Thrips nigropilosus is the most economically important pest of chrysanthemum. To manage this species, there is a need for integrated pest management (IPM), including the use of natural enemies on chrysanthemums, as an environmentally friendly and sustainable method of pest control. We conducted the following investigations to develop a technique for utilizing indigenous natural enemies of this pest in chrysanthemum: (1) exploration of natural enemies of T. nigropilosus in chrysanthemum fields; (2) evaluation of the predation ability of a potential natural enemy, Campylomma livida, against T. nigropilosus; and (3) field trials to assess the effectiveness of augmentative release methods for C. livida. In terms of the identified natural enemies, Campylomma spp., Geocoris ochropterus, Orius spp., Haplothrips spp., and Ceranisus sp. were found in chrysanthemum fields, with C. livida being the most abundant. In the laboratory, we observed that an adult C. livida could feed on at least 9.0 adults and 9.9 larvae of T. nigropilosus in 24 h. Therefore, a field trial was conducted using C. livida to examine its effects on lowering the density of T. nigropilosus and reducing the damage it causes. Consequently, the number of plants damaged by thrips decreased to one-fifth in the biological control plot (C. livida released), compared with the findings in the conventional plot where pesticides were sprayed regularly or to the control plot where no pesticides were sprayed. Damage to chrysanthemum was also reduced to less than one-third in the biological control plot, providing evidence for C. livida's effectiveness for managing thrips in chrysanthemum fields.
菊褐斑薊馬(Thrips nigropilosus)是沖繩所產菊花最重要的經濟害蟲。為了管理該物種,需進行害蟲整合管理,包括在菊花上使用天敵,以作為友善且永續的害蟲防治方法。為開發以本土天敵防治此菊花害蟲的技術,遂進行下列研究:(1)在菊花田中調查菊褐斑薊馬的天敵;(2)評估潛在天敵中華微刺盲椿象(Campylomma livida)對菊褐斑薊馬的捕食能力;(3)以田間試驗評估增強釋放C. livida的有效性。已鑑定天敵包含 Campylomma spp.、Geocoris ochropterus、Orius spp.、Haplothrips spp.以及Ceranisus sp.,其中以C. livida的數量最多。在實驗室中,每隻C. livida成蟲於24小時內,可取食菊褐斑薊馬之成蟲與若蟲,分別為9隻與9.9隻。因此,我們利用中華微刺盲椿象進行實地試驗,以檢查其降低菊褐斑薊馬密度與減少損害的效果,並與定期噴灑農藥的傳統樣區或未噴灑農藥的對照樣區進行比較,結果顯示在生物防治樣區(釋放了C. livida)所受薊馬危害的植物數量減少1/5,菊花受損程度亦降低至1/3以下,顯示中華微刺盲椿象可在菊花田有效防治菊褐斑薊馬。