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Population densities of the minute pirate bug and its prey, the western flower thrips, were monitored in squash monocultures and tricultures with corn and cowpea intercropped. The predator exhibited a more rapid colonization rate in tricultures, and the thrips densities on squash were lower and fell earlier in the season in these systems. The capacity for thrips control by Orius on squash was demonstrated in predator inclusion-exclusion cage experiments. The earlier colonization of triculture by Orius was probably due to the greater attractiveness of the mixed-crop habitat.
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Letourneau et al. (1983) studied this question.
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