Functional response of Orius albidipennis (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae) to Megalurothrips sjostedti (Thysanoptera: Thripidae)

A locally available anthocorid predator, Orius albidipennis Reuter, was evaluated as a candidate biocontrol agent for Megalurothrips sjostedti Trybom, a major pest of French beans, Phaseolus vulgaris (L), in Kenya. The functional response of adult O. albidipennis to larval and adult M. sjostedti was studied at 15, 25, and 28 degreesC and densities of 5, 10, 20, and 30 larval and adult M. sjostedti per cage, over 24 h. More larvae and adult M. sjostedti were killed at the higher densities and with an increase in temperature. The data provided good fit to both type 1 and 11 functional response models. Attack rates increased with temperature for both the second instar larva and adult M. sjostedti. Handling times for the larvae decreased with an increase in temperature while those for the adults increased with increase in temperature. The implications of these results are discussed. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved.