Management of a ficus thrips, Gynaikothrips uzeli, using anthocorid bugs

The leaf galling thrips, Gynaikothrips uzeli Zimm., first reported in Florida in 2003, is now a common pest species infesting Ficus benjamina throughout the Southeastern USA. The anthocorid, Montandoniola moraguesi Puton, re described in 2010 as M. confusa sp. nov., was originally introduced in the USA against a related thrips, G. ficorum. We evaluated M. confusa and the commercially available Orius insidiosis Say as biological control agents of G. uzeli in laboratory assays and greenhouse tests on F. benjamina. Our results showed that M. confusa was a highly efficient predator, capable of eliminating localized populations of G. uzeli on potted ficus. By contrast, although O. insidiosis fed upon all stages of G. uzeli in the laboratory, it failed to provide reliable control under greenhouse conditions.