Management of thrips using natural enemies
Funderburk J
North Florida Research and Education Center, University of Florida, 155 Research Road, Quincy, Florida 32351 USA.
Correspondence: jefunderburk@mail.ifas.ufl.edu
Two groups of natural enemies are important biological controls of flower thrips in field crops. Species of Orius (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae) suppress rapidly growing populations of flower thrips, and they persist once the prey populations are suppressed. Species of Thripinema (Tylenchida: Allantonematidae) are parasites of flower thrips that render the female hosts sterile. Adult male and female hosts that are parasitized feed less, thereby reducing primary spread of tospoviruses. Parasitism results in suppression of subsequent larval populations which also prevents secondary spread of tospovirus. Both groups of natural enemies are important factors in the reduction of populations of flower thrips throughout the landscape. There are many other natural enemies of thrips, but their importance in affecting population dynamics is not adequately understood. These natural enemies offer potential for management of thrips and tospoviruses.
