Can Macrolophus pygmaeus (Hemiptera: Miridae) Mitigate the Damage Caused to Plants by Bemisia tabaci (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae)?

The whitefly Bemisia tabaci is an invasive pest that causes extensive damage to many vegetable crops and ornamental plants. To control this pest, the release of natural enemies has become increasingly important as an ecologically safe and effective method of biological control. Some species in the family Miridae are effective at controlling whitefly populations, but because they feed on both insect prey and plant tissue, their overall effect on plant performance is not well understood. In this study, the impact of the mirid predator Macrolophus pygmaeus on the morphological and physiological traits of Solanum melongena in the presence of Bemisia tabaci was evaluated. Overall, the results show how the presence of this natural enemy mitigates the damage caused by whitefly infestations. They also help to clarify the multitrophic relationships between plant, pest, and natural enemy, enabling the prediction of plant development in the presence of both pest and predator.