Effect of spinosad and predatory mites on control of Frankliniella occidentalis in three strawberry cultivars

Authors

Touhidur Rahman, Department of Agriculture and Food, WAFollow
Sonya Broughton, Department of Agriculture and Food, WAFollow
Helen Spafford, Department of Agriculture and Food, WAFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

12-24-2010

Journal Title

Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata

ISSN

Print: 0013-8703 Electronic: 1570-7458

Keywords

Typhlodromips montdorensis, Neoseiulus cucumeris, Hypoaspis miles, Thysanoptera, Thripidae, Acari, Phytoseiidae, western flower thrips, integrated pest control, host plant resistance, IPM

Disciplines

Biosecurity | Fruit Science | Horticulture

Abstract

Western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), is a major pest of strawberry, Fragaria × ananassa Duchesne (Rosaceae). Spinosad is highly efficacious against F. occidentalis, and spinosad is believed to be compatible in an integrated pest management program. This study determined whether F. occidentalis could be controlled with predatory mites [Typhlodromips montdorensis (Schicha), Neoseiulus cucumeris (Oudemans) (both Acari: Phytoseiidae), and Hypoaspis miles (Berlese) (Acari: Laelapidae)] and spinosad in strawberry. In the glasshouse, three strawberry cultivars (Camarosa, Camino Real, and Albion) were sprayed once with spinosad at the recommended rate (80 ml 100 l−1 rate, 0.096 g a.i. l−1) or with water (control). Thrips adults were released onto plants 24 h after spraying and predatory mites released 6 days later. Spinosad significantly reduced thrips numbers compared with water. All three mite species reduced F. occidentalis numbers, and spinosad had no effect on predatory mites. Though H. miles could not be counted, the numbers of thrips in treatments with H. miles were lower than those in treatments without the mite. Thrips numbers were lowest on Camino Real and highest on Camarosa. These results suggest that the use of Camino Real with spinosad applications followed by releases of predatory mites can significantly reduce thrips numbers.

Recommended Citation

Rahman, T, Broughton, S, and Spafford, H. (2010), Effect of spinosad and predatory mites on control of Frankliniella occidentalis in three strawberry cultivars. Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata, 138 (2), 154-161.
https://library.dpird.wa.gov.au/bs_research/121