Toxicity of thiamethoxam to Tetranychus urticae Koch and Phytoseiulus persimilis Athias-Henriot (Acari Tetranychidae, Phytoseiidae) through different routes of exposure

BACKGROUND: Knowledge of the impact of insecticides on Tetranychus urticae Koch and its predator Phytoseiulus persimilis Athias‐Henriot is crucial for IPM. This study evaluates the effect of thiamethoxam on T. urticae and its predator by considering different routes of exposure (topical, residual and contaminated food exposures) and their combinations. RESULTS: Thiamethoxam effects on T. urticae were higher when residual and contaminated food exposures were considered. The total effect was higher than 90% where contaminated food exposure was involved. On P. persimilis, the total effect was higher in residual and contaminated prey exposures compared with topical exposure, and all combinations of routes of exposure attained a total effect higher than 90%. CONCLUSION: Thiamethoxam was found to be toxic to T. urticae and P. persimilis; however, the impact of the insecticide depended on the routes of exposure and their combinations. Lethal and sublethal effects occurred in residual and contaminated food exposures, while only sublethal effects occurred in topical exposure of predators and prey. The toxicity of thiamethoxam on prey and predator increased with the number of exposure routes involved. By limiting exposure to thiamethoxam to ingestion of contaminated food only, the impact of the pesticide was more favourable to P. persimilis than to its prey. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry     

提高花粉饲养伪钝绥螨繁殖力的试验

单独用苹果花粉喂养伪钝绥螨,其后代生活力降低。本文报道在苹果花粉中分别添加30％王浆水、30％蜂蜜水饲养伪钝绥螨,或用苹果花粉和朱砂叶螨交替喂食。结果表明,其后代成螨性比较单独用苹果花粉喂食者均有提高,雌成螨自食其卵现象基本消除。其中以苹果花粉和朱砂叶螨交替供食者效果最好,后代成活率明显提高。以苹果花粉为主食料,定期添加朱砂叶螨,5周后伪钝绥螨的增殖倍数与完全取食朱砂叶螨者相近。     

食物对兹沃尔新小绥螨生长发育和繁殖的影响

为探究不同食物对兹沃尔新小绥螨Neoseiulus zwoelferi种群生长、发育和繁殖的影响,采用年龄-龄期两性生命表分析测定兹沃尔新小绥螨取食卢氏叶螨Tetranychus ludeni、甜果螨Carpoglyphus lactis和香蒲Typha orientalis花粉后的存活率、发育历期、寿命及繁殖情况。结果显示,3种食物均能满足兹沃尔新小绥螨生长发育和繁殖的需求。卢氏叶螨处理组的净增殖率和总繁殖率分别是28.99和36.99,均显著高于其他2个处理组;以甜果螨、卢氏叶螨和香蒲花粉为食的兹沃尔新小绥螨从卵发育至成螨所需时间分别为5.28、7.34和6.87 d,种群倍增时间分别3.35、4.22和11.77 d,前者显著短于其他2个处理;甜果螨处理组和卢氏叶螨处理组的雌成螨平均寿命分别比香蒲花粉处理组长2.75 d和4.92 d,但两者之间无显著差异;卢氏叶螨处理组雌成螨产卵天数最长,为17.84 d,产卵前期时间最短,为2.75 d,产卵量最大,为38.15粒/雌;香蒲花粉处理组雌成螨产卵天数最短,仅1.82 d,产卵前期时间最长,为5.89 d,产卵量最少,为3.36粒/雌。甜果螨处理组的内禀增长率、周限增长率分别为0.21 d-1和1.23 d-1,均显著高于其他处理组,但平均世代周期为14.65 d,显著低于其他处理组。表明3种食物均可使兹沃尔新小绥螨完成整个世代,其中甜果螨是室内饲养兹沃尔新小绥螨的最佳食物,香蒲花粉可以作为短期饲养的食物。     

Compatibility of spinosad with predaceous mites (Acari) used to control Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae)

BACKGROUND: Spinosad is a biopesticide widely used for control of Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande). It is reported to be non‐toxic to several predatory mite species used for the biological control of thrips. Predatory mites Typhlodromips montdorensis (Schicha), Neoseiulus cucumeris (Oudemans) and Hypoaspis miles (Berlese) have been used for control of F. occidentalis. This study investigated the impact of direct and residual toxicity of spinosad on F. occidentalis and predatory mites. The repellency of spinosad residues to these predatory mites was also investigated. RESULTS: Direct contact to spinosad effectively reduced the number of F. occidentalis adults and larvae, causing > 96% mortality. Spinosad residues aged 2–96 h were also toxic to F. occidentalis. Direct exposure to spinosad resulted in > 90% mortality of all three mite species. Thresholds for the residual toxicity (contact) of spinosad (LT₂₅) were estimated as 4.2, 3.2 and 5.8 days for T. montdorensis, N. cucumeris and H. miles respectively. When mites were simultaneously exposed to spinosad residues and fed spinosad‐intoxicated thrips larvae, toxicity increased. Residual thresholds were re‐estimated as 5.4, 3.9 and 6.1 days for T. montdorensis, N. cucumeris and H. miles respectively. Residues aged 2–48 h repelled T. montdorensis and H. miles, and residues aged 2–24 h repelled N. cucumeris. CONCLUSION: Predatory mites can be safely released 6 days after spinosad is applied for the management of F. occidentalis. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry     

A novel use of Nesidiocoris tenuis (Reuter) (Hemiptera: Miridae) as inoculative agent of baculoviruses

Background

Alphabaculoviruses are Lepidoptera-specific virulent pathogens that infect numerous pests, including the Spodoptera complex. Due to their low environmental persistence, the traditional use of Alphabaculoviruses as bioinsecticides consist in high-rate spray applications with repeated treatments. Several abiotic and biotic factors can foster its dispersion, promoting their persistence in the agroecosystem. Amongst biotic factors, predatory arthropods can disperse the viruses by excretion after preying on infected individuals. Therefore, this study focused on promoting predator's ingestion of nucleopolyhedrovirus (NPV)-treated diets, and the later exposition of the insect host to leaf surfaces contaminated with predator excreta. The virus–host–predator system studied was Spodoptera littoralis nucleopolyhedrovirus (SpliNPV), Spodoptera littoralis (Boisduval) and Nesidiocoris tenuis (Reuter). The infective potential of N. tenuis feces and the retention time of SpliNPV were assessed under laboratory conditions after feeding on treated diets (sucrose solution and Ephestia kuehniella eggs).

Results

Mortality of S. littoralis larvae was lower via N. tenuis excretion than in positive control (spray application) in the first infection cycle, together with a delay in host death. In the second infection cycle, both SpliNPV-treated diets triggered 100% mortality. Both diets allowed the transmission of SpliNPV, with a faster excretion via sucrose solution compared to E. kuehniella eggs. SpliNPV remained in N. tenuis digestive tract and was viable after excretion at least for 9 days for both diets.

Conclusions

This study demonstrated the potential of the predator N. tenuis as inoculative agent of baculoviruses, representing a new alternative that, along with inundative applications, might contribute to improve pest management strategies. © 2023 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.     

Development and reproduction of Adalia bipunctata (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) on eggs of Ephestia kuehniella (Lepidoptera: Phycitidae) and pollen

Due to growing criticism over the use of non-indigenous coccinellids, the two-spot ladybird, Adalia bipunctata (L.), has enjoyed increasing attention for aphid biocontrol in Europe. In the current study, eggs of the Mediterranean flour moth, Ephestia kuehniella Zeller, whether or not supplemented with bee pollen, were evaluated as a factitious food for larvae and adults of A. bipunctata. The predator showed slower larval development and lower survival when reared on live pea aphids, Acyrthosiphon pisum (Harris), than on E. kuehniella eggs. Survival on gamma-irradiated eggs of E. kuehniella was superior to that on frozen flour moth eggs, but other developmental characteristics were similar. Adults of A. bipunctata reared on Ac. pisum were only half as fecund as those offered irradiated or frozen E. kuehniella eggs, but egg hatch was markedly better on live aphids than on flour moth eggs (61 versus 20-27%, respectively). However, when a diet of flour moth eggs was supplemented with frozen moist bee pollen, egg hatch of A. bipunctata was equally as good as on live aphids. Supplementing flour moth eggs with dry pollen did not yield satisfactory results. Only 10% of larvae reached adulthood on moist bee pollen alone and resulting adults weighed less than half as much as those obtained on flour moth eggs. Our findings indicate that A. bipunctata is able to compensate for a suboptimal diet of animal prey by supplementary feeding on flower pollen. It is concluded that pollinivory may be a crucial trait for both the rearing of this natural enemy and its use in biological control programmes.     

Prey stage preference,mutual interference and switching of Amblyseius swirskii (Acari: Phytoseiidae) on Eotetranychus frosti (Acari: Tetranychidae) and Cenopalpus irani (Acari: Tenuipalpidae)

Abstract

Prey stage preference, mutual interference, and switching of Amblyseius swirskii Athias-Henriot on Eotetranychus frosti (McGregor) (Tetranychidae) and Cenopalpus irani Dosse (Tenuipalpidae) were evaluated under laboratory conditions on apple leaves. The results of no-choice experiments on the two prey revealed that the predator A. swirskii consumed significantly more eggs than other prey stages. The predator consumed about 46% and 57% of the initial density of eggs of E. frosti and C. irani, respectively. In choice experiments the mean consumption rate of A. swirskii females significantly differed among each of the pests’ life stages. The negative value of the interference coefficient in the mutual interference analysis showed an inverse relationship between the predator density and per capita searching efficiency. The prey preference by predator was not dependent on the relative abundance of prey, as it did not switch from of E. frosti when it became rare to another prey which was more abundant except for the ratio 20E. frosti:60C. irani. The results of this study revealed that A. swirskii could be utilized as an effective predator in the integrated management of E. frosti and C. irani; particularly, its heavy preference for E. frosti could play a considerable role in control of it.     

Density ofAlabama argillacea larvae affects food extraction by females ofPodisus nigrispinus

The food extraction by adult females ofPodisus nigrispinus (Dallas) (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) from 3 ^rd instarAlabama argillacea (Hübner) larvae was evaluated in the laboratory. The densities studied were converted to weight of prey offered: 15.7 (one larva); 44.1 (three larvae); 71.4 (five larvae); 117.4 (seven larvae) and 148.8 mg (nine larvae). The adult weight, the amount of food consumed, the weight of remaining larvae and the time taken to ingest the food were recorded every 24 h during 9 days to estimate the percentage of food consumed, the quantity and the percentage of food extracted from each larva, the quantity of food extracted per minute and the relative consumption rate. The quantity of food consumed (88.5% to 35.5%) and extracted (90.8% to 35.5%) byP. nigrispinus females from each larva decreased as the food available increased. The time spent byP. nigrispinus to ingest food and the quantity of remaining food were similar during the 9-day period of the adult stage of this predator. No interactions were observed between the age of females of this predator and the prey density. The weight gained (1.2–5.8 mg/9 days), body weight (35.5–42.3 mg) and the relative consumption rate (0.4–1.4 mg/mg/day) by females of this predator increased at a declining rate with the quantity of food available.P. nigrispinus may change its predatory behavior as a function of food available. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting Dec. 25, 2007.     

Ecological control of citrus pests primarily using predatory mites and the bio-rational pesticide matrine

Panonychus citri and Diaphorina citri are serious citrus pests (mites) in many countries. The predatory mite Neoseiulus cucumeris can prey on both P. citri and D. citri. It is necessary to develop a strategy using predatory mites and selective pesticides that can simultaneously control both pests effectively and sustainably. The toxicities of matrine and abamectin to P. citri, D. citri and N. cucumeris were evaluated in the laboratory. Matrine was highly lethal to D. citri and relatively less toxic to P. citri and N. cucumeris. Abamectin was relatively less toxic to D. citri. The results of the field trials demonstrated the ecological control strategy that combined the release of predatory mites and applications of four matrine sprays from June 2011 to November 2011, which provided better control over P. citri than pesticide applications alone with six sprays during the same period. It achieved similar control levels for D. citri. In Matrine + N. cucumeris orchard, the total number of spiders was significantly larger than that in the Pesticides Only orchard, but the total number of predatory mites was lower. It is inferred that primarily natural enemies and matrine together play a role in controlling citrus pests.     

伪钝绥螨的花粉饲养研究

在饲养伪钝绥螨的10种植物花粉中,核桃、洋槐、贴梗海棠、仙人球、迎春和卷心菜等可使其取食并完成发育,前4种还可使其产卵。花粉粒的外部形态结构,是影响该螨能否取食的重要因素之一。用桃、苹果花粉饲养伪钝绥螨,对其F_1代生活力有明显的不良影响。取食桃花粉的F_1代,幼螨间相互残杀,并取食未孵化的卵,使成活率降低。取食苹果花粉的F_1代可正常完成发育,但成螨性比降低,产卵时自食其卵。试验表明,单纯喂食桃或苹果花粉难以进行伪钝绥螨的累代饲养。     

Biology and predation rate of the sarcophagid fly,Agria mamillata a predator of European small ermine moths

Abstract

The biology of the univoltine, predatory sarcophagid fly Agria mamillata (Pandellé) was studied in a population of Yponomeuta evonymellus(L.) (Yponomeutidae) attacking Prunuspadus L. in the Valais, Switzerland. Clarification of the literature records suggests that A. mamillata is oligophagus, attacking five Yponomeuta species in the Palaearctic. The adult flies emerged in May. The presence of host odour was advantageous to elicit mating. After a preoviposition period of 19 days, the ovolarviparous females deposited eggs/first instar larvae on the cuticle of late fifth instar prey larvae, or on cocoons of prey pupae. The potential fecundity averaged 40 eggs per female. Reid data indicated that females of the predator laid more eggs in tents with higher prey density. Larval development lasted 11 days. Rain stimulates mature predator larvae to leave the tents of Y. evonymellus to pupate in the soil. Pupation was observed between early July and mid August. Predation rates ( = number of prey eaten per predator) were estimated from laboratory food consumption tests and from the number of predator larvae and predated cocoons in prey tents in the field. It was shown that a single predator consumed an average of five Y. evonymellus individuals. Field data indicated that predation rates cannot increase with higher numbers of prey available. It was shown that the number of prey eaten per predator decrease with higher predator densities per tent in the field.     

Cannibalism of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Brontocoris tabidus</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Podisus nigrispinus</Emphasis> during periods of pre-release without food or fed with <Emphasis Type="Italic">Eucalyptus cloeziana</Emphasis> plants

Pre-release techniques aim to increase the searching by the predators for their prey. Keeping bug predators for periods without food before their release can increase the search ability of these insects. However, this practice can increase the cannibalism during mass rearing. Brontocoris tabidus (Signoret) and Podisus nigrispinus (Dallas) (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) were kept for 12, 24, 36 and 48 h without food or with only Eucalyptus cloeziana plants in order to verify the occurrence of cannibalism on adults and eggs. Insects kept for periods longer than 24 h showed higher cannibalism on adults and eggs and the presence of a E. cloeziana plant decreased the cannibalism during all the treatment periods. These predators preferred to attack first the eggs rather than the adults, probably because of the inability of the former to avoid predation. The pre-release period should not exceed 24 h and plants must be provided to the predators in order to reduce the occurrence of cannibalism and increase the predatory capacity of these natural enemies.     

Pest control by predators and parasites Biological control of the two-spotted spider mite(tetranychus urticae) in apple orchards by inundative releases of the predatory mitephytoseiulus persimilis — a feasibility study

The feasibility of controlling the two-spotted spider mite in apple orchards by inundative releases of the phytoseiid predatorPhytoseiulus persimilis, was studied in a field trial in northern Israel. Half a million predators released per acre, maintained high populations forca 2 months until the spider mite population dropped below the economic threshold.P. persimilis demonstrated a dispersal capacity of at least 90 m from its original release site. The ability of the predator to switch to alternative prey (the European red mite) and the economic feasibility of this non-chemical approach to spider mite control, are discussed.     

Reproductive strategy ofPodisus nigrispinus females under different feeding intervals

An attempt was made to quantify the influence of prey scarcity on longevity and on the reproductive variables of females of the predatorPodisus nigrispinus (Dallas) (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae). The predators received prey (Alabama argillacea) of different sizes,viz., 50 mg (small prey) or 220 mg (large prey), for a period of 24 h, daily or every 2, 4, 8 or 16 days. In an additional trial, the predators were provided only with water or kept without food, in which latter condition they lived a significantly shorter time. Individuals that received large prey in excess (every day) and at 16-day intervals lived significantly less, while the longevity of those that fed on small prey did not differ significantly between feeding intervals. Predators that fed less frequently laid fewer eggs, with increased intervals between clutches. The results were more marked in females fed on small prey; however, evidence of trade-off between reproduction and survival was detected only in predators that received large prey. The results suggest a type of trade-off, where longevity is maintained at the expense of reproduction. This strategy can contribute to the establishment and survival ofP. nigrispinus in an environment of fluctuating food supply. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting Dec. 11, 2007.     

Prey consumption by the mealybug predator <Emphasis Type="Italic">Spalgis epius</Emphasis> on pink hibiscus mealybug (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Maconellicoccus hirsutus</Emphasis>)

The pink hibiscus mealybug Maconellicoccus hirsutus (Green) (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) is a major pest of economically important crops. The apefly Spalgis epius (Westwood) (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) is a potential predator of various species of mealybugs. Studies of its preying potential and preference for prey stages on M. hirsutus are incomplete. An investigation was undertaken to determine the daily prey consumption and preference for prey stages by different larval instars of S. epius reared on M. hirsutus in the laboratory. During the 8-day larval development period with four larval instars of S. epius, the daily prey consumption increased from the first to the seventh day and decreased on the eighth day prior to the prepupal stage. Generally, there was a significant difference in the prey consumption on different days. The 1st to 4th instar larvae of S. epius consumed, respectively, a mean of 181.3, 679.1, 1770.4 and 4333.0 eggs or 19.1, 67.7, 153.0 and 639.0 nymphs or 2.72, 6.26, 13.8 and 32.1 adults of M. hirsutus. When an S. epius larva was fed on M. hirsutus eggs, nymphs and adults separately, it consumed a mean of 6952.6 eggs, 878.8 nymphs or 53.9 adults during its entire development. A single larva of S. epius consumed 2358.3 eggs, 151.2 nymphs and 34.3 adults of M. hirsutus during its entire development when the prey stages were offered all together. The study revealed that S. epius is a voracious predator of M. hirsutus and thus could be utilized as a potential biological control agent.     

Plant food effects on prey consumption by the omnivorous predator Macrolophus pygmaeus

Omnivorous predatory Heteroptera are important biological control agents of pests in several crops. They can feed on plant food resources that may positively affect their biological characteristics. In the current paper, the influence of leaves and flowers on the predation rate of the omnivorous predator Macrolophus pygmaeus (Rambur) (Hemiptera: Miridae) was investigated. Its predation rates were recorded on prey offered on (a) a single leaf of tomato, pepper or black nightshade (Solanum nigrum), or (b) a leaf of pepper or S. nigrum plus flowers of pepper or S. nigrum, respectively. In all cases the aphid Myzus persicae (Sulzer) (Homoptera: Aphididae) was used as prey at densities of 4, 8, 12, 16, 20 and 24 nymphs of the second instar. The experiments were conducted in petri dishes at 25 ± 1°C and prey consumption was evaluated after 24 h. The predation rate of M. pygmaeus was significantly higher on leaves of S. nigrum than on those of pepper at the prey density of 20 prey items. Therefore, the hypothesis that increased predation rates should occur on plants of lower suitability for development or reproduction was not supported under our experimental conditions. The flower availability did not alter the prey consumption among the prey densities on S. nigrum. However, the presence of a pepper flower caused a significant decrease in the predation rates on pepper leaves, at prey densities higher than eight prey items. Thus, pepper flowers can provide the predator with nutrient sources that may partially substitute for prey consumption, with practical implications in biological control.     

Impact of Cry3Bb1-expressing Bt maize on adults of the western corn rootworm, Diabrotica virgifera virgifera (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)

BACKGROUND: Genetically engineered maize producing insecticidal Cry3Bb1 protein from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is protected from root damage by corn rootworm larvae. An examination was made to establish whether western corn rootworm (Diabrotica virgifera virgifera) adults are affected by Cry3Bb1‐expressing maize (MON88017) when feeding on above‐ground tissue. RESULTS: In laboratory bioassays, adult D. v. virgifera were fed for 7 weeks with silk, leaves or pollen from Bt maize or the corresponding near‐isoline. Male, but not female, survival was reduced in the Bt‐leaf treatment compared with the control. Female weight was lower when fed Bt maize, and egg production was reduced in the Bt‐silk treatment. ELISA measurements demonstrated that beetles feeding on silk were exposed to higher Cry3Bb1 concentrations than beetles collected from Bt‐maize fields in the United States. In contrast to silk and pollen, feeding on leaves resulted in high mortality and low fecundity. Females feeding on pollen produced more eggs than on silk. C:N ratios indicated that silk does not provide enough nitrogen for optimal egg production. CONCLUSIONS: Direct effects of Cry3Bb1 on adult beetles could explain the observed effects, but varietal differences between Bt and control maize are also possible. The impact of Bt maize on adult populations, however, is likely to be limited. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry     

利用腹管食螨瓢虫控制柑桔全爪螨的研究

本文报道分布于中国东南部的腹管食螨瓢虫Stethorus siphonulus Kapur大面积控制柑桔全爪螨Panonychus citri(McGregor)首获成功;试验示范面积2000多亩,证明保护食螨瓢虫,一般株有瓢虫20—40只者,可无需用药。在春季移殖散放食螨瓢虫,除能控制春季桔全爪螨外,尚可继续控制桔全爪螨的秋季种群,全年无需喷药防治。倘若单独在秋梢期散放食螨瓢虫,秋梢害螨亦可得到显著的控制。移殖散放食螨瓢虫的指标为叶平均有桔全爪螨(包含卵在内各虫态)10只以上,方能建立起瓢虫群落。一般30—40亩果园,只需集中在10株桔树上散放食螨瓢虫200只左右(每株20只),短期内即可繁殖扩散至全园。在大面积桔园,适时进行瓢虫转株再移殖,可以迅速扩大控制范围。     

Studies on the Fecundity of Acarid Mites (Acarina: Acaridae)1

The effect of food on fecundity and its distribution during the life of Acarus siro L. was studied. In addition, the effect of repeated matings, of age of females and males, of parental age and of sex ratio on the fecundity of Tyrophagus putrescentiae (Schr.) was studied. Nutrition affects the total fecundity and its distribution in A. siro. The highest fecundity of T. putrescentiae females occurred when mating occurred more than once a week. The fecundity of ageing virgin females decreases gradually with delays in the time of the first mating. The effect of male's age is not significant until the age of 60 days onwards. Females descending from 100-day-old parents showed 25% lower fecundity than females from young parents. Density of males above the sex ratio 1:1 diminishes the fecundity of females molested by males. The higher the number of the males in the cage per female, the lower their fecundity.     

Effects of far-red light on tritrophic interactions between the two-spotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae) and the predatory mite Phytoseiulus persimilis on tomato

BACKGROUND

The use of light-emitting diode (LED) lights in horticulture allows growers to adjust the light spectrum to optimize crop production and quality. However, changes in light quality can also influence plant–arthropod interactions, with possible consequences for pest management. The addition of far-red light has been shown to interfere with plant immunity, thereby increasing plant susceptibility to biotic stress and increasing pest performance. Far-red light also influences plant emission of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and might thus influence tritrophic interactions with biological control agents. We investigated how far-red light influences the VOC-mediated attraction of the predatory mite Phytoseiulus persimilis to tomato plants infested with Tetranychus urticae, and its ability to control T. urticae populations.

RESULTS

Far-red light significantly influences herbivore-induced VOC emissions of tomato plants, characterized by a change in relative abundance of terpenoids, but this did not influence the attraction of P. persimilis to herbivore-induced plants. Supplemental far-red light led to an increased population growth of T. urticae and increased numbers of P. persimilis. This resulted in a stronger suppression of T. urticae populations under supplemental far-red light, to similar T. urticae numbers as in control conditions without supplemental far-red light.

CONCLUSION

We conclude that supplemental far-red light can change herbivore-induced VOC emissions but does not interfere with the attraction of the predator P. persimilis. Moreover, far-red light stimulates biological control of spider mites in glasshouse tomatoes due to increased population build-up of the biocontrol agent. © 2023 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.