The chilli thrips, Scirtothrips dorsalis Hood, is a recently established pest in the USA and poses a serious risk to many economically important ornamental and food crops. In this study the biological control potential of the phytoseiid mites Amblydromalus limonicus (Garman and McGregor) and Amblyseius swirskii (Athias-Henriot) was compared by examining their predation and oviposition rates when fed different developmental stages of S. dorsalis. Gravid females were offered 10 individuals of either first instar, second instar, or adult S. dorsalis using a no-choice leaf disc bioassay and oviposition and predation rates were assessed daily for 2 and 3 days, respectively. There was no significant difference in predation and oviposition rates between mite species fed specific S. dorsalis life stages. There was, however, a significant effect of S. dorsalis life stage on the oviposition and predation rates observed for each mite species. The larval stage was the most preferred stage for both mite species, with A. swirskii consuming 4.6–6.3 and A. limonicus 4.8–6.4 individuals/day compared to only 1.6–1.7 adults/day consumed by both species. Female A. swirskii and A. limonicus laid 0.55–0.75 and 0.73 eggs/day on the two larval stages, respectively, compared to only 0.25–0.30 eggs/day observed for individuals feeding on adults. Although the results showed that the biological control potential of both mite species was similar, having an additional predator available that may be as effective as A. swirskii, a proven control agent against S. dorsalis in the field, warrants additional research into its potential utility.

辣椒蓟马（Scirtothrips dorsalis Hood）是美国最近建立的害虫，对许多具有重要经济意义的观赏和粮食作物构成严重威胁。在这项研究中，通过研究饲喂背背葡萄球菌不同发育阶段的捕食和产卵率，比较了s螨（Amlydromalus limonicus）（加曼和麦格雷戈）和A（Athias-Henriot）的生物防治潜力。向怀孕的雌性提供10个第一龄，第二龄或成年的S. dorsalis个体使用无选择叶盘生物测定法，分别评估排卵和捕食率，分别持续2天和3天。有在特定喂螨种间的捕食和产卵率无差异显著S.桔小实蝇的生命阶段。然而，背心链球菌的生命周期对观察到的每种螨类的产卵和捕食率都有显着影响。幼虫期是这两种螨类最优选的阶段，其中ir虫A. swirskii每天消费4.6-6.3，螨A. limonicus 4.8-6.4个人/天，而两个物种仅消耗1.6-1.7个成年人/天。雌性A. swirskii和A. limonicus在两个幼体阶段每天分别产下0.55-0.75和0.73个卵，而以成年为食的个体每天只产下0.25-0.30个卵。尽管结果表明这两种螨的生物防治潜能相似，但还有其他捕食者可与该领域有效的抗背壁沙门氏菌A. swirskii一样有效，值得对其潜能进行进一步研究。