Biweekly collections were carried out at two locations: “El Copal,” in the Life Sciences Division (DICIVA) of the University of Guanajuato (20˚44'24"N; 101˚20'12"W; 1750 masl), and the trees at the Instituto Tecnológico Superior de Irapuato (ITESI) (20˚44'33.9"N; 101˚19'59.9"W; 1850 masl). A total of 100 infested Ficus benjamina (Moraceae) leaves were collected directly from each of the two sampling sites. The leaves were placed in 100 ml jars containing 70% alcohol. The number of nymphs and adults of G. uzeli, as well as nymphs and adults of the anthocorid M. confusa, were counted. Species identification of thrips was conducted using the keys by Soto-Rodríguez et al. [8] and Mound and Marullo [9] , and identification of the anthocorid was based on Pluot-Sigwalt et al. [10] .

Prior to the binomial regression analysis, a normality test was conducted using the Shapiro-Wilk test, a homogeneity of variances test was conducted using Levene’s test, and a lack-of-fit test was performed. Binomial regression analyses were performed between the following variables: bug nymphs as the dependent variable and thrips nymphs as the independent variable. The same categories of variables were considered for adult bugs and adult thrips. A one-way ANOVA was also conducted to compare the number of nymphs per period; since the data did not show homogeneity of variance, they were transformed using the natural logarithm (ln). In cases of significant differences, Tukey’s test was used. Analyses were performed using the InfoStat software.

The identified material is preserved in the “Leopoldo Tinoco Corona Entomological Collection,” Department of Agronomy, University of Guanajuato in Irapuato.

A total of 507 nymphs of M. confusa (15.84 ± 2.43) and 634 nymphs of G. uzeli (19.81 ± 4.44) were collected. A significant regression was found (R² = 0.91; F = 5.64, p = 0.024) between the number of bug nymphs and the number of thrips nymphs ( Figure 1 ).

The presence of G. uzeli nymphs was highest in January ( Figure 2 ), while the predator M. confusa was more abundant than its prey from February to April. Later, thrips nymphs increased in number relative to the anthocorid. Although climatic conditions were not recorded during this study, the presence of thrips nymphs was greater during the winter, when temperatures in the study area range between 7˚C and 24˚C, according to local records. Retana et al. [5] indicated that the gall forms a microclimate ideal for the development of immature stages, protecting them from variations in abiotic factors. Microclimates provide a favorable environment for thrips, as noted by Kaur et al. [13] for Scirtothrips dorsalis in strawberry crops, where specific areas of thrips concentration were identified as dispersal points for the insect, aided by wind currents [1] . Although the gall protects the thrips, precipitation affects the populations by penetrating this structure and drowning or, if necessary, clearing the insects (personal observation, Salas-Araiza).

The ANOVA results indicate that there were no significant differences in the average number of bug nymphs, but there were significant differences in the number of thrips nymphs (F = 3.9, p = 0.02); the highest number occurred in January, and the lowest in March and April ( Table 1 ).

Different letters within each column indicate significant differences (Tukey, p = 0.05).

A total of 5691 thrips adults (177.8 ± 14.2) and 56 bug adults (1.7 ± 0.3) were recorded. The second-degree polynomial regression between the number of bug adults and thrips adults indicated a significant positive correlation (R² = 0.92, F = 92.5, p < 0.0001) ( Figure 3 ).

The number of adult bugs did not differ significantly during the sampling months, but the number of adult thrips did (F = 3.3, p = 0.02) ( Figure 4 ); the month with the most adults was February and the lowest was May ( Table 1 ). The results of this study showed only the presence of M. confusa, but Cambero-Campos et al. [7] also reported Montandoniola moraguesi (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae), as well as Chrysoperla spp. (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae), Thripastichus gentilei (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae), and the predatory thrips Androthrips sp.

The shape of the gall formed by G. uzeli shows a slight opening, making it more susceptible to infestation by predatory insects [3] . Although not the anthocorid species studied here, adults of Orius similis (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae) have been reported to prefer first instar nymphs of Scirtothrips dorsalis (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) compared to third and fourth instars [14] . However, when comparing the predatory capacity of O. insidiosus and M. confusa, no differences were found between the two species [15] ; both preferentially prey on eggs of G. uzeli, noting that females consume more eggs than males. The fecundity of M. confusa is higher than that of O. insidiosus and can reduce thrips populations by 95% and galls by up to 77% within five weeks.

The development of M. confusa shows that Ficus leaves are favorable for its growth, as immatures were more abundant than adults of this predator ( Table 1 and Table 2 ). In this regard, a study indicated that populations of this thrips and its predator generally fluctuate together [4] . Although predatory insects are typically generalists, in this case, this can be debated, as the behavior of the anthocorid is very specific due to its close relationship with G. confusa.

During this study, the number of eggs of both species was not recorded. Tavares et al. [4] pointed out this predator’s preference for eggs; the bug oviposits in lines parallel to the prey’s eggs, suggesting that the preference for eggs is due to their being more nutritious and easier to capture because they cannot escape due to the absence of wings.

The presence of galls decreases during the rainy season; new leaves do not show damage.

The age of the trees in El Copal is greater than at ITESI, but it is unclear whether this influenced the higher population observed at this site; it is possible that thrips prefer mature trees because of their greater resistance to supporting insect populations, compared to young trees that would be weakened by the attack and would have no food for the population to develop ( Table 3 ). The phenology of the plant was not recorded in this work. Oviposition preference varies depending on the phenological stage of the plant species, as it has been reported that the thrips Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) prefers to oviposit on certain plant species during the vegetative stage, but host preference changes when the plant is flowering [16] . Females of F. occidentalis respond strongly to volatiles from flowers of different species, while males show a weaker response [17] . It is possible that colonization of Ficus plants in El Copal is influenced by the scent of some attractant, particularly affecting females. However, this may be due to adaptation processes of individuals in each population and the characteristics of the environment in which they develop, as well as differences in the genetic pool unique to each population [18] .