Winter and spring abundance of Frankliniella spp. and Thrips tabaci Lindeman (Thysan., Thripidae) on weed host plants in Turkey

Abstract:  The species composition of thrips and abundance of three pestiferous thrips species, Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande), Thrips tabaci Lindeman and Frankliniella intonsa (Trybom) (Thysan., Thripidae) on weed species during winter and spring time were studied in vegetable production and polycultured areas in the eastern Mediterranean region of Turkey in years 2002 and 2003. Of a total of 61 543 thrips extracted from 8933 samples collected, 77% were adults. F. occidentalis was collected from all of 49 weed species sampled and F. intonsa was detected on 18 plant species between May and June. T. tabaci was collected from 42 of a total of 49 weed species. Immature thrips were extracted from 42 of a total of 49 weed species. Four weed species of a total 35 weed species sampled between April and May in the sampling areas hosted 63% of larvae and approximately 50% of F. occidentalis collected. A total of 23 thrips species was recorded from weeds sampled in this study. F. occidentalis accounted for 83% of a total 47 640 adult thrips collected and followed by low rates of T. tabaci and F. intonsa (9 and 1%, respectively). Melanthrips spp. accounted for 3.54% of total numbers of adult thrips. Flower-inhabiting thrips species and T. tabaci were most abundant on weeds between April and May when the number of weed species in bloom was greatest, then decreased to low levels after May. Most pestiferous thrips on weeds species were collected from vegetable production areas. F. occidentalis was the predominant thrips comprising over 80% in most months in the vegetable grown area. In polycultured area, the composition of adult thrips shifted monthly. While Melanthrips was the more prevailing thrips by rates 53% in February and 81% in March, F. occidentalis was the predominant thrips with 60 to 62% in spring, respectively.     

Transmission of Three Strains of Tobacco Streak Ilarvirus by Different Thrips Species Using Virus-infected Pollen

When cucumber seedlings were dusted with tobacco streak ilarvirus (TSV)-infected pollen and infested with 5–10 thrips (adults and larvae mixed), Thrips tabaci transmitted all three Australian strains of TSV. In similar work, Microcephalothrips abdominalis transmitted both and Frankliniella schultzei one strain, respectively, of two TSV strains tested. Transmission of the Ageratum strain (TSV-Ag) infecting pollen of Ageratum houstonianum was very efficient (100%) by all three thrips species. However, transmission rates of only 0–28% were achieved using the Ajuga strain (TSV-A) and the strawberry strain (TSVS) in pollen of other hosts. A fourth thrips species, T. parvispinus , transmitted TSV-Ag from infected tomato pollen to Chenopodium amaranticolor seedlings. There was, therefore, little or no vector specificity in the thrips transmission of the three strains of TSV, but factors associated with the virus-infected pollen affected the efficiency of transmission. This is the first report of F. schultzei and T. parvispinus as vectors of TSV.     

Transmission of Iris yellow spot virus by Frankliniella fusca and Thrips tabaci (Thysanoptera: Thripidae)

Thrips-transmitted Iris yellow spot virus (IYSV) (Family Bunyaviridae, Genus Tospovirus) affects onion production in the United States and worldwide. The presence of IYSV in Georgia was confirmed in 2003. Two important thrips species that transmit tospoviruses, the onion thrips (Thrips tabaci (Lindeman)) and the tobacco thrips (Frankliniella fusca (Hinds)) are known to infest onion in Georgia. However, T. tabaci is the only confirmed vector of IYSV. Experiments were conducted to test the vector status of F. fusca in comparison with T. tabaci. F. fusca and T. tabaci larvae and adults reared on IYSV-infected hosts were tested with antiserum specific to the nonstructural protein of IYSV through an antigen coated plate ELISA. The detection rates for F. fusca larvae and adults were 4.5 and 5.1%, respectively, and for T. tabaci larvae and adults they were 20.0 and 24.0%, respectively, indicating that both F. fusca and T. tabaci can transmit IYSV. Further, transmission efficiencies of F. fusca and T. tabaci were evaluated by using an indicator host, lisianthus (Eustoma russellianum (Salisbury)). Both F. fusca and T. tabaci transmitted IYSV at 18.3 and 76.6%, respectively. Results confirmed that F. fusca also can transmit IYSV but at a lower efficiency than T. tabaci. To attest if low vector competency of our laboratory-reared F. fusca population affected its IYSV transmission capability, a Tomato spotted wilt virus (Family Bunyaviridae, Genus Tospovirus) transmission experiment was conducted. F. fusca transmitted Tomato spotted wilt virus at a competent rate (90%) suggesting that the transmission efficiency of a competent thrips vector can widely vary between two closely related viruses.     

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。     

外来人侵害虫——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。     

Specificity of accumulation and transmission of tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) in two genera, Frankliniella and Thrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae)

The accumulation and transmission of tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) was examined in second instar larvae and adults of two thrips genera, Frankliniella and Thrips. The species tested were F. occidentalis (Pergande), F. intonsa (Trybom), T. tabaciLindeman, T. setosus Moulton, T. palmi Karny and T. hawaiiensis (Morgan). In a standard petunia leaf disc assay, the efficiencies of TSWV transmission by two species of Frankliniella were higher than those of any Thrips species in the adult stage. A triple antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (TAS-ELISA) showed that large amounts of the TSWV-nucleocapsid (N) protein were present in the ELISA-positive larvae of each species, with the exception of T. palmi. The ELISA titre of and the proportion of virus-infected individuals of the two Frankliniella species increased or did not significantly change from the larval to the adult stages, whereas those of the four Thrips species decreased significantly. These results show that the specificity of virus transmission by adult thrips is probably affected by the amount of viral N protein accumulation in the adults and that the accumulation pattern from the larval to the adult stages is in between the two genera tested in the present study.     

Thrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae, Phlaeothripidae) damaging peach in Paranapanema, São Paulo State, Brazil

Seeking to identify thrips species associated to peach and the injuries they cause, plants of Aurora and Tropic Beauty cultivars were weekly monitored, from May to August of 2005, in Holambra II district, in Paranapanema, SP. Flowers and fruits from six plants per hectare were sampled by the hitting technique. Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande), F. schultzei (Trybom), F. gardenia (Moulton), F. condei John, F. insularis (Franklin) and Thrips tabaci Lindeman, in Thripidae, and Haplothrips gowdeyi (Franklin), in Phlaeothripidae were identified. F. occidentalis was dominant, comprising 55.7% of the total specimens sampled. Slight and severe injuries were registered in fruits.     

Bioactivity of carvacrol and thymol against Frankliniella occidentalis and Thrips tabaci

Abstract: Two constituents of essential oils, carvacrol and thymol, were tested for their effects on the feeding activity, oviposition preference and oviposition rate of Frankliniella occidentalis and Thrips tabaci . Given a choice between treated and untreated leaf discs, F. occidentalis avoided ovipositing on leaf discs treated with 1 or 0.1% thymol. In no-choice experiments, 1 and 0.1% thymol and 1% carvacrol resulted in a reduced oviposition rate of F. occidentalis compared with the control. Both constituents caused a slight reduction of the feeding damage of F. occidentalis . 1 and 0.1% carvacrol had a pronounced deterrent effect on the oviposition site selection of T. tabaci . Both constituents served as anti-ovipositants for both thrips species, albeit F. occidentalis was more affected than T. tabaci .     

Midgut infection by tomato spotted wilt virus and vector incompetence of Frankliniella tritici

Abstract:  The mechanism leading to vector competence of thrips species to transmit tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) is not well characterized. We investigated the interaction of TSWV and the non-vector species Frankliniella tritici . A monoclonal antibody to the non-structural protein (NSs) of the TSWV was used to detect TSWV replication within the thrips by immunofluorescence microscopy and enzyme-linked immonosorbent assay (ELISA). TSWV was acquired by F. tritici , replicated and moved within the alimentary canal of F. tritici similar to a known vector of TSWV, Frankliniella occidentalis . However, virus was not found in the salivary glands of F. tritici , which is a prerequisite to virus transmission. Thus, movement to the salivary glands may determine vector incompetence of F. tritici .     

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。     

Thysanoptera (Insecta)-Vicia faba (Fabaceae) association in Prepuna and Puna in Jujuy, Argentina

The different phenological stages of Vicia faba provide food resources and substrates for the development of a significant diversity of insects. This study aimed to identify the complex of anthophyllous thrips, analyze the species population fluctuations, to obtain some bioecological aspects and the role they play in this association. The study and sampling was conducted during the flowering-fruiting bean crop stages in two phytogeographical regions of Jujuy: Prepuna (2 479m asl) on a weekly basis, from October-December 1995-1996 and Puna (3 367m asl) every two weeks, from December 2007-March 2008. Each sample consisted of 25 flowers taken at random; only at Prepuna a complementary sampling of three hits per plant (n=10 plants) was conducted. Observations were made on oviposition sites, admission to the flower, pupation sites, feeding behavior and injuries caused. In Prepuna, the Thysanoptera complex consisted of Frankliniella australis, F. occidentalis, F. gemina, F. schultzei and Thrips tabaci; in Puna, the specific diversity was restricted to F. australis and F. gemina. Although the planting-harvest period in both areas did not match, the fluctuations in populations showed the same pattern: as flowering progressed, the number of thrips coincided with the availability of food resources. In both areas, F. australis was the dominant species and maintained successive populations; it layed eggs in flower buds, and larvae hatched when flowers opened; feeding larvae and adults brought about silvery stains with black spots. In Prepuna, F. australis went through the mobile immature stages on flowers, while quiescent stages were on the ground; in the Puna, all development stages took place within the flowers. Thrips tabaci, F. shultzei, F. occidentalis and F. gemina were temporary and opportunistic in Prepuna, while the presence of F. gemina was sporadic in Puna. The number of Thysanoptera species associated with beans cultivation in Argentina has increased.     

Management of thrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) in Australian strawberry crops: within-plant distribution characteristics and action thresholds

Abstract  Management of thrips in a hydroponic strawberry crop near Sydney, New South Wales, was studied from 1999 to 2002. The main species present were western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande), plague thrips, Thrips imaginis Bagnall, and, occasionally, onion thrips, Thrips tabaci Lindeman. Their within- and between-plant distribution and the degree and type of damage caused are described, and used to recommend action thresholds. Flowers are identified as the primary monitoring site, and young green fruit as the key damage site. Action thresholds of approximately 45% of flowers with 5 or more adult western flower thrips, or 40% of flowers with 10 or more adult plague thrips are recommended. Alternative thresholds using all motile stages are given for flowers, and for young green and red berries. A higher tolerance is recommended during cool, wet periods.     

Prey suitability of western flower thrips,Frankliniella occidentalis,and onion thrips,Thrips tabaci,for the predatory mite Amblyseius swirskii

Western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis, and onion thrips, Thrips tabaci, are both important polyphagous pests of vegetables and ornamentals in greenhouses. Difficulties in biological control of these pests have prompted a search for new natural enemies. Most recently, the predatory mite Amblyseius swirskii has been commercialised as biological control agent of whiteflies and thrips. However, little is known about the suitability of thrips as prey for A. swirskii. We therefore assessed prey acceptance and life history of A. swirskii when feeding on F. occidentalis and T. tabaci at 25±1°C. Amblyseius swirskii juveniles preyed upon first larval instars of both F. occidentalis and T. tabaci but suffered from high mortality (67 and 78%). Developmental time (egg to adult) of A. swirskii was 7.8 days with either prey species. Adult A. swirskii females readily accepted first larval instars of both thrips species, which were attacked in <20 min on a leaf and <10 min in an artificial cage. Oviposition rates (0.92 and 0.99 eggs/female/day) and offspring sex ratios (63 and 70% females) were similar with F. occidentalis and T. tabaci as prey. Less than one-third of juveniles reaching adulthood and oviposition rates below one egg/female per day resulted in relatively low intrinsic rates of increase (r _m) (0.056 and 0.024 per day with F. occidentalis and T. tabaci, respectively). Altogether, our study suggests that the recently reported superiority of A. swirskii to the widely used Neoseiulus cucumeris in suppression of thrips is due to other traits than its population growth capacity with thrips as prey.     

A Survey of Tospoviruses in Bulgaria

A survey of tospoviruses present in Bulgaria was conducted during three vegetation periods. A total of 258 different virus isolates were obtained from tobacco, tomato, weeds and ornamentals in the open fields and from glasshouses. Virus isolates were identified by inoculation to test plants and serology as Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV). No indications were obtained that other Tospovirus species were present in Bulgaria. In addition the transmission ability and efficiency of several Bulgarian populations of Thrips tabaci (Lind.) and Frankliniella occidentalis (Perg.) was determined. The experimental results indicated that Bulgarian TSWV isolates are transmitted with high efficiency by F. occidentalis and that only arrhenotokous and not thelytokouse populations of T. tabaci could transmit TSWV.     

Host plant, temperature, and photoperiod effects on ovipositional preference of Frankliniella occidentalis and Frankliniella fusca (Thysanoptera: Thripidae)

Host plant effects of tomato, Lycopersicon esculentum Mill., and chickweed, Stellaria media (L.) Vill., foliage infected and uninfected with Tomato spotted wilt virus (family Bunyaviridae, genus Tospovirus, TSWV) on the ovipositional preferences of western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande), and tobacco thrips, Frankliniella fusca (Hinds), were investigated for whole plants in the greenhouse. In addition, the preference for leaf disks from the same host plants was investigated under a range of temperatures, 15-30 degrees C at a photoperiod of 12:12 (L:D) h, and at three photoperiods, 6:18, 12:12, and 18:6, at 20 degrees C in no-choice and choice studies conducted in growth chambers. In a choice test, F. fusca oviposited significantly more eggs per whole plant foliage over a 7-d period than F. occidentalis by an average ratio of 3:1 over both tomato and chickweed. The optimum temperature for oviposition of F. occidentalis and F. fusca was 24.5 and 24.9 degrees C, respectively. Both species laid significantly more eggs under the longest daylight hours tested, 18:6, in the choice study. Temperature and photoperiod did not significantly interact in terms of thrips ovipositional preference. Ovipositional preference for chickweed or tomato foliage was different for each thrips species in the choice and no-choice tests. However, both thrips species laid significantly more eggs per square centimeter of leaf area in chickweed than in tomato in the whole plant choice test.     

广西省植食性蓟马种类及花蓟马属一中国新记录种记述

对广西省所有地市的30多个县植食性蓟马种类及其分布进行了调查。调查结果表明:花蓟马Frankliniella intonsa Trybom、华简管蓟马Haplothrips chinensis Priesner、棕榈蓟马Thrips palmi Karny、黄胸蓟马Thrips hawaiiensis Morgan的分布最广且数量也最丰富,是广西省最为常见的蓟马种类。调查中发现花蓟马属Frankliniella Karny的1个国内新纪录种:梳缺花蓟马Frankliniella schultzei Trybom。编制了广西省常见植食性蓟马成虫种类检索表,为从事广西省蓟马种类研究者提供参考。     

Oral toxicity of Photorhabdus toxins against thrips species

The oral toxicity of excretion products of several Photorhabdus and Xenorhabdus strains was tested on two thrips species: Frankliniella occidentalis and Thrips tabaci. Out of 46 Photorhabdus isolates and six Xenorhabdus isolates only six North American P. temperata isolates were toxic to the thrips species. After 7 days of drinking from P. temperata supernatant a mortality of 90% could be reached. Thrips were also killed after sucking from leaves covered with the toxins. Toxins have a negative effect on thrips fecundity. Possibilities of using P. temperata in the control of thrips will be discussed.     

花蓟马雄虫释放的聚集信息素的分离和鉴定

明确花蓟马Frankliniella intonsa雄虫释放的聚集信息素对于花蓟马生物防治具有重要意义。但目前除了西花蓟马F. occidentalis, 关于其他蓟马雄虫释放的聚集信息素及其成分鉴定的研究未有报道。本研究采用Y型嗅觉仪测定花蓟马雌雄成虫和西花蓟马雌雄成虫对花蓟马雄虫和西花蓟马雄虫气味源的嗅觉反应; 用固相微萃取（solid-phase microextraction,SPME）方法提取花蓟马雄虫挥发物, 利用含有BGB-176 SE或CP-chirasil-Dex CB 2种不同手性柱的气-质联用仪（gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, GC-MS）对挥发物进行分离和鉴定。行为学试验结果表明： 花蓟马雄虫气味源对其雄性及雌性成虫均具有明显的吸引作用。经GC-MS分析, 花蓟马雄虫挥发物中含有2种主要的化合物, 分别为(R)-lavandulyl acetate和neryl (S)-2-methylbutanoate, 其与已报道的西花蓟马雄虫释放的聚集信息素成分相同。但定量分析结果表明, (R)-lavandulyl acetate与neryl (S)-2-methylbutanoate在花蓟马和西花蓟马雄虫中释放的比例不同; 行为学试验进一步证明, 2种组分比例的不同在花蓟马和西花蓟马种间识别过程中发挥重要作用。本研究推测花蓟马属的昆虫释放的聚集信息素组分可能是相同的。     

Predatory effect of Orius niger (Wolff) (Hem., Anthocoridae) on Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) and Thrips tabaci Lindeman (Thysan., Thripidae)

The predatory effect of adult female Orius niger (Wolff) (Hem., Anthocoridae) on the larvae I–II and adults of two injurious thrips , Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) and Thrips tabaci Lindeman (Thysan., Thripidae), was examined in June 1997, in controlled environment chambers (temperature 22 ± 0.2°C, 65 ± 3% RH, a 16 h light : 8 h dark photoperiod and light intensity 9000 Lux). This study took place on sweet pepper leaves ( Capsicum annuum L.) in transparent small plastic cages at proportions of 1/5, 1/10, 1/20 and 1/30 predator/number of thrips for larvae I–II and adults separately for each thrips species. O. niger was proved an effective predator for the immature stages (larvae I–II) and for the adults of the two thrips species. We concluded that O. niger could be used with success for the biological control of thrips in greenhouses crops.     

The impact of a parasitic nematode, Thripinema fuscum, on the feeding behavior and vector competence of Frankliniella fusca

Frankliniella fusca (Hinds) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) is the predominant thrips species found inhabiting and reproducing in peanut, Arachis hypogaea L. (Fabaceae), and is one of at least seven thrips species reported to transmit Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV). The entomogenous nematode Thripinema fuscum Tipping & Nguyen (Tylenchida: Allantonematidae), a natural enemy of F. fusca , parasitizes larval and adult populations under field conditions. All known Thripinema species render the host female thrips sterile and have the potential to suppress pest populations to near extinction. As a result, secondary spread of TSWV in peanut is reduced. Reduction of the virus under field conditions may also be due to lower transmission rates caused by parasite-induced alterations in host feeding behavior. Therefore, the feeding rates of healthy and parasitized F. fusca male and female cohorts on leaf discs were recorded daily for 10 days and digital images were subjected to image analysis and viral transmission rates were compared daily using double antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Thripinema fuscum reduced the feeding of female F. fusca by nearly 65%, and the ability of females to transmit TSWV by 50%. Potential mechanisms underlying the parasite-induced alterations in feeding behavior and transmission are discussed. Parasitism by T. fuscum significantly reduced male longevity, but female longevity was not affected. These results provide further evidence that T. fuscum aids in regulating viruliferous F. fusca pest populations and suggests its potential as a biological control agent for inoculative release in peanut.