Greenhouse- and Laboratory-Rearing Studies of Euseius hibisci (Chant) (Acarina: Phytoseiidae), a Natural Enemy of the Citrus Thrips, Scirtothrips citri (Moulton) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae)1

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Abstract
Laboratory feeding studies indicate that Euseius hibisci (Chant) completed development from egg to adult in 6.7 and 8.7 days on ice plant, Malephora crocea (Jacq.), pollen and citrus thrips, Scirtothrips citri (Moulton) respectively, when confined in ‘Washington’ navel orange leaf arenas. Reproduction values of 1.34 and 0.85 eggs per female per day and total eggs deposited of 27.9 and 17.2 were significantly different for ice plant pollen and immature citrus thrips, respectively. Ice plant and cattail pollen, Typha latifolia L., were shown to be equally nutritious for continued development and reproduction of E. hibisci colonies in the laboratory or greenhouse. Deep freezing both pollens for several months preserved their nutrition and eliminated desiccation and fungal contamination commonly observed for refrigerated pollen. A bench-top system is described to mass rear E. hibisci on lima bean plants provided with ice plant, cattail pollen, or both. An estimated 134,400 females per 1,920 seedlings were observed after week 4 of colonization, which represented a 67-fold increase in numbers.