Ir. A.J.M. Loomans : Parasitoids as biological control agents of thrips pest

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8 Sep 2003 16:00
Unit: Wageningen University
Location: Aula (gebouw 362), Gen. Foulkesweg 1, Wageningen
Promotor: prof.dr. J.C. van Lenteren (Entomology)

 Predators are widely used as biological control agents of Western Flower Thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis) infestations in many vegetable crops. In cut-flowers and bedding plants this option has not yet been fully realized. During my PhD I evaluated the prospects of insect parasitoids (Hymenoptera) as biological control agents for thrips control in greenhouses. As pre-introduction criteria for the evaluation and selection of these parasitoids I addressed aspects of the biology and searching behaviour of different geographical populations of two Ceranisus species. It revealed that, depending on the combination of the geographical origin and morphology of the natural enemy ánd of the pest, specific interactions exist. This clearly illustrates that matching the intra-specific variation within the natural enemy ánd the target pest species complex is of crucial importance to possible failure or success in biological control. Our experimental results, however, also indicated that prospects of both parasitoid species that we evaluated were insufficient for further development as a commercial product.
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