Assessment of Amblyseius swirskii and Neoseiulus cucumeris for managing the invasive pest Megalurothrips usitatus in Phaseolus vulgaris

Megalurothrips usitatus (Bagnall) is a native to the Asian tropics where it is widely distributed as a pest of leguminous crops. This thrips species was first reported as established in Florida in 2020. Following this, M. usitatus has been documented in several countries across Central America and the Caribbean, posing a significant threat to food security due to its impact on bean crops, which are staple food sources in these regions. Megalurothrips usitatus has had a discernible negative impact on Florida's snap beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) industry. The state ranks second in the U.S. for fresh-market snap bean production, contributing approximately $76.3 million annually to the state's economy. To control M. usitatus, snap bean growers in Florida face higher production costs due to the necessity to apply insecticides at earlier stages and more frequently. However, the problematic dependency on chemicals for pest thrips control, including M. usitatus, is heightened by the insects' inclination to develop insecticide resistance. Moreover, given the tendency of M. usitatus to hide within flowers along with its rapid life cycle, integrated approaches such as biological control have proven necessary. Considering these circumstances, this research has focused on evaluating Amblyseius swirskii and Neoseiulus cucumeris, both predatory mites from the Phytoseiidae family, for their ability to manage M. usitatus infestations in P. vulgaris plants.