Assessing the Impact of Variety, Irrigation, and Plant Distance on Predatory and Phytophagous Insects in Chili

Chilies are plants that becoming increasingly popular all over the world, including in Hungary. Since little is known about abundance and seasonal dynamic of insect pests their natural enemies associated with chilies under Hungarian climatic conditions, aim study was to monitor these organisms on different varieties growing conditions provide data for improving IPM chilies. Chili “Yellow Scotch Bonnet” (YSB) “Trinidad Scorpion Butch T” (TSBT) were planted three replicates. Two plant-to-plant distances (30 vs. 40 60 cm YSB, TSBT, respectively) two irrigation frequencies (daily, min; every second day, 20 min) used. Fifty flowers/plot/date collected. In 2019, Orius (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae) larvae, 2021, phytophagous thrips larvae dominant treatments. Significantly more adults found YSB than TSBT variety number Aeolothrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) significantly higher less 2019. The plant spacing did not affect predators or herbivores. Upon comparing years, no effect treatments studied taxa observed.