M. Van de Veire

Reproduction of Orius laevigatus and Orius albidipennis on pollen and Ephestia kuehniella eggs

Reproduction and longevity of the anthocorid predators Orius laevigatus (Fieber) and Orius albidipennis (Reuter) (Heteroptera: Anthocoridae) were studied under controlled conditions in the laboratory. Three different diets were tested: eggs of the Mediterranean flour moth. Ephestia kuehniella Zeller, E. kuehniella eggs plus pollen, and pollen only. Small rooted plants of Spanish pepper (Capsicum annuum L. cv. ‘Creta’, long red) served as oviposition substrate and moisture source. In all treatments, total fecundity, oviposition period and female longevity of O. laevigatus were greater than that of O. albidipennis. When a diet of E. kuehniella eggs was supplemented with pollen, total fecundity of O. albidipennis was increased by about 40%. Female O. albidipennis fed only pollen laid five times less eggs than those fed flour moth eggs and pollen; also, longevity of females was shorter when only pollen was offered as food. Fecundity and longevity of O. laevigatus were not influenced when supplementing a diet of E. kuehniella eggs with pollen. Females of O. laevigatus receiving only pollen reduced egg production by about 60% but had a similar longevity as those receiving a diet including flour moth eggs. In either species, preoviposition period and egg hatch were not affected by diet. The ability of both anthocorids to use pollen as an alternative or additional food is discussed in relation to their practical use in integrated control programmes.

Laboratory test method to evaluate the effect of 31 pesticides on the predatory bug, Orius laevigatus (Het: Anthocoridae )

A laboratory test method was developed to evaluate the pesticide toxicity on the predatory bugOrius laevigatus (Fieber). Newly hatched first-instar nymphs ofO. laevigatus were exposed to spray deposits of pesticides that were sprayed on the glass plates of a drum cell at the manufacturer’s recommended maximum dosage. Nymphal mortality and oviposition of surviving adults were recorded.Test results of various (31) commonly used pesticides (insecticides, insecticides/acaricides, acaricides and fungicides) are presented and discussed in accord with the classification of the IOBC/WPRS Working Group ”Pesticides and Beneficial Organisms”.Most fungicides had no toxic effect on nymphal development and egg-laying of surviving adults. The acaricides tested had variable toxicity on the predatory bug, while some insect growth regulators, such as the benzoylphenyl urea were very toxic. Otherwise, the ecdysone agonist tebufenozide and azadirachtin were not harmful for nymphal development and ovipositionRésuméUne méthode de laboratoire a été développée pour évaluer l’effet d’un pesticide sur la punaise prédatriceO. laevigatus. Des nymphes de 1er stade ont été exposées aux résidus des pesticides appliqués aux concentrations les plus élevées recommandées pour l’usage agricole. Les contrôles portent sur la mortalité et la fécondité des punaises survivantesLes résultats obtenus et les classements sont présentés pour 31 insecticides, insecticides/acaricides, acaricides et fongicides. Les critères pour le classement sont ceux préconisés par le groupe de travail de l’ OILB/SROP ia Pesticides et Organismes Utiles »La majorité des fongicides se révèlent non toxiques, tandis que les acaricides testés ont un effet variable; quelques régulateurs de croissance du type benzoyl phenyl urée sont très toxiques

Biological control of the western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), in glasshouse sweet peppers with Orius spp. (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae). A comparative study between O. niger (Wolff) and O. insidiosus (Say)

In a comparative study for biocontrol of the western flower thrips (WFT) in commercial sweet peppers Orius spp. effectively controlled WFT. The introduced native Orius niger had replaced the introduced imported Orius insidiosus by the end of the growing season.

Development and survival of Orius albidipennis and O. laevigatus (Het.: Anthocoridae) on various diets

The effect of various diets on nymphal development and survival of two predaceous anthocorid bugs,Orius albidipennis (Reuter) andO. laevigatus (Fieber) was investigated in the laboratory. Five different diets were compared: eggs ofEphestia kuehniella Zeller; eggs ofE. kuehniella plus mixed flower pollen; only mixed flower pollen; pollen from sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum L. cv. Mazurka) flowers; and sweet pepper plants. A high percentage of predators successfully completed nymphal development on those diets containing lepidopterous eggs. When fed on sweet pepper pollen, the survival percentages were 65% forO. laevigatus and 38% forO. albidipennis. No nymphs of either species completed the nymphal stage on mixed flower pollen or on sweet pepper plants. Development was significantly faster on diets containing eggs ofE. kuehniella. Results are discussed in relation to the capability of the bugs to survive periods of prey scarcity and to the optimization of release strategies for these predators in the greenhouse.

Comparative laboratory experiment with Orius insidiosus and Orius albidipennis (Het.: Anthocoridae), two candidates for biological control in glasshouses.

The predatory bugsOrius insidiosus andOrius albidipennis are potential candidates for biocontrol of the thrips,Frankliniella occidentalis. Laboratory experiments showed thatO. albidipennis lays significantly more eggs thanO. insidiosus while its life cycle is shorter. As more eggs are laid byO. albidipennis in the beginning of the oviposition cycle, this anthocorid may be considered as the better biocontrol agent.

Residual activity of abamectin and spinosad against the predatory bugOrius laevigatus

The residual effect of two biopesticides, abamectin and spinosad, on the predatory bugOrius laevigatus (Fieber) (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae) was tested using a laboratory and an extended laboratory method. Experiments were conducted in the spring and summer 2000. The LD50s on the 2nd and 5th nymphal instar and the adult stage, were lower for abamectin than for spinosad. The toxicity of each product on the 2nd instar and adults was significantly greater than on the 5th nymphal instar. Abamectin was much more persistent in spring than in summer. Spray deposits (at the recommended rate of 10 ppm a.i. for leafminer control) were toxic for 1 month in spring, whereas in summer they were no longer toxic after 2 weeks. Spinosad summer spray deposits (recommended rate of 250 ppm a.i. for leafminer and caterpillar control) were not toxic after 5 residual days.

First observations in glasshouse sweet peppers in Belgium and laboratory rearing of the parasitic waspEulophus pennicornis (Hym.: Eulophidae)

Eulophus pennicornis, a hymenopteran parasitoid of several Lepidoptera, was found onMamestra brassicae in a commercial sweet pepper crop in 1990 in Belgium. The rearing of the parasitoid and some additional data on biology are described.

Ovicidal and nymphicidal effects of some fungicides on the greenhouse whiteflyTrialeurodes vaporariorum

Eggs and L1 nymphs of the greenhouse whiteflyTrialeurodes vaporariorum (Westwood) (Hem.: Aleyrodidae) on bean leaves were directly sprayed with the fungicides maneb and mancozeb at recommended rates for practical use. Strong ovicidal and nymphicidal effects were observed. These fungicides may prove to have practical use for integration in IPM programs for whitefly control, as they also exert low or no toxicity to the whitefly parasitoidEncarsia formosa.