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Relationships between insect predator populations and their prey, Thrips tabaci , in onion fields grown in large-scale and small-scale cropping systems

Fok, Elaine ; Petersen, Jessica ; Nault, Brian

In: BioControl, 2014, vol. 59, no. 6, p. 739-748

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    Title
    • Relationships between insect predator populations and their prey, Thrips tabaci , in onion fields grown in large-scale and small-scale cropping systems
    Author
    • Fok, Elaine. Department of Entomology, Cornell University, New York State Agricultural Experiment Station, 630W. North Street, 14456, Geneva, NY, USA
    • Petersen, Jessica. Department of Entomology, Cornell University, New York State Agricultural Experiment Station, 630W. North Street, 14456, Geneva, NY, USA
    • Nault, Brian. Department of Entomology, Cornell University, New York State Agricultural Experiment Station, 630W. North Street, 14456, Geneva, NY, USA
    Document Type
    • Postprint
    OAI-PMH Identifier
    • oai:doc.rero.ch:324778
    Summary
    Onion thrips, Thrips tabaci Lindeman, is the primary pest of onion, which is grown in either large-scale, monoculture systems surrounded by other onion fields, or in small-scale systems surrounded by multiple vegetable crops. In 2011 and 2012, populations of insect predators and their prey, T. tabaci, were assessed weekly in onion fields in both cropping systems. Insect predator taxa (eight species representing five families) were similar in onions grown in both systems and the most commonly occurring predators were from the family Aeolothripidae. Seasonal population dynamics of predators and T. tabaci followed similar trends within both cropping systems and tended to peak in late July and early August. Predator abundance was low in both systems, but predator abundance was nearly 2.5 to 13 times greater in onion fields in the small-scale system. T. tabaci abundance often positively predicted predator abundance in both cropping systems.