Storage of adults of two species of Orius ( Hemiptera : Anthocoridae ) at low temperature

only The generalist predator Typhlodromalus limonicus (Acari: Phytoseiidae): a potential biological control agent of thrips and whiteflies Yvonne M. van Houten, Julietta Rothe & Karel J.F. Bolckmans ................ 237-240 Abstract: A strain of the phytoseiid predatory mite Typhlodromalus limonicus Garman & McGregor, collected from tomatoes, was tested in a laboratory study as a biological control agent of Trialeurodes vaporariorum, Frankliniella occidentalis and Tetranychus urticae. The following features were tested on cucumber leaf discs: (1) predation and oviposition rate with small F. occidentalis larvae as prey, (2) oviposition rates on different juvenile stages of T. vaporariorum, (3) oviposition rates on different stages of T. urticae. The oviposition rate on young, white eggs of T. vaporariorum was also tested on tomato leaf discs. The results showed that T. limonicus exhibits a high predation and oviposition rate on a diet of thrips larvae and a high oviposition rate on white eggs, on crawlers and on a mix of the 2nd and 3rd instars of T. vaporariorum. The oviposition rate on older, brown eggs of T. vaporariorum was much lower. T. limonicus produced less eggs on a diet of T. urticae. The predator was hampered by the webbing of the spider mites. The oviposition rate on white eggs of T. vaporariorum on tomato was significant lower than on cucumber but was still 3 eggs per day. The suitability of this candidate for biological control of whiteflies on tomato remains to be shown in greenhouse experiments. Prey preference of the generalist predator Amblyseius swirskii Roos van Maanen & Arne Janssen ............................................................ 241-244 Abstract: Recent research has shown that with a mixed diet of whitefly eggs and first instar thrips, juvenile survival and developmental rate of the predatory mite Amblyseius swirskii was significantly higher than on either prey species separately. We studied the prey choice of the mite in a pilot laboratorial experiment in order to detect a preference to uptake of a diet of two different prey species instead of one. Our preliminary results suggest that mites previously fed on whitefly eggs have a preference for first instar thrips larvae. To verify whether this is due to a preference for a varied diet or due to the fact that whitefly eggs are an inferior diet, replication of the experiments and further examination are needed. The release of beneficials in greenhouses with an air blower, a new wind in biocontrol Jeroen van Schelt, Alex Tetteroo, Hans Hoogerbrugge, Rene Veenman & Karel Bolckmans ......................................................................................... 245-248 Abstract: A new type of air blower for releasing predatory mites in greenhouse crops has been developed. With this new type air blower predatory mites with a carrier material can be dispersed over the crop up to 5 meters to each side without mechanically damaging the mites. Even distribution of beneficials throughout the crop improves biocontrol in crops like roses, chrysanthemum, and pot plants. Labour costs for distribution biological control agents can be