Predatory mites and WFT: Pepper growers are fortunate to have several controls available to control western flower thrips

摘要

Greenhouse pepper growers are very fortunate to have several biological control agents that are commercially available for management of western flower thrips that infest greenhouse peppers each year. These biological control agents include several predatory mite species that are released on the plants, among them Amblyseius cucumeris, Amblyseius swirskii, Amblyseius degenerans, and Amblyseius andersoni. Selection of mite species for optimal year-round suppression of thrips populations can be confusing given all this choice. This article provides some information that may assist in understanding some of the pros of cons of these predators. Information provided is based principally on research led by Yvonne van Houten, currently with Koppert Biological Systems in the Netherlands.