Biweekly supplementation with Artemia spp. cysts allows efficient population establishment by Macrolophus pygmaeus in sweet pepper. Issue 5 (18th March 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Brenard, Nathalie; Sluydts, Vincent; Christianen, Evi; Bosmans, Lien; De Bruyn, Luc; Moerkens, Rob; Leirs, Herwig
• Is Part Of: Entomologia experimentalis et applicata. Volume 167:Issue 5(2019)
• Page Start: 406
• Page End: 414
• Publication Date: 2019-03-18
• Subjects: Miridae -- biological control -- integrated pest management -- IPM -- inoculative release strategy -- greenhouse crops -- food supplementation -- Hemiptera -- alternative prey -- Capsicum annuum -- Solanaceae -- brine shrimps; Entomology -- Periodicals; 595.7
• DOI: 10.1111/eea.12776
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0013-8703

Abstract

Abstract: Macrolophus pygmaeus Rambur (Hemiptera: Miridae) is a generalist natural enemy that is used to control multiple pest species in a variety of horticultural crops. The bugs are released at the start of the crop cycle to allow them to establish and build up a population in the crop that can control pest infestations later in the season. To facilitate population growth and dispersal in protected sweet pepper crops, Capsicum annuum L. (Solanaceae), food should be supplemented in a full‐field fashion during the first 6–8 weeks after introduction. To reduce the costs of food supplementation, we investigated whether fewer applications could produce similar results in terms of population growth and dispersal within the greenhouse. First, a cage experiment was carried out in which a weekly and biweekly application rate was tested for three food sources: cysts of brine shrimps Artemia spp. (Anostraca: Artemiidae), eggs of the Mediterranean flour moth, Ephestia kuehniella Zeller (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), and a commercial mix of the two. Artemia spp. cysts resulted in the largest M. pygmaeus populations. There was no difference in population size between the two application rates for any of the food sources. Second, a greenhouse experiment was set up to test both application rates for Artemia spp. cysts under conditions mimicking commercial practice. Again, no difference in population size was observed between a weekly and a biweekly application rate. This insight is good news for growers, as they can use the least expensive food source and they need fewer applications to successfully introduce M. pygmaeus in protected sweet pepper crops. Abstract : Macrolophus pygmaeus (Hemiptera: Miridae) requires full‐field food supplementation during 6–8 weeks for successful introduction in sweet pepper crops. This study aimed to optimize the supplementation scheme. Brine shrimp cysts resulted in higher M. pygmaeus numbers than flour moth eggs or a commercial mix of both. Biweekly application resulted in the same predatory bug densities and dispersal rates as weekly application. Growers can thus use the cheapest food source and apply less to obtain good results.