Macrolophus species are important biological control agents and are predators that reduce aphids’ population. The aim of the research was to study the role of Macrolophus costalis Fieber, 1858 (Hemiptera: Miridae) as а bio agent against Myzus persicae Sulzer, 1776 (Hemiptera: Aphididae) in tobacco. The experiment determined the dynamics of aphids and mirids population in treated and untreated dense seedling plots. It was found that in the untreated areas the increase in the population of M. persicae also increased the number of M. costalis. It is noteworthy that the reduction of M. persicae did not lead to a decrease in the number of mirids, but on the contrary, it increased their population. In the control (treated) areas, the use of insecticide led to the destruction of aphids, and subsequently the mirids were greatly reduced. After the quarantine period of the active substance expired, the populations of both species increased. Importantly, more mirids were found in the untreated plots as compared to their number in treated plots. The study showed the ability of mirids to successfully reduce the population of M. persicae in dense tobacco seedlings.

mirids, aphids, bio control, agriculture and agroecology, tobacco

Published by University of Zagreb, Faculty of Agriculture, Zagreb, CROATIA
Sponsored by Ministry Science and Education of the Republic of Croatia