Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Selecting an ornamental pepper banker plant for Amblyseius swirskii in floriculture crops

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Arthropod-Plant Interactions Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Preference of phytoseiid mite, Amblyseius swirskii (Athias-Henriot) was assessed on four cultivars of ornamental pepper banker plant candidates; Red Missile (RM), Masquerade (MA), Explosive Ember (EE) and Black Pearl (BP) for potential control of pestiferous insects in floriculture. Significant differences in cultivar preference by A. swirskii was observed in choice experiments whether the test was pre- (with pollen) or during bloom. Overall, female mites laid more eggs when pollen was provided as a food source. The number of tuft domatia per cultivar leaf appeared to positively influence host preference in the choice plant tests pre-bloom. In addition, cultivar RM had the highest mean number ± SEM of tuft domatia per leaf (5.1 ± 0.3) and motiles per plant (4.0 ± 1.2), followed by MA, EE and BP. In choice tests on blooming plants, A. swirskii showed preference for both cultivars RM and MA compared to EE. These experiments indicated that the number of tuft domatia and availability of pollen can influence the host preference of A. swirskii for an ornamental pepper banker plant cultivar. Results from this study will help growers, researchers, educators and extension personnel in understanding the plant phenology promoting adoption of suitable banker plants for managing greenhouse and landscape insect pests.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Agrawal AA (1997) Do leaf domatia mediate a plant-mite mutualism? An experimental test of the effects on predators and herbivores. Ecol Entomol 22:371–376

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Arthurs S, McKenzie CL, Chen J, Dogramaci M, Brennan M, Houben K, Osborne L (2009) Evaluation of Neoseiulus cucumeris and Amblyseius swirskii (Acari: Phytoseiidae) as biological control agents of chilli thrips, Scirtothrips dorsalis (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) on pepper. Biol Control 49:91–96

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Calvo FJ, Bolckmans K, Belda JE (2011) Control of Bemisia tabaci and Frankliniella occidentalis in cucumber by Amblyseius swirskii. Biocontrol 56:185–192

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Frank SD (2010) Biological control of arthropod pests using banker plants systems: past progress and future directions. Biol Control 52:8–16

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Grostal P, O’Dowd DJ (1994) Plants, mites and mutualism: leaf domatia and the abundance and reproduction of mites on Viburnum tinus (Caprifoliaceae). Oecologia 97:308–315

    Google Scholar 

  • Huang N, Enkegaard A, Osborne LS, Ramakers PMJ, Messelink GJ, Pijnakker J, Murphy G (2011) The banker plant method in biological control. Crit Rev Plant Sci 30:259–278

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jovicich E, Cantliffe DJ, Stofella PJ, Osborne LS (2008) Predatory mites released on transplants can protect greenhouse-grown peppers from early broad mite infestations. Acta Hortic 782:229–233

    Google Scholar 

  • Kumar V, Seal DR, McKenzie CL, Kakkar G, Osborne LS (2012) New tropical fruit hosts of Scirtothrips dorsalis (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) and its relative abundance on them in south Florida. Fla Entomol 95:205–207

    Google Scholar 

  • Kumar V, Kakkar G, McKenzie CL, Seal DR, Osborne LS (2013) An overview of chilli thrips, Scirtothrips dorsalis (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) biology, distribution and management. In: Solenski S, Larramendy M (eds) Weed and pest control—conventional and new challenges. Intech, Rijeka, pp 53–77

  • Loughner R, Goldman K, Loeb G, Nyrop J (2008) Influence of leaf trichomes on predatory mite (Typhlodromus pyri) abundance in grape varieties. Exp Appl Acarol 45:111–122

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Loughner R, Wentworth K, Loeb G, Nyrop J (2010) Leaf trichomes influence predatory mite densities through dispersal behavior. Entomol Exp Appl 134:78–88

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Messelink G, van Steenpaal SEF, van Wensveen W (2005) Typhlodromips swirskii (Athias-Henriot) (Acari: Phytoseiidae): a new predator for thrips control in greenhouse cucumber. IOBC/WPRS 28:183–186

    Google Scholar 

  • Messelink GJ, van Steenpaal SEF, Ramakers PMJ (2006) Evaluation of phytoseiid predators for control of western flower thrips on greenhouse cucumber. Biocontrol 51:753–768

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Messelink GJ, van Maanen R, van Steenpaal SEF, Janssen A (2008) Biological control of thrips and whiteflies by a shared predator: two pests are better than one. Biol Control 44:372–379

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nomikou M, Janssen A, Schraag R, Sabelis MW (2001) Phytoseiid predators as potential biological control agents for Bemisia tabaci. Exp Appl Acarol 25:271–291

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Nomikou M, Sabelis MW, Janssen A (2010) Pollen subsidies promote whitefly control through the numerical response of predatory mites. Biocontrol 55:253–260

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • NPAG (2006) Scirtothrips dorsalis Hood: Chilli Thrips (Thysanoptera/Thripidae), NPAG report, March 3, 2006. NPAG@aphis.usda.gov. http://mrec.ifas.ufl.edu/lso/DOCUMENTS/Scirtothrips%20dorsalis%20NPAG%20et%20Report%20060310.pdf. Accessed 3 July 2013

  • O’Dowd DJ, Willson MF (1991) Associations between mites and leaf domatia. Trends Ecol Evol 6:179–182

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Opit GP, Nechols JR, Margolies DC, Williams KA (2005) Survival, horizontal distribution, and economics of releasing predatory mites (Acari: Phytoseiidae) using mechanical blowers. Biol Control 33:344–351

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Osborne LS (2009) Scirtothrips dorsalis Hood. http://mrec.ifas.ufl.edu/lso/thripslinks.htm. Updated Feb 16, 2011. Accessed 1 Apr 2013

  • Osborne LS, Landa Z, Taylor DJ, Tyson RV (2005) Using banker plants to control insects in greenhouse vegetables. Proc Fla State Hortic Soc 118:127–128

    Google Scholar 

  • Park HH, Shipp L, Buitenhuis R (2010) Predation, development, and oviposition by the predatory mite Amblyseius swirskii (Acari: Phytoseiidae) on tomato russet mite (Acari; Eriophyidae). J Econ Entomol 103:563–569

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pemberton RW, Turner CE (1989) Occurrence of predatory and fungivorous mites in leaf domatia. Am J Bot 76:105–112

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pundt L, Smith T (2008) Ornamental pepper ‘Black Pearl’ as banker plant. Greenhouse TPM/IPM Weekly Report, October 10 (adapted from Maryland Cooperative Extension, Central Maryland Research and Education Center) http://www.negreenhouseupdate.info/index.php/october/622-ornamental-pepper-black-pearl-as-banker-plant

  • Ragusa E, Tsolakis H, Palomero RJ (2009) Effect of pollens and preys on various biological parameters of the generalist mite Cydnodromus californicus. Bull Insectol 62:153–158

    Google Scholar 

  • Ramakers PMJ, Voet SJP (1995) Use of castor bean, Ricinus communis, for the introduction of the thrips predator Amblyseius degenerans on glasshouse-grown sweet peppers. Meded Fac Landbouww Rijksuniv 60:885–891

    Google Scholar 

  • Reddy GPV, Prasad VD, Rao RS (1992) Relative resistance in chilli thrips, Scirtothrips dorsalis Hood populations in Andhra Pradesh to some conventional insecticides. Indian J Plant Prot 20:218–222

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Roda A, Nyrop J, Dicke M, English-Loeb G (2000) Trichomes and spider-mite webbing protect predatory mite eggs from intraguild predation. Oecologia 125:428–435

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Romero GQ, Benson WW (2005) Biotic interactions of mites, plants and leaf domatia. Curr Opin Plant Biol 8:436–440

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • SAS Version 9.2 (2008) SAS Institute, Cary, NC

  • Seal DR, Kumar V (2010) Biological responses of chilli thrips, Scirtothrips dorsalis Hood (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), to various regimes of chemical and biorational insecticides. Crop Prot 29:1241–1247

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Seal DR, Klassen W, Kumar V (2010) Biological parameters of Scirtothrips dorsalis (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) on selected hosts. Environ Entomol 39:1389–1398

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Van Houten YM, Ostlie ML, Hoogerbrugge H, Blockmans K (2005) Biological control of western flower thrips on sweet pepper using the predatory mites Amblyseius cucumeris, Iphiseius degenerans, A. andersoni and A. swirskii. IOBC/WPRS Bull 28:283–286

    Google Scholar 

  • Van Rijn PCJ, Tanigoshi LK (1999) The contribution of extrafloral nectar to survival and reproduction of the predatory mite Iphiseius degenerans on Ricinus communis. Exp Appl Acarol 23:281–296

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Van Rijn PCJ, Van Houten YM, Sabelis MW (2002) How plants benefit from providing food to predators even when it is also edible to herbivores. Ecology 83:2664–2679

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Walter DE (1996) Living on leaves: mites, tomenta, and leaf domatia. Annu Rev Entomol 41:101–114

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Walter DE, O’Dowd DJ (1992a) Leaves with domatia have more mites. Ecology 73:1514–1518

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Walter DE, O’Dowd DJ (1992b) Leaf morphology and predators: effect of leaf domatia on the abundance of predatory mites. Environ Entomol 21:478–484

    Google Scholar 

  • Xiao YF, Chen JJ, Cantliffe D, McKenzie C, Houben K, Osborne LS (2011a) Establishment of papaya banker plant system for parasitoid, Encarsia sophia (Hymenoptera: Aphilidae) against Bemisia tabaci (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) in greenhouse tomato production. Biol Control 58:239–247

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Xiao YF, Osborne L, Chen JJ, McKenzie C, Houben K, Irizarry F (2011b) Evaluation of corn plant as potential banker plants for predatory gall midge, Feltiella acarisuga (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) against Tetranychus urticae (Acari: Tetranychidae) in greenhouse vegetable crops. Crop Prot 36:1635–1642

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Xiao YF, Avery P, Chen JJ, McKenzie C, Osborne L (2012) Ornamental pepper as banker plants for establishment of Amblyseius swirskii (Acari: Phytoseiidae) for biological control of multiple pests in greenhouse vegetable production. Biol Control 63:279–286

    Google Scholar 

  • Xu X, Enkegaard A (2010) Prey preference of the predatory mite, Amblyseius swirskii between first instar western flower thrips Frankliniella occidentalis and nymphs of the twospotted spider mite Tetranychus urticae. J Insect Sci 10:149; online: insectscience.org/10:149

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Katherine Houben at Mid-Florida Research and Education Center in Apopka, FL, for her technical assistance in the rearing of A. swirskii; John Prokop and Lynn Faulkner for their technical assistance in the greenhouse at the USDA, ARS, US Horticultural Research Laboratory (USHRL), Ft. Pierce, FL; Phyllis Hebert, Ryan Loehr and David Alden at the Indian River Research and Education Center, Ft. Pierce, FL for some aspect of technical assistance in mite and plant maintenance, destructive sampling and/or counting tuft domatia and mite life stages. Funding for this study was supported by grants from the EPA, USDA/T-STAR, the USDA-ARS Floriculture and Nursery Research Initiative, and IFAS/UF Line Item grants program.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Indian River Research and Education Center, University of Florida, 2199 South Rock Road, Fort Pierce, FL, 34945, USA

    Pasco B. Avery & Charles A. Powell

  2. Department of Entomology and Nematology, Mid-Florida Research and Education Center, IFAS, University of Florida, 2725 Binion Road, Apopka, FL, 32703, USA

    Vivek Kumar, Yingfang Xiao & Lance S. Osborne

  3. ARS, U.S. Horticultural Research Laboratory, Subtropical Insect Research Unit, USDA, 2001 South Rock Road, Fort Pierce, FL, 34945, USA

    Cindy L. McKenzie

Authors
  1. Pasco B. Avery
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Vivek Kumar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Yingfang Xiao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Charles A. Powell
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Cindy L. McKenzie
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Lance S. Osborne
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Pasco B. Avery.

Additional information

Handling Editors: Heikki Hokkanen and Guy Smagghe.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Avery, P.B., Kumar, V., Xiao, Y. et al. Selecting an ornamental pepper banker plant for Amblyseius swirskii in floriculture crops. Arthropod-Plant Interactions 8, 49–56 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11829-013-9283-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11829-013-9283-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation