Damage to nectarines by the western flower thrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) in the interior of British Columbia, Canada

The phenology of damage by the western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande), on nectarines was investigated using sticky cards and direct sampling of buds between 1993 and 1995 in the interior of British Columbia, the most susceptible period for damage by western flower thrips to nectarines. The life stage responsible for damage and variation in susceptibility to damage of 11 different nectarine varieties were determined. To evaluate the predictive ability of 2 sampling methods, thrips were counted from both buds and sticky cards before petal fall and correlated to damage levels at husk drop. Damage to nectarines was caused almost entirely by larval feeding at petal fall. No predictive relationships between adult or larval densities of western flower thrips and subsequent damage to fruit were apparent. Varieties did not differ in terms of larval densities at petal fall or the subsequent damage to fruit. Female western flower thrips oviposit in nectarine buds from dormant through bloom stages primarily in sepal tissues in the early buds, and in filaments and petals as these become available.     

Population dynamics of western flower thrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) in nectarine orchards in British Columbia

Development of a control strategy for thrips attacking nectarine trees depends on an understanding of their phenology, distribution, and life history as related to characteristics of nectarine orchards. To this end, we compared the overwintering behavior, distribution, and abundance of western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande), among 11 nectarine orchards located in the dry central interior of British Columbia, Canada, during 1993 and 1994. Western flower thrips emerged from areas not previously used for agriculture (wild areas) and from within orchards before trees were out of dormancy. Flight of thrips within and around orchards peaked during early bud development, with a second major peak several weeks later after husk fall as the next generation emerged. Orchards protected from wild areas by other orchards had the lowest densities of thrips in buds. Density estimates of western flower thrips on trees were not affected by location of trees within orchards or buds within trees, but most thrips were found in the most developed buds on a tree at any one time. Thrips were not found within buds until petal was first visible on the buds. Larval feeding on buds at early petal fall resulted in serious surface russetting of fruit.     

Spatial and temporal patterns of dispersal of western flower thrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) in nectarine orchards in British Columbia

Thrips were sampled from six nectarine orchards in the Dry Central Interior, British Columbia, Canada, between April and June 1993 using yellow sticky cards on posts spaced around the perimeter of each orchard. Although 12 identified species of thrips were captured, >90% of individuals were the western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande). The flight patterns and abundances of western flower thrips were compared between orchards located in two differently oriented valleys (N-S and E-W) and between orchards located close to or far from areas of wild land. Results indicate that densities of western flower thrips entering orchards, and their direction of movement, were related more to the external vegetation than either location within the two different valleys or general wind flow patterns. Western flower thrips tended to move into orchards close to ground level in early spring (late April and early May) but flew higher as ground cover grew taller and temperatures increased. Densities of western flower thrips at ground level were highest in an orchard with the densest dandelion ground cover. We conclude that the location of nectarine orchards in relation to wild areas is a major determinate of western flower thrips densities.     

Daily flight activity of the western flower thrips (Thysan., Thripidae) in nectarine orchards in British Columbia, Canada

Abstract:   Hourly flight patterns of western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) (Thysan., Thripidae) were assessed over a 24 h period in two nectarine orchards located in the Similkameen Valley, British Columbia, on 13 separate occasions between March and October 1994. The numbers of western flower thrips (male or female, dark or pale morphs) trapped per hour at between four to eight heights (0.25–2.00 m) were compared with temperature, wind speed, time of year and location of trap placement. Traps were placed within orchards, at the border of orchards and adjacent wild land, and within wildlands. Temperature and wind speed thresholds are defined, although the effect of wind speed varied with height of flight. Height of flight was affected by both the height of prevalent vegetation and temperature, with mean height of flight increasing linearly with temperature. Numbers of thrips in flight decreased with height of sticky trap from the ground. The pale morph was generally more common than the dark morph of western flower thrips. Males were not present until after emergence of the first generation in May, and were found at an approximate ratio of 4 : 1 (F : M) for the rest of the year. There were no differences between sexes or morphs of western flower thrips for location, height or daily patterns of flight.     

西花蓟马在黄瓜和架豆上的空间分布型及理论抽样数

西花蓟马Frankliniella occidentalis（Pergande）已在北京部分蔬菜园区成功定居,对蔬菜生产造成危害。为了解该虫在蔬菜田的种群空间分布型,指导田间取样,本文应用几种聚集度指标的计算公式以及Taylor、Iwao的回归方程式,分析和测定了西花蓟马的种群空间分布格局。结果表明：在黄瓜和架豆上西花蓟马的空间分布型一致,均为聚集分布型;该虫的空间分布型不受种群密度的影响,并且也不随取样时间的变化而变化。种群数量动态研究显示西花蓟马成虫和若虫在黄瓜植株的中部叶片分布较多（从顶部向下数第4叶至第17叶片上成、若虫的分布数量多于其他叶片上的数量）,未展开的叶片、嫩叶和下部老叶危害较轻。用Iwao回归法中α、β参数计算出在允许误差范围内的理论抽样数。     

Economic Thresholds of Western Flower Thrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) for Unripe Red Pepper in Greenhouse

This study was conducted to develop economic thresholds of western flower thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis Pergande) for unripe red pepper in greenhouses. To investigate the relationship between the density of thrips and resulting damages, experimental plots with five treatments (0, 4, 16, 48, 96 adults per plot) as initial release densities were established at the National Institute of Agricultural Science and Technology, Suwon, Korea, in 2004. Western flower thrips density was monitored using flower samplings and yellow sticky trap (8×13 cm) counts. Western flower thrips density was directly related to increased numbers of damaged fruits and reduced fruit yield. The number of marketable fruits produced decreased as the thrips densities increased. The major damage to pepper fruits caused by thrips was cosmetic scars that resulted from immature feeding. When flower samples or yellow trap caches were used to determine the density of thrips, which were collected on a previous sampling date, thrips densities were determined to be related to the percentage of fruits that were damaged, and a significant relationship was found for the flower samples (y = 0.3219x + 1.0792, r² = 0.8640 and for trap catches (y = 11.9209 log(x) −2.158, r² = 0.8306). The economically-tolerable ratio of damaged fruits based on control cost and market values under current greenhouse cultivation was estimated as 3.4 to 8.0%. Economic thresholds of western flower thrips ranged from 0.7 to 2.1 adults or nymphs per flower, and 2.3 to 5.7 adults per four-day sticky card count.     

Systemic effects of neem on western flower thrips,Frankliniella occidentalis (Thysanoptera: Thripidae)

The systemic effects of neem on the western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande), were investigated in laboratory trials using green bean, Phaseolus vulgaris L., in arena and microcosm experiments. In arena experiments, systemic effects of neem against western flower thrips larvae on primary bean leaves were observed with maximum corrected mortality of 50.6%. In microcosm experiments using bean seedlings, higher efficacy in the control of western flower thrips were observed with soil applications of neem on a substrate mixture (i.e., Fruhstorfer Erde, Type P, and sand) in a 1:1 ratio (93% corrected mortality) compared with application on the commercial substrate only (76% corrected mortality). However, longer persistence of neem was observed with soil application on the commercial substrate, which showed effects against thrips for up to 6 d after application. In addition to systemic effects observed on all foliage-feeding stages of western flower thrips, mortality on contact and repellent effects were observed on soil-inhabiting stages after soil applications of neem. Finally, bean seedlings grown from seeds pregerminated for 3 d in neem emulsion were also toxic to western flower thrips.     

Evaluation of the nematodes Steinernema feltiae and Thripinema nicklewoodi as biological control agents of western flower thrips Frankliniella occidentalis infesting chrysanthemum

In greenhouse studies, we evaluated a commercial formulation of the entomopathogenic nematode Steinernema feltiae and the inoculative release of the thrips-parasitic nematode Thripinema nicklewoodi against western flower thrips (WFT), Frankliniella occidentalis Pergande infesting potted chrysanthemums. Foliar sprays of S. feltiae applied at 1.25-2.5×10³ IJ mL^-1 and 1000 - 2000 L ha^-1 at 3-day intervals alone (targeting feeding stages) or in combination with soil applications (simultaneously treating non-feeding stages in the soil at the same rates) decreased but did not provide adequate control of thrips in flowering plants artificially infested with a dense population. Similar nematode treatments applied for four to five applications at 6-day intervals in two batches of initially clean chrysanthemums failed to prevent unacceptable damage to flowers and leaves from a dense natural infestation within the greenhouse. Although some IJ survived up to 48 h within flowers and flower buds, few nematode-infected thrips (larvae and adults) were recovered. In studies with T. nicklewoodi (which is not amenable for mass production), the inoculative releases of two parasitized hosts per plant enabled the nematode to become established within existing WFT populations under greenhouse conditions. However, relatively poor transmission and slow speed of kill (nematode primarily suppresses populations through host sterilization) prevented low level inoculations being effective over a single crop cycle. Further studies showed that transmission of T. nicklewoodi persisted for nine host generations, infected up to 83% of adult thrips and provided long-term suppression of discrete caged populations, but only after uneconomically high thrips densities had been reached.     

Biotic resistance limits the invasiveness of the western flower thrips,Frankliniella occidentalis (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), in Florida

The spread of the western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande), has resulted in the world‐wide destabilization of established integrated pest management programs for many crops. It is hypothesized that frequent exposure to insecticides in intensive agriculture selected for resistant populations, which allowed invasive populations in the eastern USA to overcome biotic resistance from the native community of species. Research conducted in Florida to understand the role of biotic factors in limiting the abundance of the western flower thrips is reviewed. Orius spp. (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae) are effective predators that suppress populations of thrips on crop and non‐crop hosts in southern and northern Florida. Orius are more effective predators of the western flower thrips than the native flower thrips, F. tritici (Fitch) and F. bispinosa (Morgan). The native species are competitors of the western flower thrips. Excessive fertilization and the use of broad‐spectrum insecticides in crop fields further enhances populations of the western flower thrips. Interactions with native species clearly limit the abundance of western flower thrips in Florida, but populations are abundant in fertilized crop fields where application of insecticides excludes predators and competitor species.     

东亚小花蝽对西方花蓟马和二斑叶螨的捕食选择性

多食性天敌对猎物的捕食选择性及猎物密度对天敌捕食的干扰作用直接影响到天敌对不同猎物的控制作用.在实验室条件下研究了东亚小花蝽对西方花蓟马和/或二斑叶螨不同虫态的捕食选择性,以及两猎物中一种猎物的密度变化对小花蝽取食另一种猎物的影响.结果如下:东亚小花蝽5龄若虫和成虫对西方花蓟马2龄若虫的捕食选择性均强于对其成虫,对二斑叶螨的选择性为雌成螨>若螨>幼螨.实验中西方花蓟马2龄若虫是东亚小花蝽最喜好的虫态.二斑叶螨雌成螨密度固定为60头/19.63cm2,西方花蓟马若虫密度从10增加到60时显著地减少了东亚小花蝽对二斑叶螨的取食.反之,固定西方花蓟马同样密度,增加二斑叶螨密度却没有显著改变小花蝽对西方花蓟马的取食.此结果进一步表明,西方花蓟马是东亚小花蝽更喜好的猎物.     

Habitat‐specific population structure in native western flower thrips Frankliniella occidentalis (Insecta,Thysanoptera)

Invasions by pest organisms are among the main challenges for sustainable crop protection. They pose a serious threat to crop production by introducing a highly unpredictable element to existing crop protection strategies. The western flower thrips Frankliniella occidentalis (Insecta, Thysanoptera) managed to invade ornamental greenhouses worldwide within < 25 years. To shed light on possible genetic and/or ecological factors that may have been responsible for this invasion success, we studied the population genetic structure of western flower thrips in its native range in western North America. Analysis of nucleotide sequence variation and variation at microsatellite loci revealed the existence of two habitat‐specific phylogenetic lineages (ecotypes) with allopatric distribution. One lineage is associated with hot/dry climates, the second lineage is restricted to cool/moist climates. We speculate that the ecological niche segregation found in this study may be among the key factors determining the invasion potential of western flower thrips.     

Flower preference behaviour of western flower thrips in the Similkameen Valley, British Columbia, Canada

Western flower thrips (WFT), Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), occur on most wildflowers, weed and ground cover flowers in the southern interior of B.C., Canada. Preference by WFT for naturally occurring ground cover blooms was determined in a series of choice trials aimed to examine the potential of using such flowers as trap crops under nectarine trees. The effect of height of flowers above ground level within an orchard was also examined to determine whether this may affect flower attractiveness. Although WFT showed consistent preferences for various flower types, no ground cover grown presently in this region appeared to have potential as an effective trap crop. The density of WFT landing on less preferred flower types was not reduced when more attractive flowers also were present, and WFT were found to distribute evenly over all flowers available. Western flower thrips responded to the density of flowers only in response to highly scented flowers, and were attracted equally to mixtures of colours and single colours of flowers. There was a consistent preference by WFT in the spring for flowers located at ground level.     

Economic injury levels for western flower thrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) on greenhouse cucumber

Low, medium and high densities of western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande), were established in three greenhouses at the Greenhouse and Processing Crops Research Centre, Ontario, Canada, in 1996 and 1998 to develop economic injury levels for thrips on greenhouse cucumber. Thrips densities were monitored weekly using yellow sticky traps and flower counts. Fruit was harvested twice a week, graded for size, weighed, and rated for thrips damage using three damage categories. Significant yield reduction was detected 4 wk after severe fruit damage was observed in the high and medium thrips density treatments in 1996 and 7 wk in 1998. Percentage of severe damaged fruit (P(F3)) has significant linear relationships with the adult thrips density (x) that was sampled by sticky traps 1 wk before harvest (P(F3) = -0.2533 + 0.0828x) and that was sampled by flower counts 2 wk before harvest (P(F3) = -0.2025 + 0.5490x). Based on the regression equations, economic injury levels, expressed as adult thrips per sticky trap per day or adult thrips per flower, were calculated for various combinations of control costs, yield potential and fruit prices. The economic injury levels for F. occidentalis ranged from 20 to 50 adults per sticky trap per day or 3 to 7.5 per flower as determined under average greenhouse production conditions in Ontario, Canada.     

Effectiveness of imidacloprid (ProAgro 100 SL) in the control of glasshouse whitefly (Trialeurodes vaporariorum) and western flower thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis) on tomato under cover

In 2002 a glasshouse experiments were carried out on the effectiveness of ProAgro 100 SL in the control of glasshouse whitefly and western flower thrips on tomato cv. Perkoz. Strict observation of the basic prophylactic rules such as introducing in to glasshouse only healthy seedlings, uninfected by whitefly and thrips as well as isolation of tomato plants, especially the seedlings from ornamental plants are important to the limit of the pest population. During the vegetation period the population of whitefly and thrips may be limited by the insecticide application. The glasshouse experiments on the performance of ProAgro 100 SL in the control of mentioned above pest species were carried out at the Research Institute of Vegetable Crops in Skierniewice. The ProAgro 100 SL was applied in the concentration of 0,1%. The standard treatment was Juventox 040 SL (acetamiprid) in the concentration of 0.05%. The obtained results allow to find that ProAgro 100 SL in the rates of 0.1% performed well in the limiting population of whitefly and western flower thrips on glasshouse tomato.     

外来入侵害虫——西花蓟马在山东省不同地区主要花卉上的分布

【背景】外来入侵害虫西花蓟马于2003年首次在北京郊区被发现,并逐渐扩散蔓延,目前已在我国局部地区暴发成灾。【方法】于2008～2009年通过定点调查的方法对山东省115个地区258个样点的主要花卉上的蓟马种类进行了分析。【结果】山东省主要花卉上发生的蓟马有11种,包括花蓟马、黄胸蓟马、黄蓟马、西花蓟马、棕榈蓟马、烟蓟马、禾花蓟马、横纹蓟马、腹小头蓟马、黑白纹蓟马、油加律带蓟马等,其优势种为花蓟马。外来入侵害虫西花蓟马在山东省18个地区的花卉上被发现。其中,荣成市区发生最重,占蓟马采集总量的51.86%;德州市区和青岛市区发生次之,分别占蓟马采集总量的34.21%和33.88%;其他地区西花蓟马发生量占采集总量的1.39%～18.75%。【结论与意义】西花蓟马已在山东省定殖并广泛分布,相关部门应做好西花蓟马的预防与控制工作。     

Sequential sampling plans for western flower thrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) on greenhouse cucumbers

The development of cost-effective and reliable sampling programs for the management of western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande), on greenhouse cucumbers is important for getting growers to adopt economic injury levels and economic thresholds. The objectives of this study were to develop two sequential sampling plans. A fixed-precision sequential sampling plan was designed for estimating F. occidentalis adult density at a fixed-precision level on cucumber flowers. Also, a sequential sampling plan for classifying thrips population levels as below or above economic thresholds was developed to assist in decision making for the timing of pesticide applications. Both sequential sampling plans were validated using a resampling simulation technique on nine independent data sets ranging in density from 1.25 to 12.95 adults per flower. With the fixed-precision sampling plan, average means obtained in 100 repeated simulation runs were within the 95% CI of the estimated mean for all data sets. Appropriate levels of precision for the different population densities were recommended based on the simulation results. With sequential sampling for classifying the population levels of thrips in terms of an economic threshold, it has the advantage of requiring smaller sample sizes to determine the population status when the population densities differ greatly from the critical density (i.e., economic threshold). However, this plan needs a great number of samples when population density is close to the critical density. In this case, use of a combination of both sampling plans is recommended.     

蔬菜花期蓟马的种群动态与空间分布研究

西花蓟马是近年来在我国局部地区暴发成灾的重要外来入侵害虫,有关西花蓟马入侵对本地蓟马种群动态、空间分布及优势种影响的报道较少。对云南省昆明市近郊蔬菜花期的蓟马种群动态和空间分布研究表明,蔬菜上的蓟马种类主要是西花蓟马Frankliniella occidentalis(Pergande)、花蓟马F.intonsa(Trybom)、棕榈蓟马T.palmi(Karny)和端大蓟马Megalurothrips distalis(Karny);不同蔬菜上的蓟马优势种存在一定差异,其中辣椒和茼蒿上的蓟马优势种为西花蓟马;韭菜、茄子和四季豆上的蓟马优势种分别为花蓟马、棕榈蓟马和端大蓟马。各蔬菜上的蓟马种群数量以花期为多,盛花期达最大值,其中茄子花上的蓟马成虫平均虫口密度最高,为14.93头/朵。利用聚集度指标进行空间分布检测表明,不同蔬菜上蓟马成虫的空间分布型均为聚集分布,且聚集程度随密度的增加而增大。本研究可为深入探讨西花蓟马对本地蓟马的竞争取代机制积累资料,同时为西花蓟马的综合治理奠定理论基础。     

西花蓟马的抗药性及其治理策略

西花蓟马Frankliniella occidentalis（Pergande）是世界性的园艺作物上的重要害虫,几乎对每种类型的杀虫剂均产生了抗药性,包括有机磷、氨基甲酸酯、拟除虫菊酯类杀虫剂和多杀菌素等。本文对国外西花蓟马的抗药性发展现状和抗性机制进行了总结,并提出了抗性治理策略,即科学合理使用杀虫剂,结合栽培防治、物理防治、生物防治和寄主植物抗性等方式降低杀虫剂对西花蓟马的选择压,从而达到抗性治理的目的。     

Density, dispersal, and feeding impact of western flower thrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) on flowering chrysanthemum at different spatial scales

Abstract.  1. This study evaluated the effect of dispersal on the density and feeding impact of a phytophagous insect in relation to the spatial distribution of its host plants.
2. The interaction between density, dispersal, and feeding impact of western flower thrips on flowering chrysanthemum was quantified at three spatial scales, with infested and uninfested plants either isolated in 0.25 m² individual cages, or enclosed together in 2.25 m² communal cages or 75 m² greenhouses.
3. In individual cages, the rate of dispersal from chrysanthemum plants to blue sticky traps increased with the density of thrips for females but not males. Uninfested plants consistently had fewer thrips when they were individually caged rather than enclosed with plants infested with adults, indicating that dispersal mediates inter-plant distribution of thrips.
4. The feeding impact of thrips on inflorescences was evaluated using the absorbance of ethanol extracts at wavelengths characteristic of yellow carotenoid pigments associated with chrysanthemum inflorescences (415, 445, and 472 nm). Increasing absorbance of extracts with increasing density of thrips per inflorescence suggests that feeding by thrips results in ruptured cells leaching carotenoid pigments.
5. In communal cages, the distribution of thrips was uniform for infested and uninfested plants, whereas the density and feeding impact of thrips in greenhouses were higher for infested than uninfested plants. These results suggest that short-range dispersal by adults homogenises the density and feeding impact of thrips among host plants only on a small spatial scale.     

Sampling methods, dispersion patterns, and fixed precision sequential sampling plans for western flower thrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) and cotton fleahoppers (Hemiptera: Miridae) in cotton

A 2-yr field study was conducted to examine the effectiveness of two sampling methods (visual and plant washing techniques) for western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande), and five sampling methods (visual, beat bucket, drop cloth, sweep net, and vacuum) for cotton fleahopper, Pseudatomoscelis seriatus (Reuter), in Texas cotton, Gossypium hirsutum (L.), and to develop sequential sampling plans for each pest. The plant washing technique gave similar results to the visual method in detecting adult thrips, but the washing technique detected significantly higher number of thrips larvae compared with the visual sampling. Visual sampling detected the highest number of fleahoppers followed by beat bucket, drop cloth, vacuum, and sweep net sampling, with no significant difference in catch efficiency between vacuum and sweep net methods. However, based on fixed precision cost reliability, the sweep net sampling was the most cost-effective method followed by vacuum, beat bucket, drop cloth, and visual sampling. Taylor's Power Law analysis revealed that the field dispersion patterns of both thrips and fleahoppers were aggregated throughout the crop growing season. For thrips management decision based on visual sampling (0.25 precision), 15 plants were estimated to be the minimum sample size when the estimated population density was one thrips per plant, whereas the minimum sample size was nine plants when thrips density approached 10 thrips per plant. The minimum visual sample size for cotton fleahoppers was 16 plants when the density was one fleahopper per plant, but the sample size decreased rapidly with an increase in fleahopper density, requiring only four plants to be sampled when the density was 10 fleahoppers per plant. Sequential sampling plans were developed and validated with independent data for both thrips and cotton fleahoppers.