Are flower strips near greenhouses a risk for thrips?

Abstract: The presence of flower strips near greenhouses can increase the diversity and
abundance of natural enemies, which may contribute to pest management within the
greenhouses. Aphid natural enemies, such as ladybird beetles, lacewings and aphidophagous
hoverflies, will increase more quickly in a diverse flower strip than in short-mown grass, which is common near greenhouses. However, our surveys have shown that thrips densities also increase in these flower strips. Thrips are important pests for many greenhouse crops and vectors of tospoviruses. In this study, we present the results of biodiversity plots created at four sites near commercial greenhouse cultivation areas. Over two seasons, we monitored the abundance and species composition of thrips and their anthocorid predators in flowers of
various plant species. Our results demonstrate the potential for optimising the selection of plant species to minimise thrips pressure in greenhouse horticulture, while also supporting the development of natural enemies that could contribute to pest management.