Pest control of Thrips tabaci (Thysanoptera) in onions by hoverfly larvae (Diptera: Syrphidae)

Abstract: To identify factors that make natural pest control of thrips in onion successful or fail we weekly monitored thrips and their natural enemies in onion fields in the Netherlands in 2020 and 2021. Only syrphid larvae (Diptera, Syrphidae) were found on onion plants in sufficient numbers to be a potential candidate to contribute to pest control. A diverse flower strip that is attractive to hoverflies but not to T. tabaci close to the onions at the time when thrips population start to increase is probably an important element for this control strategy to work.