The use of integrated methods for controlling the tobacco thrips Thrips tabaci on eggplant under greenhouse conditions

The tobacco thrips Thrips tabaci is a prevalent insect-pest found worldwide, extensively distributed in greenhouses of Mongolia. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of predatory mites and botanical pesticides in controlling tobacco thrips populations in eggplant crops. An experiment was conducted in a 120 m² greenhouse at the “Agropark” Experimental Research Center of the Mongolian University of Life Sciences. Four treatments were applied to infested eggplant plots: a) the predatory mite Amblyseius swirskii, b) A. swirskii combined with Neem oil; c) Neem oil alone; and d) Neem oil combined with bio-stimulant BEB containing extract of the fungus Ganoderma lucidum. The average mortality rates of tobacco thrips across three years ranged from 45 % to 93 % due to A. swirski, 77 % to 97 % due to A. swirskii plus Neem oil, 75 % to 96 % due to Neem oil; and 77 % to 96 % due to Neem oil plus BEB. All treatments demonstrated promising results in significantly reducing thrips populations under greenhouse conditions. However, to ensure the effectiveness of biological control, it is important to release predatory mites at least five days after the application of botanical insecticides, such as Neem oil. Based on the findings, we recommend the use of Amblyseius swirskii, either alone or in combination with botanical products, as a safe and effective plant protection measure for controlling tobacco thrips in greenhouse-grown eggplants.