The morphology and bionomics of the Predaceous Thrips Haplothrips faurei Hood.

Throughout the apple growing areas in the Annapolis Valley, N. S. there has been, over the past years, an increase in the number of sprays applied to apple trees; together with this there has developed a steady increase in the complexity of the pest problem. Fruit growers now find that the keen competition in the markets available to them, together with the high cost of pest control, necessitates that no further increase in the cost of spraying take place and it is desirable that it be decreased. It was with these facts in mind that the staff of the Dominion Entomological Laboratory, Annapolis Royal began studies on the basic cause of the anomaly of more spraying creating still greater problems (Pickett et al 1946). In searching for the answers to this general problem it soon became apparent that insufficient attention had been given to the latent or long term effect of sprays. [...] Sufficient evidence has been gathered to show that the suppression of the natural control of a previously minor pest, by attempting to control some major pest, has led to the necessity for costly increases in the spray program. [...] A study of Haplothrips faurei was therefore begun as a basis for the study of thrips as predators in apple orchards, as well as for its morphological value. This morphological study has been supplemented by observations on its biology and as many records as possible on the effect of spray materials upon its abundance are included