Scientists from the Agricultural Research Service of Florida, USA, It has evaluated the potential of two predatory mites as biocontrol agents against voracious plague of yellow thrips, Scirtothrips dorsalis. The study also helped researchers at the University of Florida. The damage being done in this state is caused in the leaves of plants, decolorándolas and, killing new buds. Researchers have found that this pest attacks up 150 crops, including peppers, strawberries, tomatoes, manises, cotton and a wide variety of ornamental plants.

The researchers studied the action of two mites: Neoseiulus cucumeris and Amblyseius Swirskii, which they have been used to combat other pests since 2005.Thrips Adulto.

In research released, They placed 30 thrips adults yellow pepper plants and ornamentals. After a week in which they hatched larvae of thrips, freed 30 mite species. The observation was conducted daily for four weeks.

The results, published in the journal Biological Control ', showed that mites, particularly TO. Swirskii, significantly reduced the number of thrips. That way, This mite left only a single thrips in each sheet.

This type of research and the facts confirm that US farmers are decanting, increasingly, by the use of integrated control against the indiscriminate employment of traditional chemical treatments.

The statistics support the growing progress of this type of pest control in which, annually, graphic shows the decline in the consumption of conventional plant protection products.