Abstract Echinothrips americanus Morgan (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) is a polyphagous pest of increasing concern in agricultural crop production due to its broad host range and rapid population buildup. In this study, we evaluated the potential of the ghost ant ( Tapinoma melanocephalum (Fabricius); Hymenoptera: Formicidae), a small species commonly found in Florida, as a biological control agent against Ec. americanus under controlled greenhouse conditions. To assess ant-mediated suppression, lima bean plants were artificially infested with Ec. americanus and assigned to either ant-allowed or ant-blocked treatments. Ant-blocking was achieved using a physical barrier system involving soapy water to prevent access by Ta. melanocephalum . The experiment was repeated four times, each with two replicate treatments, and weekly observations were conducted over a 3-week period for each experiment. Key response variables included ant presence, thrips density, and spider mite ( Tetranychus urticae Koch; Acari: Tetranychidae) infestation. Results demonstrated a clear suppressive effect: thrips densities were significantly lower in the ant-allowed treatment across all trials, with a final mean of 2.4 adults and 4.4 larvae per plant, compared to 133.1 adults and 342.2 larvae in the ant-blocked treatment. Similarly, spider mite infestations were significantly reduced in the presence of ants. These findings highlight the potential of Ta. melanocephalum as a low-input biological control agent in greenhouse systems, particularly for the simultaneous suppression of Ec. americanus and co-occurring Te. urticae . Future studies should explore its integration into existing pest management strategies.
Park et al. (Thu,) studied this question.
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