Functional response of predatory thrips Scolothrips sexmaculatus (Thysanoptera : Thripidae)‎ preying on Tetranychus urticae (Acari : Tetranychidae)‎ to the two-spotted spider mite

Abstract EN

A leaf disc bioassay was employed to evaluate the efficiency of an acarophagous thrips, Scolothrips sexmaculatus Pergande.

(Thysanoptera: Thripidae) as a biocontrol agent to two-spotted spider mite Tetranychus urticae Koch.

(Acari: Tetranychidae).

The predator exhibited Holling- III type functional responses (Sigmoid) when it was offered T.

urticae adults at five densities (5, 10, 20, 40 and 80).

Based on the random predator equation, the estimated attack rate (a) and handling time (Th) were 0.07h −1 and 0.88 h respectively.

The predators increase their search activity with increasing prey density and mortality first increases with prey increasing density, and then declines.

The results of this study revealed that S.

sexmaculatus could be used in the biological control programs of T.

urticae.

However, further field studies are needed to verify this hypothesis.