Orius insidiosus (Say) (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae) is an important biological control agent for various soft-bodied arthropod pests. The effective mass rearing and reliable field performance of any biocontrol agent can depend on the quality of its diet. While a combination of insect prey and pollen has been tested previously, little information exists on how different prey and pollen types support survival and reproduction when provided alone. The current study evaluated adult longevity, reproductive span, and total and daily fecundity per female across five different diets. The first instar nymphs of O. insidiosus were reared on Ephestia kuehniella Zeller (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) eggs + honey, pest thrips Scirtothrips dorsalis Hood (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) + honey, Typha latifolia L. (Poales: Typhaceae) pollen + honey, multifloral bee pollen + honey, and honey alone in laboratory conditions. The adults reared on E. kuehniella eggs + honey had the highest longevity, daily and total fecundity, and reproductive span, followed by those fed on S. dorsalis + honey. Two pollen diets supported reproduction and survival but were significantly less effective than insect-based diets; honey alone was insufficient to sustain reproduction. These results confirm the superior nutritional quality of E. kuehniella eggs for mass rearing while also showing that O. insidiosus can complete its lifecycle on pollen diets. Incorporating high-quality prey in the rearing system will improve colony productivity, whereas pollen supplements in the field may support predator persistence during periods of low pest density. This study contributes to optimizing both laboratory production and augmentation biological control programs using O. insidiosus.

Strawberry is an important specialty crop grown in Florida. Recently, chilli thrips, Scirtothrips dorsalis Hood (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), have become a significant threat to Florida strawberry production. Pesticide applications are not always recommended because of the development of insecticidal resistance. Biological control can be a viable control option for this pest. However, the management of S. dorsalis using predatory bug Orius insidiosus Say (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae) has never been explored in strawberries. Therefore, this study’s aim was to evaluate the predation efficacy of O. insidiosus through daily consumption rate and the functional response while preying on S. dorsalis. The results suggest that adult O. insidiosus has a significantly higher daily consumption rate than fifth-instar nymphs when feeding on both life stages of S. dorsalis. A Type II functional response was expressed by O. insidiosus when feeding on larval and adult S. dorsalis, indicating that the predation rate can increase with the prey density before it reaches a saturation point. The attack rates (a) and prey handling time (T_h) were also computed on second-instar larvae and adult S. dorsalis, respectively. The results indicate that O. insidiosus can be used as an augmentation biocontrol agent for S. dorsalis management in strawberries.

Strawberry, Fragaria x ananassa Duchesne (Rosales: Rosaceae), is an important specialty crop in Florida, generating about $500 million in annual revenue. An invasive insect, chilli thrips, Scirtothrips dorsalis Hood (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), has emerged as a major strawberry pest, causing considerable yield and revenue loss in recent years. Pesticide application is the leading control option but is not always recommended due to resistance development. Host plant resistance (HPR) can be a novel option to manage S. dorsalis sustainably. Four commercial cultivars, ‘Florida Brilliance’, ‘Florida Medallion FL16.30-128’, ‘Sweet Sensation ‘Florida127’, and ‘Florida Pearl FL16.78-109’, were evaluated for their performance in the 2021–2022 field season under the natural population of S. dorsalis. In 2022–2023 and 2023–2024, 3 more cultivars, ‘Strawberry Festival’, ‘Florida Radiance’, and ‘Florida Beauty’, were added to this list. Twenty bare-root strawberry transplants were planted in each field plot, and each cultivar was replicated 8 times in a randomized complete block design. Damage on trifoliate, number of adults and larval S. dorsalis on trifoliate, number of flowers, and marketable fruit yield were assessed for each cultivar. Results revealed that ‘Florida Pearl 109’ had the highest insect count and damage index of all 3 year. ‘Strawberry Festival’ also showed the same trend after its introduction in the second year. ‘Florida Brilliance’ and ‘Sweet Sensation’ had the lowest damage index, lowest adult insect count, and higher marketable yield compared to ‘Florida Pearl 109’ and ‘Strawberry Festival’. Therefore, utilizing resistant cultivars can be an effective tool for managing S. dorsalis in the field.

The invasive Scirtothrips dorsalis Hood (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) is currently the most significant pest of strawberries in Florida. Managing this pest is challenging due to its low susceptibility to many commonly used insecticides. As an additional management strategy, we propose using flowering plants (banker plants) to attract naturally occurring predators of thrips, which can help suppress S. dorsalis populations in field strawberries.

Florida is the second-highest producer of strawberries in the USA. Chilli thrips Scirtothrips dorsalis Hood (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) have become a major pest in Florida strawberries following its establishment in the USA after 2005. Insecticide application is the leading management approach for S. dorsalis. However, this pest demonstrated the tendency to develop resistance to a broad range of active ingredients. Host–plant resistance (HPR) may contribute to the management of this pest, yet mechanisms of HPR, including antixenosis and antibiosis against S. dorsalis in strawberries, are not well studied. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the preference of S. dorsalis to select strawberry cultivars as oviposition sites that resulted in a successful egg eclosion. Seven commercial strawberry cultivars namely, “Florida Brilliance,” Florida Medallion “FL 16.30-128,” Sweet Sensation “Florida 127,” Florida Pearl “FL 16.78-109,” “Strawberry Festival,” “Florida Beauty,” and “Florida Radiance” were evaluated as hosts in an oviposition choice test. Greenhouse potted strawberry plants were infested with 1- to 3-d-old adult S. dorsalis females. The cultivars used as treatment were replicated five times, and the study was repeated twice. Among the seven cultivars, Florida Pearl “FL 16.78-109,” “Florida Beauty,” and “Strawberry Festival” had a higher number of eggs in the leaf tissue compared with other tested cultivars. However, the egg hatching percentage did not demonstrate a specific trend. The results showed that S. dorsalis has a strong oviposition preference for certain strawberry cultivars over others, and this information may be incorporated into HPR for managing S. dorsalis in strawberries.

This publication aims to provide information on how to differentiate damage caused by chilli thrips, spider mites, foliar nematodes, and phytotoxicity due to herbicide application on strawberry plants. The symptomology of these pests and the effects of phytotoxicity from herbicides can look similar, especially when microscopic pests are involved. Correctly identifying the cause behind each damage symptom is essential. The intended audience of this article is strawberry growers, crop scouts, Extension agents, and industry personnel working on improved production and management of strawberries.