Olfactory responses of the predatory mites (N eoseiulus cucumeris) and insects (Orius strigicollis ): to two different plant species infested with onion thrips (T hrips tabaci).

Responses of Neoseiulus cucumeris (a predatory mite) and the predatory insect Orius strigicollis to volatiles associated with two different plant species infested with onion thrips, Thrips tabaci, were examined in a Y-tube olfactometer. Both predators species showed a significant preference for volatiles from infested cucumber leaves without T. tabaci over clean air. However, they were not attracted to volatiles from uninfested cucumber leaves, artificially damaged cucumber leaves, or volatiles from T. tabaci plus their visible products collected from cucumber leaves. These results suggest that both predator species are capable of exploiting herbivore-induced volatiles from T. tabaci-infested cucumber leaves as a foraging cue. Neither predator was attracted to volatiles from uninfested spring onion leaves, infested spring onion leaves without T. tabaci, or volatiles from T. tabaci plus their visible products collected from spring onion leaves. Interestingly, they avoided volatiles from artificially damaged spring onion leaves. A possible explanation for the non-significant olfactory responses of the predator species to spring onion plants with infestation damage of T. tabaci is discussed.