Abstract
To validate the possibility of integrated pest management (IPM) utilizing natural enemies against spider mites (Acari: Tetranychidae) during the seedling-rearing period of strawberry, we investigated the dominant species of their natural enemies both on kidney bean traps infested with Tetranychus urticae Koch and on strawberry seedlings in four seedling-rearing fields per year in 2010 and 2011. While the predatory thrips, Scolothrips takahashii Priesner and phytoseiid mites were predominantly captured on the traps, predatory thrips was the only natural enemy observed on strawberry seedlings in all fields. Even when the densities of spider mites on strawberry seedlings were relatively low, predatory thrips were frequently observed. These results suggest that S. takahashii could be an effective agent to control spider mites in IPM for a seedling-rearing period of strawberry.
