Factors affecting the use of Orius insidiosus as a biological control agent

The insidious pirate bug, Orius insidiosus (Say) (Heteroptera: Anthocoridae), is a natural enemy of the western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae). Use of O. insidiosus as a biological control agent of thrips in greenhouse vegetables has been deterred by cost of rearing the predators and lack of information regarding the effect of greenhouse vegetables on this predator. The objectives of this study were to develop an inexpensive means of storing O. insidiosus, and to investigate the effects of selected cultivars of greenhouse vegetables on several life-history parameters of the predator. This study indicates that cold storage of diapausing O. insidiosus for 14-17 weeks is feasible, and can be used by growers and insectary operators as a means of reducing the cost of producing or using this predator. Results also indicate that the cultivars of pepper and tomato tested are suitable plant hosts for the biological control of thrips by O. insidiosus.