce them on a large scale. Therefore, the use of these predators may represent an advance in the management of this pest in the country. Keywords: Biological control. Capsicum annuum. Bemisia tabaci. Alternative food. Pollen.