Dicyphus hesperus

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Dicyphus hesperus
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hemiptera
Suborder: Heteroptera
Family: Miridae
Genus: Dicyphus
Species:
D. hesperus
Binomial name
Dicyphus hesperus
Knight, 1943 [1]

Dicyphus hesperus is a species of true bug in the family Miridae. It is a generalist predator of other insects and also feeds on plant tissues. It is native to North America and has been used there in biological control of agricultural pests, especially whitefly on tomatoes.

Contents

Ecology

Dicyphus hesperus is a predator and preys on other insects such as whitefly, aphids, mites and caterpillars. It is used in the biological control of insect pests. [2] However it is not entirely predatory and feeds on plant tissues also. One of its plant hosts is the common mullein ( Verbascum thapsus ). [3] As an omnivore, it alternates between feeding on plants and on animals, and if deprived of all suitable plant tissue, it will die, even in the presence of whiteflies. [4]

Use in biological control

Generalist predators can be very useful for biological control in tomato crops in enclosed environments, but the introduction of non-indigenous species is risky because of the unknown ecological effects they may have if they escape into the wider environment. For this reason, native species are preferable, and Dicyphus hesperus can fulfil this role in North America in the same way that Macrolophus caliginosus is used in vegetable crops in Europe. [5]

Research has shown that D. hesperus preys on the greenhouse whitefly ( Trialeurodes vaporariorum ), and the two-spotted spider mite ( Tetranychus urticae ), both in the laboratory and in a glasshouse planted with tomatoes. When offered both pests it preferentially selects the whitefly. The mirid bug completed its development from egg to adult on either of the two food sources, but it grew faster and was larger at maturity when feeding on the whitefly. [6]

Dicyphus hesperus has also been tested as a biological control for the western flower thrips ( Frankliniella occidentalis ) on tomatoes. It was effective at reducing the number of thrips but when the ratio of predator to prey was too high (>1:10), some damage was caused to the tomato fruits by D. hesperus. [7]

Dicyphus hesperus feeds on the mullein Verbascum thapsus and to a lesser extent on the eggplant, and can be maintained on these plants in a greenhouse as a preventative measure. As well as controlling greenhouse whitefly and silverleaf whitefly ( Bemisia tabaci ), it feeds on russet mites ( Aceria anthocoptes ), predatory mites, aphids and the eggs of moths. [8] It causes some damage to green tomato fruits in the absence of sufficient alternative plant sources of food, but does not cause sufficient harm for the ripe fruit to be down-graded. However, in gerbera crops, the nymphs and adults may feed on the developing flower buds and cause distortion and spoilage of the flowers. [5]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Biological pest control</span> Controlling pests using other organisms

Biological control or biocontrol is a method of controlling pests, whether pest animals such as insects and mites, weeds, or pathogens affecting animals or plants by using other organisms. It relies on predation, parasitism, herbivory, or other natural mechanisms, but typically also involves an active human management role. It can be an important component of integrated pest management (IPM) programs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hemiptera</span> Order of insects often called true bugs

Hemiptera is an order of insects, commonly called true bugs, comprising over 80,000 species within groups such as the cicadas, aphids, planthoppers, leafhoppers, assassin bugs, bed bugs, and shield bugs. They range in size from 1 mm (0.04 in) to around 15 cm (6 in), and share a common arrangement of piercing-sucking mouthparts. The name "true bugs" is often limited to the suborder Heteroptera.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Whitefly</span> Family of insects

Whiteflies are Hemipterans that typically feed on the undersides of plant leaves. They comprise the family Aleyrodidae, the only family in the superfamily Aleyrodoidea. More than 1550 species have been described.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thrips</span> Order of insects

Thrips are minute, slender insects with fringed wings and unique asymmetrical mouthparts. Entomologists have described approximately 7,700 species. They fly only weakly and their feathery wings are unsuitable for conventional flight; instead, thrips exploit an unusual mechanism, clap and fling, to create lift using an unsteady circulation pattern with transient vortices near the wings.

<i>Verbascum thapsus</i> Species of plant

Verbascum thapsus, the great mullein, greater mullein or common mullein is a species of mullein native to Europe, northern Africa, and Asia, and introduced in the Americas and Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Miridae</span> Family of true bugs

The Miridae are a large and diverse insect family at one time known by the taxonomic synonym Capsidae. Species in the family may be referred to as capsid bugs or "mirid bugs". Common names include plant bugs, leaf bugs, and grass bugs. It is the largest family of true bugs belonging to the suborder Heteroptera; it includes over 10,000 known species, and new ones are being described constantly. Most widely known mirids are species that are notorious agricultural pests that pierce plant tissues, feed on the sap, and sometimes transmit viral plant diseases. Some species however, are predatory.

<i>Lygus</i> Genus of insects

The genus Lygus includes over 40 species of plant-feeding insects in the family Miridae. The term lygus bug is used for any member of genus Lygus.

<i>Geocoris</i> Genus of true bugs

Geocoris is a genus of insects in the family Geocoridae. Commonly known as big-eyed bugs, the species in Geocoris are beneficial predators, but are often confused with the true chinch bug, which is a pest. There are more than 140 described species in Geocoris.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Phytoseiidae</span> Family of mites

The Phytoseiidae are a family of mites which feed on thrips and other mite species. They are often used as a biological control agent for managing mite pests. Because of their usefulness as biological control agents, interest in Phytoseiidae has steadily increased over the past century. Public awareness of the biological control potential of invertebrates has been growing, though mainly in the US and Europe. In 1950, there were 34 known species. Today, there are 2,731 documented species organized in 90 genera and three subfamilies.

<i>Stratiolaelaps scimitus</i> Species of mite

Stratiolaelaps scimitus is a small (0.5 mm) light brown mite that lives in the top 12 inch (13 mm) layer of soil. As a natural predator of fungus gnat pupae and of the snail parasite Riccardoella limacum it is used by gardeners and snail breeders for biological pest control. Stratiolaelaps scimitus is also commonly used by reptile, amphibian and invertebrate keepers as a preventative or reactive measure against grain mites and reptile mites. Whereas most mite treatments are based on synthetic chemicals, predatory mites are used as a biological method of preventing and curing mite infestations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Western flower thrips</span> Vegetable pest, SW US native, invasive

The western flower thrips [Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande)] is an invasive pest insect in agriculture. This species of thrips is native to the Southwestern United States but has spread to other continents, including Europe, Australia, and South America via transport of infested plant material.

<i>Gargaphia solani</i> Species of true bug

Gargaphia solani is a subsocial species of lace bug commonly known as the eggplant lace bug. The species was described by Heidemann in 1914 after it aroused attention a year earlier in the United States as an eggplant pest around Norfolk, Virginia. Fink found that the species became an agricultural pest when eggplant is planted on a large scale.

<i>Orius insidiosus</i> Species of true bug

Orius insidiosus, common name the insidious flower bug, is a species of minute pirate bug, a predatory insect in the order Hemiptera. They are considered beneficial, as they feed on small pest arthropods and their eggs. They are mass-reared for use in the biological control of thrips.

<i>Neoseiulus cucumeris</i> Species of mite

Neoseiulus cucumeris, the cucumeris mite, is a species of predatory mite in the family Phytoseiidae. It is used in biological pest control of western flower thrips in cucumber and some other greenhouse crops.

<i>Chrysoperla carnea</i> Species of insect

Chrysoperla carnea, one of the species of common green lacewing, is an insect in the Chrysopidae family. Although the adults feed on nectar, pollen and aphid honeydew, the larvae are active predators and feed on aphids and other small insects. It has been used in the biological control of insect pests on crops.

Macrolophus caliginosus is a species of true bug in the family Miridae. It is omnivorous and both preys on insects and feeds on plant tissues. It is used in Europe in the biological control of whitefly in tomatoes grown under glass.

Typhlodromips swirskii, the Swirski mite, is a species of predatory mite in the family Phytoseiidae. It is used in biological pest control of western flower thrips in greenhouse or indoor grown crops.

Frankliniella schultzei, the common blossom thrips or cotton thrips, is a species of thrips in the family Thripidae. It is found in many parts of the world and is an important pest insect in agriculture.

Deraeocoris brevis is a species of predatory plant bug in the family Miridae. It is native to North America where it feeds on plant pests in apple and pear orchards.

<i>Dicyphus</i> Genus of true bugs

Dicyphus is a genus of plant bugs in the family Miridae. There are at least 70 described species in Dicyphus.

References

  1. "Dicyphus hesperus Knight, 1943". Discover Life. Retrieved 2015-07-17.
  2. Bryant, Peter J. "Mirid bug: Dicyphus hesperus". Hemiptera from Orange County, California. Retrieved 2015-07-17.
  3. Bennett, J.A.; Gillespie, D.R.; Van Laerhoven, S.L. (2009). "Investigating the diet of the omnivorous mirid Dicyphus hesperus using stable isotopes". Bulletin of Entomological Research. 99 (4): 347–358. doi:10.1017/S0007485308006378.
  4. Torres, Jorge Braz; Boyd, David W. (2009). "Zoophytophagy in predatory Hemiptera". Brazilian Archives of Biology and Technology. 52 (5). doi: 10.1590/S1516-89132009000500018 .
  5. 1 2 Vincent, Charles; Goettel, Mark S.; Lazarovits, George (2007). Biological Control: A Global Perspective: Case Studies from Around the World. CABI. pp. 128–135. ISBN   978-1-84593-266-4.
  6. McGregor, Robert R.; Gillespie, David R.; Quiring, Donald M.J.; Foisy, Mitch R.J. (1999). "Potential Use of Dicyphus hesperus Knight (Heteroptera: Miridae) for Biological Control of Pests of Greenhouse Tomatoes". Biological Control. 16 (1): 104–110. doi:10.1006/bcon.1999.0743.
  7. Shipp, J.L.; Wang, K. (2006). "Evaluation of Dicyphus hersperus (Heteroptera: Miridae) for biological control of Frankliniella occidentalis (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) on greenhouse tomato". Journal of Economic Entomology. 99 (2): 414–420. doi:10.1093/jee/99.2.414. PMID   16686140.
  8. Buhler, Chris. "Growing Dicyphus hesperus (controls whitefly) on mullein banker plants". Indoor Garden HQ. Retrieved 2015-07-17.