Preying Effects Of Montandoniola Thripodes (hemiptera:Anthocoridae) On Gall-forming Thrips Of Ficus

Ficus microcarpa and Ficus benjamina are the most common urban ornamental plants in South China. Recently they often suffer from gall-thrips infestation,which make the leaves brittle and wither. The Ficus trees' growth and ornamental values are affected seriously by the gall-thrips. Montandoniola thripodes is one of the main predatory natural enemies of the gall-thrips. In order to provide scientific basis for biological control of the future development of Ficus gall thrips, the predation effects of M. thripodes on the galls thrips of F. microcarpa and F. benjamina were studied in this paper. The main findings are as follows:(1) The investigation of M. thripodes population dynamics in the F. microcarpa was conducted in the campus of South China Agricultural Univercity During March 2015 to March 2016. The results show that M. thripodes prefer to live in dry season when the temperature is relatively low. In February, the population density reached the highest to 16.5 individuals per one hundred galls. Whoever, in the summer of high temperature and rainy, its population density is decreased sharply down to only 0.3individuals per one hundred galls. M. thripodes could occur through the year in Guangzhou and there is no obvious over winter stages.(2) The Predator characteristics of M. thripodes to Gynaikothrips ficorum and Gynaikothrips uzeli: when the prey is abundant, no matter the adults of M. thripodes or nymphs always like to prey on the eggs of gall-forming thrips. When the eggs and nymphs less, M. thripodes will prey on the adults of gall-forming thrips. The cannibalism between Montandoniola thripodes was observed when the prey is shortage.(3) The predatory functional responses of M. thripodes to the Ficus tree gall-forming thrips egg and nymph belonged to Holling Type II equation. Under the temperature of25 ?, the predation maximum amount of M. thripodes to eggs of Gynaikothrips ficorum(Marchal) can be up to 142 eggs/day, to the nymph can be up to 62individuals/day; The predation maximum amount of M. thripodes to eggs of Gynaikothrips uzeli(Zimmerman) can be up to 111 eggs/day, to the nymph can be up to 56 individuals/day.