【目的】 为明确六斑月瓢虫Menochilus sexmaculata对黄胸蓟马Thrips hawaiiensis的捕食作用及生物防治潜能。【方法】 室内系统研究六斑月瓢虫不同虫态对黄胸蓟马2龄若虫的捕食功能反应、寻找效应、自身密度和种内干扰反应。【结果】 六斑月瓢虫对黄胸蓟马的捕食功能反应符合HollingⅡ型，六斑月瓢虫4龄幼虫与成虫分别对黄胸蓟马2龄若虫的捕食能力（a′/T_h）较强，分别为578.04头和1 852.80头，捕食上限（1/T_h）最大，分别为400.00头/d和2 000.00头/d。六斑月瓢虫对黄胸蓟马的捕食量与黄胸蓟马猎物密度呈正相关，但寻找效应与猎物密度呈负相关，六斑月瓢虫高龄若虫与成虫对黄胸蓟马表现出较高的寻找效应。六斑月瓢虫对黄胸蓟马的捕食作用存在种内干扰反应，具体表现为天敌昆虫密度与其对黄胸蓟马的捕食率呈现负相关，该干扰反应符合Hassell模型方程。【结论】 六斑月瓢虫对黄胸蓟马若虫具有较强的的生物防治潜能，所获结果为蓟马类害虫的可持续治理提供了理论依据。

[Objectives]  This study aims to determine the predation of Menochilus sexmaculata against Thrips hawaiiensis and to evaluate the potential use of the ladybugs in thrips control programs. [Results]  Laboratory experiments were performed to study the functional response, searching efficiency and interfere response of M. sexmaculata to T. hawaiiensis. [Results]  The predation of M. sexmaculata showed the Holling-type II functional responses against the thrips. The 4^th-instar larvae and adult of M. sexmaculata showed the highest predation capacity to 2^nd-instar nymph of T. hawaiiensis, with a'/T_h for 578.04 and 1 852.80 individuals, with 1/T_h for 400.00 and 2 000.00 individuals per day, respectively. The predation rate of M. sexmaculata was positively related with prey densities of T. hawaiiensis, while its searching efficiency was negatively associated with prey densities. Furthermore, the elder larvae and adult of M. sexmaculata were more effective in searching for their preys than other predator ages. The predation on T. hawaiiensis was significantly influenced by the predator density of M. sexmaculata, showing that the predation rate decreased with increasing the predator density. This suggests that the interfere response exists in the predation of M. sexmaculata on T. hawaiiensis, and this could be described by Hassell-model equation. [Conclusion]  These findings represent that M. sexmaculata exhibit a great potential for its use in control of this special thrips pest, providing a scientific basis on biological control programs and nature enemy protection.