Abstract

Muhammad Sarwar, Xu Xuenong, Wang Endong and Wu Kongming

Protected crop experiments were conducted to study the suitability and efficacy of Phytoseiid mite species as predators of western flower thrips Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande), carmine spider mite Tetranychus cinnabarinus (Boisduval) and greenhouse whitefly Trialeurodes vaporariorum (Westwood) in cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) under greenhouse conditions. In this study, predatory mites Neoseiulus pseudolongispinosus Euseius castaneae Euseius utilis and Euseius finlandicus (Oudemans) (Phytosiidae) were investigated for their potential as biological control agents in treated along with untreated check. The current findings to judge the biocontrol potential of predators showed that laboratory bred adults and nymph instars of all predators efficiently preyed upon sucking arthropods and pests populations were drastically reduced in treated plants than in untreated control where their intensities were numerous. Among all predators, N. pseudolongispinosus was the most proficient and steadfast predator in controlling thrips and whitefly populations, contrary to E. finlandicus that proved better in reducing spider mite density in treated crop. The current findings indicated the potential of Phytoseiid predators for their augmentative releases to give best control of sucking pests in protected cucumber plants.