Megalurothrips sjostedti Trybom is an important pest of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.) in Africa. To propose an alternative to chemical control, the repellency of 24 plant extracts was evaluated against adult female thrips of M. sjostedti in the laboratory. Plant extracts in ethanol were separately applied on a filter paper disk in a still air visual cue olfactometer. The results showed highly significant differences in repellency among extract type, concentration and their interactions. We classified the level of repellency into four categories as strong, good, moderate and weak or non- repellent based on hierarchical ascendant classification. We identified Piper nigrum, Cinnamomum zeylanicum, Cinnamomum cassia as strong repellents. Five extracts were classified as good, eight as moderate and the remaining eight extracts were weak or non-repellent. Repellency of the extracts increased with the concentration suggesting that the behavioral response of M. sjostedti was dose-dependent. Mono- and sesquiterpene hydrocarbon compounds from seven highly repellent extracts were identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The use of repellent extracts could be useful in developing integrated pest management strategies for thrips on legume crops. In this regard, the specific modes of action of the identified compounds need to be investigated to incorporate them into the existing crop protection strategies.

The family Phytoseiidae includes more than 2,300 species distributed all over the world. However despite the huge numbers of faunistic surveys carried out for more than 60 years, the fauna of some countries and particular ecosystems remain little explored. This paper reports results of surveys carried out in various regions of Morocco (from Sahara to Atlantic and Mediteranean coasts) in 2002 and 2003. A total of 43 species was found. Among them 19 are new for the Moroccan fauna and five are new to science. This paper provides the descriptions of these five new species, Neoseiulus thymeleae, Transeius audeae, Typhlodromus (Typhlodromus) ballotae, T. (T.) leclanti, T. (T.) mazarii, and re-descriptions of two species (Typhlodromus (T.) setubali and Typhlodromus (Anthoseius) clairathiasae. A key to females of the 52 species now known from Morocco is given.

The mite family Phytoseiidae contains predatory species used in biological control. However, among the 2,521 valid species, only a few are presently considered for pest management. The study focuses on a species, frequently observed in agrosystems, but whose biology is almost totally unknown: Typhlodromus (Anthoseius) recki. The objectives were to assess its distribution and to determine under laboratory conditions: (i) the development of three populations fed on three tomato pests (Tetranychus urticae, T. evansi, Aculops lycopersici), (ii) the dispersion along the tomato stem, and (iii) the dispersion from mint to infested tomato leaf discs. Based on its distribution, this species seems to be adapted to Mediterranean climate, and is preferentially found on Boraginaceae, Solanaceae, Asteraceae and Lamiaceae. Results show that T. (A.) recki is a generalist predator, with good performance regarding the number of prey consumed. Differences were observed between the populations considered; one population out of the three tested shows even a higher mean consumption of T. urticae than that recorded for Neoseiulus californicus and N. cucumeris. It is attracted by food source and is able to walk along the tomato stem. These results are encouraging enough to consider T. (A.) recki as a good natural enemy candidate for biological control (especially based on biodiversity conservation). Further experiments should be developed to test the predatory ability of this species at larger scale (entire tomato plants and tomato fields or greenhouses).

The biological control of thrips and whiteflies, major pests of crops in greenhouses, is mainly based on the use of hymenopteran parasitoids and many predatory species. Several species of the family Phytoseiidae are natural enemies of these pests. Although several phytoseiid species have been commercially available in the last two decades, more and more research on their efficiency has been accumulated. Data on many additional species as potential predators has been published but research is still limited. This manuscript aims to present the results of relatively recent research about each phytoseiid species studied/commercialized to control whiteflies and thrips. The phytoseiid mite species are divided into three groups: predators that prey on whiteflies and thrips with a preference for phytophagous mites, those commercially produced for managing whiteflies and thrips, and those needing further research to clarify their potential. Available information about the efficacy and limitations of each species is provided and future perspectives for their use are proposed.

Phytoseiid mites are of great importance for the biological control of spider mites, thrips, and whiteflies. In this article, we present six species of predatory mites from the family Phytoseiidae, which are included in the list of indigenous organisms for biological control in Slovenia. These species are Amblyseius andersoni, Neoseiulus californicus, N. barkeri, N. cucumeris, Euseius gallicus, and Typhlodromus pyri. Being included in the list mentioned above, these species have great potential to be used in biological control and are technically qualified sources for the management of several pest species in agricultural production in Slovenia. Detailed information about the feeding habits, food preferences, and biological control potentials of these species is presented herein.

This study reports the results of a survey carried out in the Ucka Nature Park in the northeastern part of Croatia. It reports for the first time a list of species belonging to the family Phytoseiidae from Croatia, as until now, only one species was known from this country. Seventeen species are reported, one of them being new to science. This species belongs to the genus Typhlodromus subgenus Typhlodromus in the subfamily Typhlodrominae: Typhlodromus (Typhlodromus) octogenipilus.