Natural Enemies Survey in Ventura County Avocado Groves in 2003 and 2004

These studies are also known as (a part of) BIOSA, a project aiming to develop a “Biologically Intensive Orchard System for Avocado” which would ultimately integrate nonchemical pest control methods and cultural management into a suggested method for growing avocado with fewer pesticides. Pruning, mulching, planting several plant species on the orchard floors, different means of fertilization and release of potential natural enemy (NE) agents for biological control were planned for subsequent years after establishing the current practices for managing avocado thrips problems and identifying the species and numbers that make up the resident natural enemy populations in avocado groves. Time restrictions and limitations of manpower have resulted in this 2-year survey of avocado thrips and their potential natural enemies in 2003 and 2004, with correlations of natural enemies with distance from the coastline and fraction of orchard floor covered with leaf duff, living or flowering plants. No continuation of the BIOSA project is currently planned.