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BIOLOGICAL CONTROL OF FUNGUS GNATS, BRADYSIA SPP. (DIPTERA: SCIARIDAE), AND WESTERN FLOWER THRIPS, FRANKLINIELLA OCCIDENTALS (PERGANDE) (THYSANOPTERA: THRIPIDAE), IN GREENHOUSES USING A SOIL-DWELLING PREDATORY MITE, GEOLAELAPS SP. NR. ACULEIFER (CANESTRINI) (ACARI: LAELAPIDAE)1

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 May 2012

David R. Gillespie  and
Donald M.J. Quiring
David R. Gillespie
Affiliation:
Agriculture Canada Research Station, PO Box 1000, Agassiz, British Columbia, Canada V0M 1A0
Donald M.J. Quiring
Affiliation:
Agriculture Canada Research Station, PO Box 1000, Agassiz, British Columbia, Canada V0M 1A0
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Abstract

A soil-dwelling predatory mite, Geolaelaps sp. nr. aculeifer (Canestrini), introduced inundatively at a rate of 6000 mites per plant to the sawdust substrate of hydroponically grown, greenhouse cucumbers significantly reduced numbers of fungus gnat, Bradysia spp., larvae and adults over a 10-week period. Inundative introductions of 1600 mites per plant reduced emergence of western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande), adults to about 30% of that in the controls over a 40-day trial. An inoculative introduction of 125 mites per plant to cucumber plants in selected rows in a commercial greenhouse reduced peak fungus gnat numbers to about 20% of those in untreated rows. These results suggest that a single inoculative introduction of Geolaelaps sp. nr. aculeifer, early in the crop cycle, would maintain control of fungus gnat populations in greenhouse cucumber crops at an acceptable level. This predator would also contribute to biological control of western flower thrips by reducing emergence of adults.

Résumé

Un acarien prédateur habitant le sol, Geolaelaps sp. nr. aculeifer (Canestrini), introduit en inondation à un taux de 6000 acariens par plant à la sous-couche de bran de scie des concombres des serres cultivés hydroponiquement, a réduit significativement le nombre de larves et d’adultes de sciarides, Bradysia spp., pendant une période de 10 semaines. Les inondations introduites à un taux de 1600 acariens par plant ont réduit l’éclosion d’adultes des thrips des petits fruits, Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande), à proche de 30% de celle constatée pour les plants témoins pendant une période d’essai de 40 jours. Une introduction par inoculation de 125 acariens par plant aux plants de concombres de rangées sélectionnées dans une serre commerciale a réduit les nombres de l’apogée des sciarides à approximativement 20% de ceux aux rangées non-traitées. Ces résultats suggèrent qu’une introduction unique par inoculation de Geolaelaps sp. nr. aculeifer tôt dans le cycle de la récolte pourrait contrôler à un niveau acceptable les populations de sciarides dans les récoltes des concombres des serres. Ce pillard pourrait également contribuer au contrôle des thrips des petits fruits par la réduction de l’éclosion des adultes.

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Type
Articles
Information
The Canadian Entomologist , Volume 122 , Issue 5 , October 1990 , pp. 975 - 983
Copyright
Copyright © Entomological Society of Canada 1990

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