Summary: | This study aimed to clarify the functional response and control potential of <i>O</i>. <i>sauteri</i> in relation to tea thrips. The functional response, interference response, and control potential of <i>O. sauteri</i> on adult tea thrips, in different insect stages and environment temperatures, were studied. The results showed that the predation of <i>O. sauteri</i> against tea thrips was positively correlated with prey density, while the effects of searching for <i>O. sauteri</i> on the adult tea thrips were negatively correlated with prey density. The predation effects of <i>O. sauteri</i> on tea thrips were also influenced by prey density, which indicated that there was an intra-specific interference response from predators to tea thrips. The population density of tea thrips was significantly decreased, and <i>O. sauteri</i> showed a remarkable ability to control them when the benefit-to-harm ratio was 3:100.
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