Control of Thrips palmi (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) in Greenhouse Melons by the Release of Neoseiulus barkeri (Acari: Phytoseiidae)

Abstract

We evaluated the effectiveness of using an indigenous generalist predatory mite, Neoseiulus barkeri (Hughes) (Acari: Phytoseiidae), to control Thrips palmi Karny (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) in greenhouse melons. In a growth chamber experiment, the density of T. palmi was lower on plants exposed to 20 N. barkeri per plant than on plants grown without a biological control. In a greenhouse experiment, the density of T. palmi was lower in the N. barkeri release plots than in the no-release plots. These results suggest that N. barkeri is an effective biological control agent against T. palmi.