Evaluating the performance of Orius insidiosus as a predator of thrips in greenhouse-grown geraniums
| dc.contributor.author | Epes, Chris M. | en |
| dc.contributor.committeechair | Del-Pozo, Alejandro | en |
| dc.contributor.committeemember | Fox, Laurie J. | en |
| dc.contributor.committeemember | Latimer, Joyce G. | en |
| dc.contributor.committeemember | Schultz, Peter B. | en |
| dc.contributor.department | Entomology | en |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2021-07-16T17:55:11Z | en |
| dc.date.available | 2021-07-16T17:55:11Z | en |
| dc.date.issued | 2021-07-16 | en |
| dc.description.abstract | Thrips are among the most common and economically damaging greenhouse pests in the world. Due to the demanding nature of chemical control programs in greenhouses for thrips, biocontrol strategies are growing in popularity in greenhouse pest control programs. Geraniums are common in spring annual greenhouse production programs, and like many other crops demand thrips management strategies. This project lays the groundwork for exploring the performance of minute pirate bug, Orius insidiosus, to reduce thrips densities in greenhouse geraniums. In a laboratory, Orius and thrips were released into controlled, no-choice predation arenas using both geranium leaves and flowers, and thrips mortality was assessed. Orius and thrips were then released onto finished potted geranium plants under no-choice conditions in insect cages under greenhouse conditions, after which thrips mortality was assessed. The cumulative results show that Orius prey upon thrips on geranium leaves and florets, and could be used as a tool to help reduce thrips populations in greenhouse-grown geraniums. | en |
| dc.description.degree | MALS | en |
| dc.format.mimetype | application/pdf | en |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/10919/104193 | en |
| dc.language.iso | en | en |
| dc.publisher | Virginia Tech | en |
| dc.rights | CC0 1.0 Universal | en |
| dc.rights.uri | http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/ | en |
| dc.subject.cabt | Biocontrol | en |
| dc.subject.cabt | Greenhouse | en |
| dc.subject.cabt | Orius | en |
| dc.subject.cabt | Thrips | en |
| dc.title | Evaluating the performance of Orius insidiosus as a predator of thrips in greenhouse-grown geraniums | en |
| dc.type | Thesis | en |
| dc.type.dcmitype | Text | en |
| thesis.degree.discipline | Environmental Science | en |
| thesis.degree.grantor | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University | en |
| thesis.degree.level | masters | en |
| thesis.degree.name | Master of Agricultural and Life Sciences | en |