Dicyphus hesperus

Native to western North America; extensively used in greenhouse environments, particularly tomato greenhouses. Associated with host plants including tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum), common mullein (Verbascum thapsus), eggplant, and other solanaceous crops. Population establishment and growth depend on plant species and quality.

Native to North America, specifically western regions including California and western United States. Distribution records indicate presence in Nearctic region excluding Beringia.

Zoophytophagous: preys on insects including whiteflies (Trialeurodes vaporariorum, Bemisia tabaci), aphids, mites (Tetranychus urticae, Aceria anthocoptes), caterpillars, thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis), potato psyllid (Bactericera cockerelli), and lepidopteran eggs. Also feeds on plant tissues; requires plant material for water acquisition and nutrients. Cannot complete development on prey alone without plant tissue or water source. Shows preferential feeding on whitefly when offered multiple prey types.

• Verbascum thapsus - host plantCommon mullein; high preference plant for oviposition and development, used for mass rearing and population maintenance in greenhouses
• Lycopersicon esculentum - host plantTomato; primary crop for biocontrol deployment, supports development when prey available
• Nicotiana tabacum - host plantTobacco; high preference plant
• Stachys albotomentosa - host plantHigh preference plant
• Nepeta cataria - host plantCatnip; supports nymphal development without prey
• Capsicum annuum - host plantPepper; low preference but supports development with prey supplementation
• Solanum melongena - host plantEggplant; secondary host used for population maintenance
• Trialeurodes vaporariorum - preyGreenhouse whitefly; preferred prey, supports faster development and larger size at maturity
• Bemisia tabaci - preySweetpotato whitefly/silverleaf whitefly; effective biocontrol target
• Bactericera cockerelli - preyPotato psyllid; suitable prey supporting population growth
• Tetranychus urticae - preyTwo-spotted spider mite; supports complete development but less preferred than whitefly
• Frankliniella occidentalis - preyWestern flower thrips; effective at reducing populations but high predator-prey ratios may cause fruit damage
• Encarsia formosa - intraguild preyParasitoid wasp; D. hesperus reduces E. formosa populations through intraguild predation but E. formosa has little effect on D. hesperus

Nymphal development requires plant tissue or water source in addition to prey; only 6% complete development on prey alone versus 97% with tomato leaves or 88% with supplementary water. Development time shorter with plant access than with water alone. Females require plant feeding for sustained egg production; most plant species do not support egg laying without prey, though Verbascum thapsus allows limited oviposition. Artificial selection for zoophagy produces heritable changes in feeding behavior across generations.

Foraging behavior varies with plant and prey quality; patch retention time depends on both host plant and prey type. Dispersal behavior incorporated into ecological models. Threat-avoidance behavior observed when feeding on whitefly nymphs infected with entomopathogens. Food patch exploitation equity decreases in highly zoophagous selected lines. Females more zoophagous than males.

Generalist predator functioning as biological control agent in agricultural systems. Intraguild predator that asymmetrically affects competing parasitoids such as Encarsia formosa. Modifies patch distribution of shared prey through foraging activities, reducing average patch size and proportion of patches occupied by whitefly. Plant feeding induces defensive responses in tomato that reduce whitefly settling but do not impede virus transmission. Artificial selection for increased zoophagy enhances biocontrol efficacy while reducing plant damage risk.

Used commercially in North America for biological control of whiteflies and other pests in greenhouse tomato production. Native status preferred over non-indigenous alternatives like Macrolophus caliginosus (used in Europe) to avoid ecological risks of introduced species. Artificial selection programs have developed specialized lines with enhanced predatory efficiency and reduced crop damage. Can cause damage to green tomato fruits and gerbera flower buds when plant food sources are insufficient or predator-prey ratios are too high; ripe tomato fruit quality generally not affected. Marked with fluorescent dyes for mark-release-recapture studies.

• Macrolophus caliginosusEuropean mirid used similarly for biocontrol in vegetable crops; D. hesperus serves as native North American equivalent

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