Dicyphus predatory bugs pre-established on tomato plants reduce Nesidiocoris tenuis population growth

Abstract Generalist predators are increasingly used in biological pest control for greenhouse crops, as they multiple pests and persist crops even when prey is scarce. However, some of these may cause plant damage due to their omnivorous feeding behaviour. In many European regions, the predator Nesidiocoris tenuis (Reuter) (Hemiptera: Miridae) considered be a serious tomato pest, regardless services it offers, integrated management (IPM) strategies based instead on Macrolophus pygmaeus (Rambur). N. competitively displace M. severe damage, growers often resort pesticide use, disrupting practice. this study, we evaluated competitive interactions three mirid predators, Dicyphus errans Wolff , bolivari Lindberg, cerastii Wagner, with tenuis. The results showed that pre-establishment heterospecific species can successfully suppress greenhouse; population growth was reduced by more than 90% compared plants without competing predators. Further laboratory trials revealed reciprocal intraguild predation between absence extraguild prey. adults predated nymphs, while not found . olfactometer bioassays, females preferred previously exposed heterospecifics but conspecifics, suggesting does avoid competition. These suggest could interesting candidates preventive releases ability effectively growth.