2022 Volume 64 Pages 81-88
In this study, insectary plants were evaluated for their effectiveness in the conservation of the predator mite, Amblyseius swirskii Athias-Henriot in greenhouse eggplants. We investigated the population dynamics of A. swirskii, thrips, and other arthropods, on five plant species. These plants included the blue fan flower (Scaevola aemula), sweet alyssum (Lobularia maritime), lemon beebalm (Monarda citriodora), floss flower (Ageratum houstonianum), and verbena (Verbena × hybrid Tapian). The floss flower preserved the largest A. swirskii population per stem and leaves, while sweet alyssum and blue fan flower preserved the largest A. swirskii population per flower cluster. Moreover, populations of this species preserved in lemon beebalm and verbena were consistently low in density; thus, they were not suitable for preserving this predatory species. Floss flowers had the highest numbers of eggplant pest species; thus, they were not suitable for preserving this predatory species. Therefore, in this study, the most effective insectary plants for A. swirskii among greenhouse eggplants were sweet alyssum and blue fan flower.
