The native Anthocorid bug (Orius armatus) as a field predator of Frankliniella occidentalis in Western Australia

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1996

Journal Title

Acta Horticulturae

ISSN

ISSN: 0567-7572, eISSN: 2406-6168

Keywords

horticulture, floriculture, anthocorid bug, Orius armatus, Frankliniella occidentalis, western flower thrip, field carnations

Disciplines

Entomology | Horticulture | Other Plant Sciences

Abstract

This study represents the first record of the native anthocorid bug Orius armatus as a predator of western flower thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis) in field carnations. There was a consistent, negative relationship between the numbers of adult F. occidentalis and O. armatus in successive rows of carnations. The highest numbers of O. armatus were found in rows immediately adjacent to native bushland. O. armatus numbers increased over the 5-week monitoring period in autumn from less than 1 adult per 10 flowers to about 1.5 adults per flower. F. occidentalis larvae in particular, were significantly reduced by the presence of O. armatus. Although numbers of adult F. occidentalis did not decline at the monitoring site, on carnations nearby (50 m) that were sprayed weekly for thrips, O. armatus was rarely present and F. occidentalis were at least twice as abundant. Spraying the carnations to control F. occidentalis significantly reduced the numbers of O. armatus at 1, 3, and 7 days postspraying (dps); however, O. armatus recovered to levels four times those recorded prespraying from 14 to 34 dps. Given the widespread distribution of O. armatus throughout Australia, further studies are needed to assess their potential as a biological control agent against F. occidentalis.

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Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.1996.431.47