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.     

Sampling techniques for thrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) in preflowering tomato

Sampling techniques for thrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) were compared in preflowering tomato plants at the Coastal Plain Experiment Station in Tifton, GA, in 2000 and 2003, to determine the most effective method of determining abundance of thrips on tomato foliage early in the growing season. Three relative sampling techniques, including a standard insect aspirator, a 946-ml beat cup, and an insect vacuum device, were compared for accuracy to an absolute method and to themselves for precision and efficiency of sampling thrips. Thrips counts of all relative sampling methods were highly correlated (R > 0.92) to the absolute method. The aspirator method was the most accurate compared with the absolute sample according to regression analysis in 2000. In 2003, all sampling methods were considered accurate according to Dunnett's test, but thrips numbers were lower and sample variation was greater than in 2000. In 2000, the beat cup method had the lowest relative variation (RV) or best precision, at 1 and 8 d after transplant (DAT). Only the beat cup method had RV values <25 for all sampling dates. In 2003, the beat cup method had the lowest RV value at 15 and 21 DAT. The beat cup method also was the most efficient method for all sample dates in both years. Frankliniella fusca (Pergande) was the most abundant thrips species on the foliage of preflowering tomato in both years of study at this location. Overall, the best thrips sampling technique tested was the beat cup method in terms of precision and sampling efficiency.     

Assessing abundance and distribution of an invasive thrips Frankliniella schultzei (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) in south Florida

Within-plant and within-field distribution of larvae and adults of an invasive thrips species, Frankliniella schultzei (Trybom) on cucumber, Cucumis sativus L. was studied in 2008 and 2009 in Homestead, Florida. The majority of thrips were found inhabiting flowers of cucumber plants and little or none was found on the other parts of the plant. Thrips were aggregated in the field, as indicated by the two regression models, Taylor's power and Iwao's patchiness regression. Iwao's patchiness regression provided a better fit than Taylor's power law. The distribution was clumped during the initial stages of infestation at the edges of the field and became random thereafter. However, with increase in population density, thrips again formed aggregates in the field. Based on the average pest density per flower in a ～0.25-ha field, minimum sample size (number of flowers) required at the recommended precision level (0.25) was 51. The number of samples required at two levels of predetermined pest density was also calculated, which would help growers in collecting optimum number of samples required to determine the correct threshold level of pest in fields. Results from seasonal abundance indicated that density of thrips peaked during the fifth week of sampling with an average of 25 and 34 adults per ten flowers during autumn 2008 and 2009, respectively. Results from these studies will help growers and extension personnel in understanding the abundance and distribution of F. schultzei in the field, which are important components required in developing a sound management program.     

Temperature-dependent wing dimorphism in a Japanese strain of tobacco thrips, Frankliniella fusca (Thysanoptera: Thripidae)

A Japanese strain of Frankliniella fusca (Hinds) was reared under 4 temperature and two photoperiodic conditions on leaves of green bean. On the basis of the ratio of fore wing length to head width (RWL) of adult thrips we defined individuals with RWL above 3.7 as macropterous forms and those with RWL below 3.5 as brachypterous forms. Percentages of macropterous individuals among females were 0 % at 18 °C, 10.6 % at 22.5 °C, 21.8 % at 25 °C, and 77.5 % at 27.5 °C, under 15L–9D. The proportion of macropters among females developing under 15L–9D was no different from that among those developing under 10L–14D. These results indicate that photoperiod does not affect wing form, and suggest that the proportion of macropterous females increases with temperature. Although development time from hatching to adult eclosion, adult pre-oviposition period, adult head width, adult longevity, total fecundity, and fecundity schedule were compared between macropterous and brachypterous females developing at 25 °C and 15L–9D, these traits were not significantly different between the wing forms. Males of this experimental strain were all brachypterous.     

西花蓟马的SCAR分子检测技术

西花蓟马Frankliniella occidentalis （Pergande）是一种世界性入侵害虫,寄主范围广,危害严重,2003年首次在我国发生危害,并有进一步扩散蔓延的趋势。针对蓟马类害虫虫体微小、形态相似,难以准确快速区分的问题,采用特征序列扩增区域（SCAR）标记技术,以西花蓟马及与之同域发生的其他种类蓟马为对象,筛选出1对西花蓟马特异性引物（FOMF/FOMR）,其扩增片段大小为320 bp。种特异性检测结果显示,该对引物只对西花蓟马的基因组DNA具有扩增能力,对同域发生的花蓟马F. intonsa （Trybom）、禾花蓟马F. tenuicornis （Uzel）、烟蓟马Thrips tabaci L. 等41种蓟马不具有扩增效果。该对引物不仅对不同虫态的西花蓟马具有扩增能力,而且在西花蓟马发生地的寄主植物组织内亦检测到了其卵的存在。同时,该检测技术灵敏度高,对成虫的最低检出阈值为1/160头。本检测技术在口岸检疫以及花卉、蔬菜和种苗调运中的害虫检测和监测中具有重要意义。     

Tactics for management of thrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) and tomato spotted wilt virus in tomato

Four studies were conducted in Georgia during spring 1999, 2000, 2001, and 2002 to evaluate various management tactics for reducing thrips and thrips-vectored tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) in tomato and their interactions relative to fruit yield. Populations of thrips vectors of TSWV, Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) and Frankliniella fusca (Hinds), were determined using flower and sticky trap samples. The management practices evaluated were host plant resistance, insecticide treatments, and silver or metallic reflective mulch. Averaged over all tests, the TSWV-resistant tomato 'BHN444' on silver mulch treatment had the largest effect in terms of reducing thrips and spotted wilt and increasing marketable yield. Of the insecticide treatments tested, the imidacloprid soil treatment followed by early applications of a thrips-effective foliar insecticide treatment provided significant increase in yield over other treatments. Tomato yield was negatively correlated with the number of F. fusca and percentage of TSWV incidence. F. occidentalis per blossom was positively correlated with percentage of TSWV incidence, but not with yield. No significant interactions were observed between cultivar reflective mulch main plot treatments and insecticide subplot treatments; thus, treatment seemed to be additive in reducing the economic impact of thrips-vectored TSWV. Control tactics that manage thrips early in the growing season significantly increased tomato yield in years when the incidence of TSWV was high (>17%).     

Within-plant distribution of onion thrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) in onions

Two aspects of the within-plant distribution of Thrips tabaci Lindeman (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) on onion, Allium cepa L., plants were investigated: 1) diurnal variations in the distribution of adults and larvae between basal and upper sections of onion leaves, and 2) between-leaf and within-leaf distribution of the eggs. The diurnal investigations showed that higher proportions of larvae than of adults congregated at the basal sections of plants, particularly when plants were young and thrips density was low. As plants matured and thrips density increased, the larvae became more dispersed. Regardless of plant size, there were always more adults in the upper than basal plant sections. There were no clear time-windows during the 24-h diurnal cycle when more thrips were in the upper plant parts. T. tabaci eggs were laid everywhere in the plant. Leaves of intermediate ages had more eggs than older or younger leaves. Within leaves, the white leaf sheath received the least eggs and leaf tips received slightly more eggs than leaf sheaths. The highest egg density was found between the green leaf base and the leaf tips. Regardless of plant size, more than half of all eggs were laid above the basal sections. The percentage increased to >95% in mature plants. Except when plants were small the outer leaves were preferred over inner leaves and upper leaf sections preferred over lower leaf sections as egg-laying sites by adults. Implications of the results in the management of T. tabaci are discussed.     

Genetics of spinosad resistance in Frankliniella occidentalis (Thysanoptera: Thripidae)

The genetic basis of spinosad resistance was investigated in the western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae). The resistant strain, selected in the laboratory for spinosad resistance from a pool of thrips populations collected in Almeria (southeastern Spain), showed a very high resistance to spinosad (356,547-fold based on LC50 values) compared with the laboratory susceptible strain. Mortality data from reciprocal crosses of resistant and susceptible thrips indicated that resistance was autosomal and not influenced by maternal effects. Analysis of probit lines from the parental strains and reciprocal crosses showed that resistance was expressed as an almost completely recessive trait. To determine the number of genes involved, a direct test of monogenic inheritance based on the backcrosses suggested that resistance to spinosad was probably controlled by one locus. Another approach, which was based on phenotypic variances, showed that nE, or the minimum number of freely segregating genetic factors for the resistant strain, equaled 0.59.     

入侵害虫西花蓟马及其他8种常见蓟马的分子鉴定

用PCR产物直接测序法对入侵害虫西花蓟马和其他8种蓟马的线粒体 COⅠ基因433 bp片段测序，获得62个个体的序列。分子数据分析显示： 种内个体间平均遗传距离在0～0.005之间，2003年在北京发现的西花蓟马与欧洲等地区报导的西花蓟马不存在明显的遗传差异； 9种蓟马种间平均遗传距离为0.213。构建的NJ树可以很好的显示蓟马的聚类，物种各单元型最初分支自展值均达到100%。结果表明，基于PCR及直接测序技术的分子鉴定可以达到准确鉴定蓟马物种之目的。     

Wolbachia 在花蓟马中的感染及其与寄主线粒体DNA多样性的关系

【目的】Wolbachia 是一种广泛存在于节肢动物中的胞内共生细菌,影响寄主的生物学特性。花蓟马 Frankliniella intonsa (Trybom)是重要的害虫,对农作物及园林植物造成危害。本研究旨在明确 Wolbachia 在花蓟马中的感染情况,并分析其与寄主线粒体DNA多样性的关系。【方法】采集中国境内26个花蓟马自然种群,运用多位点序列分型技术（multilocus sequence typing, MLST）对其体内 Wolbachia 感染率及株系进行分析;利用线粒体 COI 分子标记研究花蓟马的遗传分化及遗传多样性;通过比较感染和未感染 Wolbachia 个体 COI 数据,探究 Wolbachia 多样性与寄主线粒体DNA多样性之间的关系。【结果】花蓟马中 Wolbachia 的感染率为0%~60%,共检测到5种 Wolbachia 株系（wFint1,wFint2,wFint3,wFint4及wFint5）,均属于B大组且形成一个单系群。Wolbachia感染情况与这些花蓟马种群（除CC, GZ, TA和TY, N<5）的线粒体DNA多样性相关,表现为不感染 Wolbachia 的种群中线粒体DNA单倍型多样性（Hd）与核苷酸多样性（Pi）均高于感染 Wolbachia 的种群,且 Wolbachia 感染率与 Hd 呈显著负相关（ P <0.05）。AMOVA分析表明花蓟马线粒体DNA遗传分化与Wolbachia 感染情况有关。【结论】 Wolbachia 可能在侵染花蓟马种群后出现遗传分化;Wolbachia 感染与寄主线粒体DNA多样性有关。     

Pyrethroid resistance in Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) and implications for its management in Australia

Abstract  The study was conducted to characterise the underlying resistance mechanisms responsible for high levels of pyrethroid resistance in Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) in Australia. Seven commercially available pyrethroids (acrinathrin, alpha-cypermethrin, bifenthrin, deltamethrin, esfenvalerate, permethrin and tau-fluvalinate) were evaluated against seven F. occidentalis strains collected from ornamentals, fruit and vegetables in three states of Australia. A Potter spray tower was used to test for pyrethroid resistance and all field strains were found to be resistant, with resistance ratios ranging from 15-fold deltamethrin to 1300-fold tau-fluvalinate. The two most resistant strains were further tested for detoxification enzymes that could be involved in resistance. Three synergists, piperonyl butoxide (PBO), diethyl maleate (DEM) and profenofos, which, respectively, inhibit the enzymes cytochrome P-450 monooxygenases, glutathione S -transferases and esterases, were used. The synergism data indicate that multiple mechanisms may be involved in pyrethroid resistance in Australian populations of F. occidentalis . Among the three synergists, PBO considerably reduced pyrethroid resistance in the selected strains compared with DEM and profenofos. The practical implication for PBO use to suppress pyrethroid resistance in F. occidentalis is elaborated.     

Initial verification of the resistance management strategy for Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) in Australia

Shortly after the initial detection of western flower thrips (WFT), Frankiniella occidentalis (Pergande), in Australia during 1993 a resistance management strategy based on the alternation of chemical groups was implemented. This study aimed to verify this strategy by field testing α-cypermethrin against WFT with and without chemical alternation. Up to 114 times α-cypermethrin resistance (at LC50) was detected and resistance increased with and without chemical alternation; however, chemical alternation did significantly reduce numbers of thrips compared with a nonalternation strategy. Resistance has the potential to undermine the sustainable use of those chemicals to which there is no current detectable resistance. Consequently, chemicals with a high frequency and level of resistance against WFT need to be identified through monitoring and quickly eliminated from WFT chemical control recommendations.     

Crowding leads to higher incidence of brachypterous females in the tobacco thrips,Frankliniella fusca (Hinds) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae)

The effects of larval density on the wing form determination of female tobacco thrips, Frankliniella fusca, were investigated by rearing thrips on leaf disks at 27.5 °C. The developmental period, head width, body length, and forewing length of individuals in each wing morph were determined to assess the relationships among larval density, growth, and wing form. Data showed that higher rearing densities increased the production of female F. fusca brachypters. There was no consistent difference in the mean developmental periods between the two wing morphs or among all 5 density treatments. The body length of females tended to decrease with increasing rearing density, but there was no significant difference in body size between the two wing morphs when they were reared under the same density level.     

Advances in control of onion thrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) in cabbage

Onion thrips, Thrips tabaci Lindeman (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), feeding injury results in discoloration and a rough texture on cabbage, Brassica oleracea capitata (L.), leaves, and damage may occur deep inside the head. It has become a key pest of cabbage in the United States and many other countries. Previous studies have indicated poor control using insecticides. The present study identified imidacloprid drenches and sprays of acetamiprid, dimethoate, spinosad, and imidacloprid as insecticides that performed better than the industry standard, lambda-cyhalothrin. However, additional tests with foliar sprays of dimethoate and acetamiprid indicated there was not an ideal crop stage (precupping, cupping, or postcupping) at which either insecticide could be applied for reliable control of T. tabaci, possibly because of multiple flights of thrips into the crop or the asynchrony of flights and susceptible crop stages. In tests in a commercial field, a soil drench of imidacloprid 4 wk after transplanting reduced the number of damaged leaves in the head by 32%, whereas five sprays of acetamiprid reduced damage by 51%. Combining both insecticide regimes reduced damage by 85%, but resulted in a very costly management program. Cabbage varieties varied considerably in susceptibility with some having negligible thrips injury, regardless of being treated with an insecticide. Planting date affected susceptibility of cabbage to some degree, but not as much as other tactics. Overall, these studies indicate that increased emphasis should be placed on breeding cabbages to be resistant to T. tabaci as the foundation for its management.     

Mechanisms associated with methiocarb resistance in Frankliniella occidentalis (Thysanoptera: Thripidae)

Biochemical mechanisms associated with methiocarb resistance were examined in laboratory-selected and field populations of the western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande). Seven populations were examined and they differed in their susceptibility to methiocarb by 30 times. Including the synergists piperonyl butoxide, a cytochrome P-450 monooxygenase inhibitor, or S,S,S-tributylphosphorotrithioate, an esterase inhibitor, in the methiocarb bioassays partially suppressed resistance in the most resistant populations. In vitro assays of general esterase, glutathione S-transferase, and acetylcholinesterase activities showed increased activity in some of the resistant populations and increased activity of the enzymes after methiocarb selection on one of the populations. Assays of acetylcholinesterase sensitivity to inhibition by methiocarb, dichlorvos, and eserine suggested insensitive acetylcholinesterase in two of the resistant populations. These results indicate that methiocarb resistance in F. occidentalis was polyfactorial and involved detoxification and altered target site. None of the biochemical assays showed interpopulation enzymatic differences strongly correlated with the level of methiocarb resistance. The possibilities for developing rapid biochemical diagnostic assays to detect methiocarb resistance in F. occidentalis are discussed.     

Precision application of aldicarb to enhance efficiency of thrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) management in cotton

Field studies were conducted during 1999-2001 in two climatic/edaphic areas of Georgia (Southern Piedmont and East Gulf Coastal Plain) to test the hypothesis that precision placement of aldicarb with cotton seed in hill planting at spatially specific intervals could decrease insecticide use for management of tobacco thrips, Frankliniella fusca (Hinds). Precision-placed aldicarb controlled thrips during cotton seedling stages using per ha amounts of one-half or less than standard in-furrow application rates with no significant differences in yield. Residual analysis of cotton plants showed that plants in precision placement plots had as much or more aldicarb and aldicarb metabolites present as compared with cotton treated with conventional in-furrow treatments. Higher rates of precision-placed aldicarb did cause phytotoxic burning early in the growing season, but no significant impact on yield was observed.     

Effects of gamma irradiation on the life stages of yellow flower thrips, Frankliniella schultzei (Trybom) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae)

Irradiation at a minimum absorbed dose of 250 Grays (Gy) has been approved by the USDA as a quarantine treatment for certain fruits in Hawaii to control four species of tephritid fruit flies. Subsequent research must determine whether this dose is sufficient to control other quarantine pests, such as mealybugs, thrips, mites, beetles, moths, and scale insects, on other commodities with export potential that are approved for irradiation treatment for fruit flies. This study demonstrated that irradiation at 250 Gy caused non‐emergence of eggs and pupae, failure of larval development, and sterility of adults of yellow flower thrips, Frankliniella schultzei (Trybom). Adults were the most resistant stage tested, with 100% mortality at 57, 36 and 30 days post‐treatment for the 250, 350 and 400 Gy treatments, respectively. Untreated adults survived up to 66 days. After receiving an irradiation dose of 250 Gy, no one‐ to two‐day old eggs hatched successfully, while 3–4‐day old eggs hatched but did not develop beyond the larval stage. Of the controls, 96.0% of 1–2‐day old eggs and 75.9% of the 3–4‐day old eggs hatched and survived through pupation. No first or second instar larvae treated with a target dose of 250 Gy were able to pupate. When pupae were irradiated at 250 Gy, 37% emerged as adults and all were sterile compared to 88.3% emergence of controls.     

Management of winter weeds affects Frankliniella fusca (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) dispersal

Frankliniella fusca (Hinds) naturally disperses from winter weeds to crops in spring, causing direct and indirect damage. Field preparation before planting includes use of herbicides or cultivation to kill unwanted vegetation, which adversely affects F. fusca host plants and potentially influences F. fusca dispersal. Common chickweed, Stellaria media (L.), infested with F. fusca, was used as a model to study effects of timing and type of vegetation management on adult dispersal. Infested weeds were caged and F. fusca weekly dispersal was monitored using sticky traps. Weed management treatments performed at an early (14 April-11 May) or late (2 wk after early treatment) date consisted of glyphosate, paraquat, disking, hoeing, or untreated control. Late glyphosate and hoeing treatments resulted in cumulative dispersal statistically similar to or greater than from control plots. Compared with the control, significantly more F. fusca dispersed from the glyphosate and hoeing plots during the 3 wk after treatment. More thrips dispersed from the late paraquat treatment 1 wk post-application than from the control. Dispersal from the disked treatment and early paraquat treatment was similar to that of the control 1- to 3-wk post-treatment. Early treatments resulted in significantly smaller cumulative dispersal than the control in all but one instance. Late disking and paraquat treatments resulted in cumulative F. fusca captures that were statistically similar or less than that in the control. Winter weed management type and timing affect F. fusca dispersal magnitude and duration.     

Temperature-mediated relationship between western flower thrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) and chrysanthemum

Modeling the effect of temperature on the sustainability of insect-plant interactions requires assessment of both insect and plant performance. We examined the effect of temperature on western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande), a generalist herbivore with a high reproductive rate, and chrysanthemum inflorescences, a high quality but relatively fixed, ephemeral resource for thrips population growth. We hypothesized that different thrips versus plant responses to temperature result in significant statistical interaction of temperature with thrips abundance and flower damage attributes over time. Experiments were conducted at five temperatures between 20.7 and 35.3 degrees C, with thrips infestation and time after infestation as main effects. Only minor, uncontrolled variations in relative humidity and light intensity may otherwise have influenced the results. High temperatures lead to an initially rapid increase in density of thrips followed by abrupt declines in abundance. The rate of floral senescence increased with temperature and thrips infestation, as indicated by a reduced fresh biomass and greater leaching of yellow pigments. Multiple regression indicated that indices of plant damage responded more directly to thrips density at low than high temperature, supporting the conclusion that temperature affected the outcome beyond what was predictable simply from differential plant and insect optima. The relative intensity of damage caused by individual thrips decreased with increasing temperature, likely caused by thrips competition and reduced survival, growth, and fecundity on depleted inflorescences. Reduced per capita damage at high temperature may be common in insects exploiting fixed plant resources that exhibit an accelerated rate of deterioration at high temperatures.     

The potential of flower odours for use in population monitoring of Western flower thrips Frankliniella occidentalis Perg. (Thysanoptera: Thripidae)

Sticky blue traps are a suitable and important tool for Western Flower Thrips population monitoring in greenhouses. They can be used in vegetables and in ornamentals, and provide important information on the current status of the pest population. However, such traps cannot be used in some susceptible plant species when they are flowering because at that stage the plants are more attractive to Western Flower Thrips than the traps. We therefore tried to increase trap attractiveness by combining the colour cue with an attractive odour cue. In laboratory experiments, we found a significant additive effect on attractiveness for two odours in traps provided with both the visual and the olfactory cues as compared to traps with either cue alone. However, these results could not easily be reproduced in greenhouses. The main factors responsible for this failure seem to be (1) the only moderate, additive increase of trap attractiveness when using combined visual and olfactory cues, and (2) the problems associated with odour diffusion. Unless a more attractive odour is found and a suitable odour dispenser is available, the use of odours to enhance sticky blue trap attractiveness for Western Flower Thrips cannot be recommended and, given the added cost for the trap, may not be affordable for growers.