Control of chilli thrips, Scirtothrips dorsalis Hood (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), on roses using an ornamental pepper banker plant system

Banker plant systems can enhance the biological control of arthropod pests. Ornamental pepper banker plants infested with the predatory phytoseiid mites Amblyseius swirskii (Athias-Henriot) and Amblydromalus limonicus (Garman and McGregor) were tested under greenhouse conditions in Florida, USA for the control of the chilli thrips Scirtothrips dorsalis Hood on Double Knock Out^® roses. After two six-week studies, both mite species reduced populations of S. dorsalis on roses to nearly undetectable levels ( < 1 thrips/leaf) compared to predator-free controls. There was no difference in the mean number of thrips on leaves between the two mite species treatments. Due to the lower S. dorsalis numbers observed on roses, rose foliar damage assessed as the degree of tissue scarring from S. dorsalis feeding, was significantly lower when mites were present. This study provides rose growers in Florida an alternative option for managing S. dorsalis populations and potentially other major pests using predatory mites on roses, a typically unsuitable plant for maintaining mite populations.