The genus Orius Wolff comprise species that are mostly thrip predators , in natural and managed ecosystems. Interactions between Orius species and its preys in the same habitat in tropical areas are not well known. The objective of this research was to record the interactions between Orius and thrips species present in the same habitat. Sampling on crops and weeds were conducted in the field and greenhouse conditions. The association level between Orius and thrips species was evaluated by Spearman coefficient (R) (presence/absence of the species in the same habitat). Orius insidiosus (Say) was found positively associated with Frankliniella sp., Neohydatothrips sp. and Haplothrips gowdeyi (Franklin), and negatively associated with Frankliniella schultzei (Trybom) and Caliothrips phaseoli (Hood). Orius thyestes Herring and Orius sp1 coexist with 10 thrips species, but no significant association was found between those predators and thrips species. Orius perpunctatus (Reuter) was found positively associated with Frankliniella sp. and Neohydatothrips sp., and negatively associated with Frankliniella gemina (Moulton).
Orius insidiosus; pests; biological control and predation
