LAUSR

The tree Moringa oleifera Lamarck is of agricultural importance in Mexico and other parts of the tropical Americas (Olson and Fahey 2011, Rev. Mex. Biodiver. 82: 1071–1082). Fruits, seeds, and roots are consumed by humans, stems are used for livestock feed, and oils extracted from seeds are used in lubricants, cosmetics, and biofuels (Da Silva et al. 2010, Biomass Bioenerg, 34: 1527–1530; Pérez et al. 2010, Moringa oleifera, una Alternativa Forrajera para Sinaloa. Fundación Produce, Sinaloa AC. Mexico). A number of insects and related arthropods have been reported on M. oleifera including ants (Hymenptera: Formicidae), Helicoverpa zea Boddie (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), Estigmene acrea Drury (Lepidoptera: Erebidae), Trichoplusia ni Hübner (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), Diatraea sp. (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), Bemisia sp. (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae), Oligonychus punicae Hirts (Acari: Tetranychidae), and Tetranychus merganser Boudreaux (Acari: Tetranychidae) (Monjarás-Barrera et al. 2015, Southwest. Entomol. 40: 847–849; Pérez et al. 2010). Herein, we report the first reported occurrence of Caliothrips phaseoli Hood (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) larvae on M. oleifera under greenhouse conditions and its predation of eggs and adult females of T. merganser under laboratory conditions. Thrips larvae were collected from M. oleifera leaves growing in greenhouse conditions (36 6 48C; 80 6 10% relative humidity [RH]) in Ciudad Victoria,