ABUNDANCE PATTERNS OF THE WESTERN FLOWER THRIPS, Frankliniella occidentalis (PERGANDE)(THYSANOPTERA: THRIPIDAE), AND ITS PREDATORY BUGS, Orius spp. (HEMIPTERA: ANTHOCORIDAE), ON FABA BEAN IN ÇUKUROVA REGION OF TURKEY

Thrips species on faba bean cultivated in Adana Province, Turkey, were investigated to determine their natural insect enemies in the 2010-2011,2014-2015, and 2016-2017 growing seasons.Ten thrips species (one species belonging to Aeolothripidae and nine to family Thripidae) were found.The western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), was the dominant thrips species, comprising about 44.4% of the total samples.Among the natural enemies, Orius niger (Wolff), Campylomma nicolasi Puton and Reuter, and Orius laevigatus (Fieber) were the most notable species.The population densities of thrips and their natural enemies were highest in March.Mean densities of F. occidentalis were less than 5 individuals on most sampling dates in experimental fields in which no pesticides were used, but were more than 15 individuals per plant in some sampling months in commercial fields where Orius numbers were relatively lower.Densities of Orius spp.were closely associated with the densities of F. occidentalis.Thrips to Orius spp.ratios were less than 5:1, indicating that pestiferous thrips might have been suppressed by Orius.