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Described originally from Heilongjiang, China, Odontothrips phaseoli is a potential pest of threatening bean plant in northern China. The complete mitochondrial genome of O. phaseoli was sequenced and assembled, with a total length of 15,540 bp. Within this genome, 37 genes have been identified: 13 PCGs, 22 tRNAs, two rRNAs, and two putative control regions. Most PCGs terminate with TAA, while four genes (atp8, nad1, nad2 and nad4) use an incomplete ‘T’ and nad6 employs TAG as the stop codon. Compared to the mitogenome of the ancestral insect, O. phaseoli displays significant gene rearrangement. However, it retains three conserved gene blocks in common with its related species, Megalurothrips usitatus, both of which belong to the Megalurothrips genus-group. The phylogenetic tree, constructed based on the entire mitogenome dataset of all thrips species available in NCBI, shows that the two species cluster closely together. This alignment might underscore the close link between gene arrangements and the phylogeny relationships.

Described originally from Heilongjiang, China, Odontothrips phaseoli is a potential pest of threatening bean plant in northern China. The complete mitochondrial genome of O. phaseoli was sequenced and assembled, with a total length of 15,540 bp. Within this genome, 37 genes have been identified: 13 PCGs, 22 tRNAs, two rRNAs, and two putative control regions. Most PCGs terminate with TAA, while four genes (atp8, nad1, nad2 and nad4) use an incomplete 'T' and nad6 employs TAG as the stop codon. Compared to the mitogenome of the ancestral insect, O. phaseoli displays significant gene rearrangement. However, it retains three conserved gene blocks in common with its related species, Megalurothrips usitatus, both of which belong to the Megalurothrips genus-group. The phylogenetic tree, constructed based on the entire mitogenome dataset of all thrips species available in NCBI, shows that the two species cluster closely together. This alignment might underscore the close link between gene arrangements and the phylogeny relationships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fruit and vegetable crops are affected by numerous arthropods, including aphids and thrips. Hoverfly adults are important pollinators, and their larvae are mainly aphid predators. Molecular studies on the stomach contents of larvae allowed to associate hoverflies with the consumption of other soft‐bodied arthropods, including thrips, with few records found in Neotropical hoverfly species. Allograpta exotica (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Syrphidae), a species widely distributed in the Americas, from the USA to Argentinian Patagonia, has been associated with numerous crops mainly affected by aphids, and to a lesser extent with whiteflies. The objective of this work was to assess the consumption and preference rates of various instars of A. exotica as biocontrol agents for two major insect pests, Myzus persicae (Sulzer) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) and Frankliniella gemina (Bagnall) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), under controlled laboratory conditions. Additionally, we morphologically characterized the three larval stages of A. exotica. We determined that all three instars of A. exotica consume both M. persicae and F. gemina, and that they kill more thrips than aphids. Still, A. exotica preferred M. persicae over F. gemina, even when the relative aphid availability decreased compared to F. gemina, although consumption of both prey types remained high. Interestingly, A. exotica second instars consumed four times more thrips than aphids. This study explored the potential use of one of the most common hoverfly species in fruit and vegetable crops as a biocontrol agent of aphids and thrips. Further laboratory and field studies should explore more deeply the potential of this Neotropical beneficial dipteran. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The incidence of thrips in the High Plains of Texas (USA) was investigated using sticky traps during the 2021 and 2022 seasons. Yellow sticky traps were placed in wheat fields and collected and replaced weekly and thrips were counted under a dissecting scope. Weekly wheat reflectance measurements were taken using a hyperspectral radiometer from which normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) was calculated for each measurement. Temperature (degree day) and NDVI values were then related to weekly thrips incidence using regression. Thrips incidence curvilinearly increased over time during each of the two seasons and reached a maximum in the middle of June, after which it declined sharply. There was a strong positive relationship between degree days and thrips incidence until the incidence reached a maximum, whereas the incidence was negatively related to NDVI values. Analysis of the thrips changes over time progress with the two variables together showed that degree day has greater impact on thrips incidence than NDVI. However, the steep decline in thrips abundance after its peak in mid‐June suggests that senesced wheat fields with NDVI values near zero are not significant sources of thrips, signifying the importance of wheat growth stages in the seasonal population dynamics of thrips. Overall, the 2‐year results were generally consistent in trends of thrips incidence during the season, which may need to be considered when choosing vegetable planting dates in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The New World insect species Frankliniella minuta (Moulton, 1907) is reported from Asia for the first time. This is a member of the Order Thysanoptera and is placed in the subfamily Thripinae of the Thripidae. A total of 45 female and 14 male adults were found on Tridax procumbens (Asteraceae) at the Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (MARDI) in Selangor, Peninsular Malaysia. Both sexes were taken from the capitula of T. procumbens. The potential threat of this species to the horticultural industry is inconclusive, but the discovery will alert horticulturalists and quarantine entomologists to possible invasion pathways. Diagnostic characters, relevant figures and a key to Frankliniella species in Malaysia are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We examined water balance characteristics and the influence of desiccating conditions on the physiology and behavior of adult western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae). Western flower thrips are globally invasive and likely to contend with shifts in water availability across their expansive geographic range. Basic water balance characteristics, including water mass and dry mass, were established for adult males and females, revealing a distinct sexual dimorphism wherein females are larger, and males retain a larger percentage of their body mass as water. Males lose relative water mass more quickly and their survival times are shorter compared to females. RNA‐seq analysis identified significant enrichment of a multitude of factors including carbohydrate transport and metabolism in dehydrated males and females. This was validated by altered glycogen levels, suggesting a rapid depletion in glycogen during dehydration. The probability of thrips feeding significantly increases when desiccation occurs, potentially to replenish water content and nutrient reserves. Our results establish the fundamental water balance characteristics of adult thrips and indicate that dehydration significantly influences the survivorship and feeding behavior of thrips; all of which being crucial factors that contribute to their capacity as vectors for plant pathogens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Western flower thrips (WFT) are a major pest for blackberry crops in Mexico, causing economic damage. To monitor this pest, yellow and blue sticky traps are commonly used during the blossom season. However, the impact of different shades of yellow and blue on adult WFT capture has not been well understood. The study tested different shades of yellow and blue to determine their influence on capturing of Frankliniella occidentalis in infested blackberry crops. Additionally, diverse geometric shapes in bright blue (the most appealing shade from the initial test) set against a dark green backdrop were examined. Furthermore, the potential synergy between the bright blue sticky traps and commercial attractants was investigated. Bright blue (blue 3; 59% reflectance to 548 nm) and fluorescent yellow (yellow 4; 98% reflectance to 522 nm) traps were effective in capturing adult WFT in high numbers, however, the bright blue traps displayed a numerical superiority (5.6%–12.8% more) over the fluorescent yellow traps. Furthermore, the introduction of various geometric shapes in bright blue against a dark green background showed a significant effect on the capture of adult WFT, with the traps consisting of a triangle and the semicircle yielding the highest captures (standardized data with respect to the blue area of the trap). However, the results indicate that a trap without contrast (>blue area) can be used if it is placed in contrast to the crop foliage (non‐standardized data). Lurem‐TR, a commercial attracts, significantly increased adult WFT capture rates, doubling or tripling the capture to traps without bait, and 2 mg of eugenol increased captures by 1.5–2.5 times. The findings are crucial for improving the monitoring and control of WFT blackberry crops. By optimizing trapping strategies, the agricultural sector can better manage the impact of this pest on blackberry cultivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Salinization, as one of the foremost abiotic stresses, is an intensifying problem in many agroecosystems. Climatic changes, along with altering land use and also salinity of irrigation water all lead to enhanced soil salinity in agricultural lands. Changes in plant characteristics, as a result of raising soil salinity, may impose bottom‐up impact on plant‐feeding insects. We assessed the bottom‐up impact of salinity stress on demographic traits of the western flower thrips (WFT), Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), on cherry tomato, Solanum lycopersicum L. var. cerasiforme (Solanaceae) plants under greenhouse conditions (27 ± 2 °C, 65 ± 5% r.h., and L16:D8 photoperiod). Our results indicated that salinity stress interfered with the immature development period, adult longevity, and sex ratio of WFT. Salinity stress biased the sex ratio in favor of males. Significant concentration‐dependent differences were observed in the intrinsic (r) and finite (λ) increase rates and the net reproduction rate (R0) of WFT at different salinity levels. Salinity adversely influenced WFT development; nonetheless, population projection forecasted an ascending WFT population growth under moderate salinity stress of 100 mM (2.8 dS m−1 of NaCl), whereas severe salinity stress of 150 mM (4.7 dS m−1 of NaCl) resulted in remarkable fitness costs in WFT. This study demonstrates that WFT has the potential to become problematic in regions with moderate salinity. Therefore, it might exacerbate the detrimental impact of salinity on tomato production. The current survey provides information on the abundance of WFT on saline‐stressed tomato plants, thereby contributing to developing environmentally friendly measures to manage this notorious species in ecosystems under salinity stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

DNA Barcoding is an important tool for disciplines such as taxonomy, phylogenetics and phylogeography, with Barcode of Life Data System (BOLD) being the largest database of partial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) sequences. We provide the first extensive revision of the information available in this database for the insect order Thysanoptera, to assess: how many COI sequences are available; how representative these sequences are for the order; and the current potential of BOLD as a reference library for specimen identification and species delimitation. The COI database at BOLD currently represents only about 5% of the over 6400 valid thrips species, with a heavy bias towards a few species of economic importance. Clear Barcode gaps were observed for 24 out of 33 genera evaluated, but many outliers were also observed. We suggest that the COI sequences available in BOLD as a reference would not allow for accurate identifications in about 30% of Thysanoptera species in this database, which rises to 40% of taxa within Thripidae, the most sampled family within the order. Thus, we call for caution and a critical evaluation in using BOLD as a reference library for thrips Barcodes, and future efforts should focus on improving the data quality of this database. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two species of family Thripidae, Hydatothrips onari Kudô, 1997 from subfamily Sericothripinae and Thrips alius Palmer, 1992 from subfamily Thripinae are collected on Guizotia abssinica and general vegetation respectively for the first time from India after their original description. Due to the addition of these two species in the Indian fauna, the number of species increased under the genus Hydatothrips from 10 to 11 and under the genus Thrips from 44 to 45. Species diagnosis with illustrations and distribution of the newly recorded taxa is also provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thrips (Thysanoptera) species in pepper fields was determined in Tokat province, Türkiye in 2021-2022. The density of thrips began to rise once the leaves emerged in late May, and the collection of thrips species started in June to October. In order to determine the thrips species common in the region, 25 flowers from a total of 25 plants randomly selected in the pepper field during each sampling period were taken into falcon tubes containing 60% ethyl alcohol. At the same time, the flowers and leaves of 25 plants, representing the field, were shaken onto white paper and the thrips were taken into 1.5 ml eppendorf tubes containing 60% ethyl alcohol with the help of a sable-tipped brush. In order to determine the common thrips species in the region, the flowers and leaves of 25 randomly selected plants in the pepper field in each sampling period were shaken on the white paper and the thrips were taken into 1.5 ml eppendorf tubes with the help of a sable-tipped brush. The assessment encompassed various thrips families belonging to the order Thysanoptera, specifically Thripidae, Aeolothripidae, and Phlaeothripidae. A total of 7 Thysanoptera species were identified in this study. The species were Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande, 1895), Thrips tabaci (Lindeman, 1889), Thrips meridionalis (Priesner 1926) and Chirothrips manicatus (Haliday, 1836) in Thripidae family, and Aeolothrips intermedius (Bagnall, 1934) and Aeolothrips fasciatus (Linnaeus, 1758) in Aeolothripidae family, and Haplothrips aculeatus (Fabricius, 1803) in Phlaeothripidae family. Both adult and larval thrips were gathered from the flowers, with a significant abundance of larval thrips noted towards the end of June. In this study, the dominant species was F. occidentalis in pepper fields in Tokat province. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The tomato industry in South Florida (USA) is seriously affected by recently emerging Tomato chlorotic spot virus (TCSV). Western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande), and common blossom thrips, Frankliniella schultzei (Trybom) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), are the two known vectors of TCSV in Florida. In the present study, the presence of thrips vectors and TCSV in 24 flowering ornamental plant species was observed in South Florida. The two thrips vectors, as well as melon thrips, Thrips palmi Karny (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), were abundant in the area; they were observed with a range from high (83.1 per sample of 10 flowers) in Hibiscus rosa‐sinensis L. to low (3.7 per sample of 10 flowers) in Catharanthus roseus (L.) G. Don in a nursery study. In a subsequent greenhouse study, we selected seven species of ornamentals, among which the species with the highest thrips abundance, and planted them next to tomato, to determine their effects on TCSV incidence and thrips abundance in tomatoes. Tomatoes with Portulaca oleracea L. next to them showed a higher number of TCSV‐infected plants (4.25 plants per plot in 2017, and 3.25 plants per plot in 2018) compared to tomatoes with some of the other ornamentals next to them. We report the presence of TCSV through reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) analysis in Lantana camara L., H. rosa‐sinensis, Mandevilla spec., Gazania linearis (Thunb.) Druce, Hemerocallis spec., Agastache spec., and P. oleracea. Identification of alternative hosts of TCSV and thrips vectors can be helpful to evaluate the ongoing management programs and develop future programs in local tomato‐growing areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis, is a quarantine pest of French beans that requires phytosanitary treatment to meet quarantine requirements for strict lucrative markets. In this study, the efficacy of hot water treatment against F. occidentalis eggs and its effects on the postharvest physicochemical quality parameters of French beans was evaluated. Results: The immersion time of 8.01 min (95% critical limits CL 7.77–8.24) was predicted by the probit model as the minimum time required to achieve a 99.9968% control level. Confirmatory tests with a large number of F. occidentalis eggs were performed to validate the estimated time to achieve probit‐9 control level, and there were no survivors from the 50 103 eggs treated. Likewise, none of the 55 364 eggs exposed to 45 ± 0.2 °C for 7 min (observational time) survived. The effect of the treatment schedule on French beans quality parameters was assessed and there were no differences in weight loss, moisture content, total soluble solids, titratable acidity, pH, and reducing sugars between treated and untreated samples. Conclusion: Our results indicate that hot water treatment (at 45 ± 0.2 °C for a duration of 8.01 min is an effective phytosanitary treatment for the control of Frankliniella occidentalis on French beans, with no significant impact on pods quality. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Specimens of Thripidae (Thysanoptera) species collected from Konya, Karaman and Mersin (2015-2017) were studied through molecular analyses as a part of preliminary attempts to establish a barcoding system for Thysanoptera in Turkey. The analyses included 23 species namely; Chirothrips kurdistanus zur Strassen, Chirothrips manicatus Haliday, Frankliniella intonsa (Trybom), Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande), Frankliniella tenuicornis (Uzel), Limothrips angulicornis Jablanowski, Odontothrips confusus Priesner, Odontothrips dorycnii Priesner, Oxythrips ajugae Uzel, Taeniothrips inconsequens (Uzel), Tenothrips anatolicus (Priesner), Tenothrips discolor (Karny), Tenothrips frici (Uzel), Thermothrips mohelensis Pelikan, Thrips angusticeps Uzel, Thrips atratus Haliday, Thrips italicus Bagnall, Thrips linarius Uzel, Thrips major Uzel, Thrips meridionalis (Priesner), Thrips physapus Linnaeus, Thrips tabaci Lindeman and Thrips trehernei Priesner which were detected in various cultivated plants and weeds. The phylogenetic positions of the 9-genera, with few exceptions, to form their own clades by the 18S Ribosomal RNA data on the NJ tree. The 18S data were discussed for the first time for Th. linarius, Th. angusticeps, Th. italicus, Th. meridionalis, Th. physapus, F. tenuicornis, Ch. kurdistanus, Te. anatolicus, Te. discolor, Ther. mohelensis and Ox. ajugae species. Clearly results from the COI dataset in a single UPGMA tree separated the genera. The COI data of Li. angulicornis, Te. anatolicus, Od. confusus, Od. dorycnii Th. angusticeps, Th. atratus, Th. italicus, Th. linarius and Th. meridionalis were obtained for the first time by this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), is a destructive, invasive pest that has spread rapidly throughout China. Traps for the prevention and control of thrips typically use a single attractant, and few studies have evaluated effective compound combinations. In this study, the attractant effects of ethyl nicotinate and p‐anisaldehyde on female F. occidentalis were evaluated. Electroantennography recorded the highest depolarization for the mixture of p‐anisaldehyde and ethyl nicotinate standards at a 1:1 mass ratio, and this depolarization was significantly higher than that of the other compounds investigated. The Y‐tube olfactometer results show that the olfactory responses of female F. occidentalis to ethyl nicotinate, p‐anisaldehyde, and their mixtures (at a 1:1 mass ratio) at concentrations of 0.05, 0.1, 0.5, and 1 μg μl−1 were significantly higher than those to liquid paraffin. The strongest response was toward 0.05 g l−1 ethyl nicotinate or p‐anisaldehyde and the 1 g l−1 mixture of p‐anisaldehyde and ethyl nicotinate standards combined at a 1:1 mass ratio, but high concentration caused a weak reaction. Greenhouse experiments revealed that various concentrations of the attractants were successful in trapping thrips. The attractant mixture at a concentration of 1 g l−1 was the most effective at luring thrips. Compared with traps without any attractants, those with attractants trapped at least double the number of F. occidentalis. Our study is the first to comprehensively evaluate female F. occidentalis responses to p‐anisaldehyde and ethyl nicotinate using electrophysiological, Y‐tube olfactometer, and greenhouse trapping analyses. The methods used also proved to be valuable for evaluating the potential of attractants to control F. occidentalis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The vast majority of the Thripidae (Insecta:Tysanoptera) species are pest species with phytophagous feeding habits, being economically important horticultural pest globally, attacking a wide range of ornamental plants. In addition to causing extensive crop damage, the species are notorious for vectoring destructive plant viruses, mainly belonging to the Tospovirus genus. This study aims to monitoring the thrips species collected from 6 Petunia x hybrida varieties in western Romania, to present the taxonomic keys for identification, and studies its population dynamics during the season. The Petunia x hybrid varieties used in the experiment were: Tropical, Purple Picotee, Cherry Pop, Bicolor Yellow Red, Orange Bouquet, Pink Bouquet. The observations were carried out for a period of 70 days – from 10 February to 20 May, using colored sticky traps. Traps were placed above the crop canopy to intercept dispersing thrips from wider areas. After an atent monitoring of Petunia x hybrida varieties in greenhouses, 6 thrips species were collected and identified, as followed: Frankliniella occidentalis Pergande, Frankliniella fusca Hinds, Frankliniella schultzei Trybom, Thrips tabaci Lindeman, Thrips palmi Karny and Heliothrips haemorrhoidalis Bouché – all being polyphagous species. Frankliniella occidentalis Pergande was the most harmful species, causing the highest damage on flowers, and was able to survive and reproduce at higher rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maize pests like Ostrinia nubilalis and Diabrotica virgifera virgifera are eradicated using genetically modified maize. This study's goal was to see if the genetically modified maize MON810 is also toxic to thrips communities on maize. The impact of Bt maize on thrips diversity and abundance, as well as yield losses, was studied in the field in Borovce for three years (Slovakia). The study used 10 Bt and 10 non-Bt maize cultivars. Thrips were monitored every two weeks during the season using transparent sticky traps installed on the experimental plots (one per plot, 20 per year). In total, 3426 thrips were caught. Thrips populations usually peak around the end of July at BBCH55. Among the species identified were Limothrips denticornis, Limothrips cerealium, Haplothrips aculeatus, Frankliniella schultzei, Frankliniella occidentalis, Thrips tabaci, Aeolothrips fasciatus, Frankliniella tenuicornis, and Chirothrips spp. We found that MON810 maize had no effect on the occurrence or composition of thrips. Their presence was affected by the maize growth phase and growing seasons and partially by the weather. The direct effect on the grain yield was not confirmed. Our research contributed to scientific knowledge of thrips communities found on maize plants in Central Europe, including Bt maize. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The monotypic genus Fulmekiola Karny of Thrips genus-group (Thripidae: Thripinae) is recorded in Iran for the first time. This is the sixth member of this group recorded from Iran after Microcephalothrips (one species), Sphaerothrips (one species), Stenchaetothrips (2 species), Stenothrips (one species) and Thrips (35 species). Diagnostic characters and the geographical distribution of the newly recorded thrips, Fulmekiola serrata (Kobus) are provided along with an updated key to genera of the Iranian Thripsgroup. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here we present a simple, cost-effective, and sustainable mass rearing system for western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis, with details of molecular identification. Our rearing methods are improved from other systems used previously because we have organized maintenance responsibilities that occur during a Monday through Friday work wk, and have streamlined environmental and nourishment conditions that have greatly sustained F. occidentallis colonies that we use for various physiological experiments. Aquí presentamos un sistema de crianza masiva que es sustentable, simple y de costo efectivo para el trips de California, Frankliniella occidentalis, con detalles sobre identificación molecular. Nuestros métodos de crianza son una mejoría en comparación a otros usados previamente ya que hemos organizado responsabilidades de mantenimiento estructuradas alrededor de una semana laboral de lunes a viernes, así como la simplificación de las condiciones ambientales y de alimentación que han sustentado enormemente las colonias de F. occidentallis que usamos para varios experimentos fisiológicos. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: How parents control the sex of their offspring greatly differs in the animal kingdom. Two lineages in the Thrips tabaci Lindeman cryptic species complex exhibit arrhenotokous haplodiploidy, which enables parents to influence the sex of offspring by different fertilization mechanisms. In two other haplodiploid species, sex allocation is mediated by egg size. Contrary to the two haplodiploid arthropods with an egg-size-mediated sex allocation mechanism, our study proves that a different mechanism that is independent of egg size regulates sex allocation in T. tabaci. The results presented in this paper raise intriguing questions regarding the evolutionary forces driving egg size and sex allocation in haplodiploids. In addition, our results indicate a significant reduction in egg size with increasing maternal age that cannot be attributed to the resource depletion hypothesis. In two haplodiploid species, sex allocation in young arrhenotokous females is mediated by egg size. We tested if sex allocation is mediated by egg size in two arrhenotokous lineages of the haplodiploid species complex of T. tabaci: L1 and T. We measured the size of eggs produced by very young mothers, 3–5-day-old mothers (just like in the case of Tetranychus urticae) and 7–10-day-old mothers (as in Pezothrips kellyanus). Moreover, we measured the size of eggs oviposited by mothers in their entire lifespan. We found that in T. tabaci, sex allocation is not mediated by egg size. Egg size and gender were independent of maternal age in the L1 lineage, whilst in the T lineage, the observed egg size difference between males and females was only present in the progeny of young females (7–10-day-old mothers). Furthermore, we found that male eggs produced by mated mothers were larger than those produced by virgin mothers in the L1 lineage, but in the T lineage, there were no differences in the size of male eggs produced by mated and virgin mothers. Our results indicate that these two subspecies have different resource allocation strategies in response to maternal mating status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The thrips complex (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) is one of the most damaging insect pest groups affecting Phaseolus vulgaris in Cuba. With the objective of determining the population fluctuation of the thrips complex associated with P. vulgaris and its control by entomopathogenic fungi, a study was carried out at the San José farm, belonging to the municipality of Santa Clara, Cuba, during the months of October to April in the 2018-2019 and 2019-2020 planting seasons. During the first campaign, the presence of Thrips palmi was recorded in the phenological stage BBCH 21, which realized its population peak at the beginning of flowering with 46.61 % of the insects quantified. Although with lower incidence, the occurrence of Thrips tabaci was also recorded with two individuals during the entire crop cycle. In the second season, T. palmi made its population peak with the appearance of the first flower buds and the species Megalurothrips usitatus appeared in the BBCH 28 phase, which gradually reached its maximum population level at the beginning of flowering with 37.1 % of the insects quantified. The effectiveness of Beauveria bassiana Bb-18 on M. usitatus and T. palmi was demonstrated with 73 and 100 % mortality, respectively, while Metarhizium anisopliae Ma-30 caused 69 and 90 % mortality. Knowledge of the population fluctuation of thrips and the effectiveness of B. bassiana and M. anisopliae for their control are elements of interest for the establishment of an integrated management of thrips in Cuba. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A total of eight species of thrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) have been listed as banana pests in Brazil. Their feeding and oviposition behaviour on these fruits damage their appearance in ways that can impair commercial value. As a result, taxonomic studies that seek to correctly identify thrips can positively impact the cultivation of bananas. Many earlier records of banana thrips in Brazil consist of doubtful identifications or untraceable reports. In this paper, the identification of these banana pests in Brazil is revised and an illustrated identification key is provided. The specimens examined were collected over a period of 10 years from the most representative banana-growing areas in Brazil. Seven banana thrips in Brazil are now recognised: Bradinothrips musae (Hood), Chaetanaphothrips orchidii (Moulton), Danothrips trifasciatus Sakimura, Elixothrips brevisetis (Bagnall), Frankliniella brevicaulis Hood, Frankliniella parvula Hood, and Hoodothrips lineatus (Hood). Chaetanaphothrips orchidii and Danothrips trifasciatus are recorded for the first time as causing damage to banana crops in Brazil. In addition, the following three species are considered misidentifications and should be disregarded as banana pests in Brazil: Frankliniella fulvipennis Moulton, Hercinothrips bicinctus (Bagnall), and Hercinothrips femoralis (Reuter). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During 2018-2020, several field surveys have been conducted to collect thrips in different parts of India. Five thrips species: Dolichothrips reuteri (Karny), Hydatothrips haschemi Girault, Litotetothrips pasaniae Kurosawa, Mesothrips annamensis Priesner, and Stenchaetothrips bambusicola Mound have been identified as new to Indian subcontinent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In agricultural crops, colored traps are often used to monitor the density of thrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), important pests and vectors of viral diseases. We used colored pole traps, mounted on wind vanes, to study thrips approach in two countries. In Israel, during periods of low wind speed (<1.1 km h‐1), 77% of western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande), reached the leeward side of traps by actively flying upwind. In New Zealand, during periods of high wind speed (>9 km h‐1), 83% of onion thrips, Thrips tabaci Lindeman, reached the windward side of traps passively. Consequences of these results for thrips monitoring are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two strains of western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), are found in New Zealand. One strain was recorded in 1934 mainly from outdoor Lupinus arboreus Sims (lupin strain, a non‐pest); the other strain was first recorded in 1992 and is found mostly on greenhouse crops (greenhouse strain, a pest). To test whether this differential pest status may be explained by different temperature requirements, a comparative life‐history study was carried out assessing the effects of temperature on life‐history traits and thermal requirements for development. Thrips strains were verified using sequence alignment of the COI gene. Thrips from each strain were fed sucrose solution and pollen, and they were reared at 8, 10, 12, 17, 22, and 27 (± 2) °C, respectively (>80% r.h., L16:D8 photoperiod). Longevity decreased with increasing temperature for both strains; however, the greenhouse strain had a significantly longer lifespan at all temperatures. Overall, the greenhouse strain laid more eggs than the lupin strain at all temperatures, with the highest mean number laid at 22 °C for the lupin strain (36.3 total eggs/female) and at 17 °C for the greenhouse strain (63.2 total eggs/female). No significant difference between the two strains was found in regards to the effect of temperature on development rate, Tmin (minimum temperature required for development), and Do (degree days). We estimated that 227 degree‐days, above a threshold temperature of 7.7 °C, were required to complete development of the greenhouse strain. No life‐history data of either strain were obtained for 8 °C as eggs did not hatch or development had not completed. The lupin strain required 261 days above 5.7 °C for complete development. The results of the study did not support the hypothesis that the lupin strain's outdoor non‐pest status was due to different temperature requirements compared with those of the greenhouse strain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bird’s – foot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus), along with alfalfa (Medicago sativa) and white clover (Trefolium repens) are some of the most important forage plants grown in Romania, but also worldwide (VÎRTEIU, 2010; YAN QI LIU ET AL., 2021). Thrips species are among the insect species that cause the most significant damage, significantly reducing the forage yield and quality. In Romania, more than 5 thrips species have been identified as Lotus corniculatus pests, of which three belong to Odontothrips genus: Odontothrips loti, Odontothrips confuses and Odontothrips phaleratus. Being one of the main pests of bird’s – foot trefoil in western Romania, Odontothrips loti caused serious economic losses of up to 80% of seed yields. The biological material (thrips species) was collected from Lotus corniculatus fields located in Șagu - Arad, Romania (46°02′20″N, 21°18′05″E) during flowering seasons, in a period of 20 days, with a sample periodicity at each 48 hours. The genus Odontothrips Amyot & Serville is defined to include thrips species that presents the antenna consisting of 8 articles, article 6 being wider and having scale form; the forewings with strong hairs on longitudinal ribs; the main rib with hairy setae on almost entire surface, in the distal region presenting two hairs. Also, the measurement of body length indicated that the three species had body with length ranging from 1,532 to 2,20 ± 0,20. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

All known records of Philippines thrips published from 1905-2019 were reviewed and consolidated. Species endemism and species with biological control potential against arthropod pests of plants were noted. Two hundred and thirteen (213) species of Thysanoptera in 98 genera under two suborders - Terebrantia and Tubulifera - were recorded in the country. Terebrantians under the family Aeolothripidae are represented by two genera and two species while Thripidae is represented by 43 genera and 95 species - with three species under subfamily Dendrothripinae, 16 species under Panchaetothripinae, two species under Sericothripinae, and 74 species under Thripinae. Tubuliferans under the family Phlaeothripidae are represented by 53 genera and 116 species, with 21 species under subfamily Idolothripinae and 95 species under Phlaeothripinae. Aeolothripids are 100% endemic while thripids and phlaeothripids are 20% and 50% endemic, respectively. Altogether, there are 79 endemic species in the Philippines. Based on the literature, the following species are potential predators of mites, scale insects, plant-feeding thrips, and coffee berry borer: Franklinothrips rarosae Reyes (Aeolothripidae), Karnyothrips flavipes (Jones) (Phlaeothripidae), K. melaleucus (Bagnall) (Phlaeothripidae), and Podothrips lucasseni (Kruger) (Phlaeothripidae). Beneficial and endemic species of thrips are recommended for conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), is an economically important pest insect in vegetable and ornamental cultivation worldwide. Little is known about host plant resistance in the vegetative and generative phases of chrysanthemum [Chrysanthemum × morifolium (Ramat.) Hemsl. (Asteraceae)] and the role of resistance factors such as flavonols, flower color, and flower shape. We screened a broad range of chrysanthemum cultivars across two seasons to quantify resistance against Western flower thrips. Resistance was based on silver damage on the leaves, and relative flavonol content was measured using a Dualex Scientific 4 hand‐held sensor. There was significant variation in silver damage between cultivars, indicating different levels of resistance. There was no correlation between the relative flavonol content in middle leaves and plant silver damage. A clearer resistance level discrimination by flavonols in resistant and susceptible cultivars would be possible in the future by comparing multiple leaf positions during the ontogenetic phases of plant development. Moreover, the influence of flower color and shape on resistance to thrips was investigated by counting the adult thrips and larvae on flowers. The results showed significant differences in flower color preference by adults, but not by larvae. Flower shape influenced thrips larvae and females, but not males. The importance of the results for resistance determination is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we sequenced complete mitogenome of Taeniothrips tigris Bhatti 1995. It was 15,501 bp in length containing 13 protein-coding genes, 22 transfer RNA genes, and 2 ribosomal RNA genes along with two non-coding regions. The overall base composition of Ta. tigris is 43.66% A, 35.20% T, 11.46% C, and 9.68% G, with a high AT bias of 78.86%. The constructed phylogeny using 19 mitogenomes revealed that the genus Taeniothrips is in close relationship with genus Thrips. This mitogenome data would help in deducing phylogenetic relationships studies in the order Thysanoptera.

Although the interaction among bees and thrips is not entirely clear at present, the high frequency of thrips found on foraging bees has led us to believe that this represents a case of facultative phoresy. Keywords: agroecosystems; flowers; phoronts; species interactions; Thripidae EN agroecosystems flowers phoronts species interactions Thripidae 1 3 3 01/05/22 20220101 NES 220101 Thrips (Thysanoptera) are opportunistic organisms that exhibit a wide range of life histories. Although it is clear that bees can acquire phoretic thrips from plants, future research should focus on confirming that thrips are capable of moving from bees on to plants and should estimate the typical distances moved through bee-mediated phoresy. Bees foraging on plants yielded 24 thrips (16 adults and 8 larvae), whereas 18 thrips were collected from bees returning to the hive (Table 1). [Extracted from the article]

Frankliniella occidentalis causes significant damage to berry crops in Mexico. Traps may be used for monitoring or mass‐trapping thrips populations. Generally, colour traps are used for monitoring thrips, but sometimes a chemical stimulus can be added to the traps. However, there is conflicting information about what colour is the most attractive and efficient for capturing F. occidentalis. In this study, we first evaluated six colours of adhesive traps for catching F. occidentalis in blackberries grown in tunnels or in an open field. Subsequently, using the most attractive trap colour, we assessed the biological activity of neryl (S)‐2‐methylbutanoate and (R)‐lavandulyl acetate, components of the pheromone aggregation of F. occidentalis. Finally, we examined the effect of neryl (S)‐2‐methylbutanoate dosage rates on the number of captured thrips. We found that blue (tunnel) and yellow (open field) followed by violet traps captured a significantly greater number of F. occidentalis compared with the white, black and green traps. Our results confirm that neryl (S)‐2‐methylbutanoate is the only component necessary for enhancing the performance of coloured traps. Blue and yellow traps baited with 200–400 µg of neryl (S)‐2‐methylbutanoate increased the capture 2.5–3 times compared to unbaited traps. In all experiments, traps captured more females than males in blackberries grown in tunnels, whereas the opposite was found in blackberries cultivated in the open field. These results constitute the first step in the development of a monitoring system for F. occidentalis in soft fruit crops in Mexico. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

'Lure‐and‐infect' is an insect pest management strategy with high potential but so far there are few examples of its application. Using traps as surrogates for auto‐dissemination devices, we tested the attractiveness to naturally occurring thrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) of three trap types differing in colour and structure, with and without the thrips lure methyl isonicotinate (MI), and sticky plate traps as a control. The aim was to find more effective traps that could be further developed into devices for auto‐dissemination and lure‐and‐infect of thrips. The number of thrips captured varied substantially with trap type and the presence of the MI lure. We found a high visual response to a sticky 'white ruffle' trap (i.e., a 30‐cm‐long cylindrical outline of folded fabric), compared to a commonly used blue sticky plate trap (Bug‐scan) as the control. This effect was seen both in a greenhouse with roses (Rosa spp.), where we encountered western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande), and in a grass field, where we encountered onion thrips, Thrips tabaci Lindeman, and New Zealand flower thrips, Thrips obscuratus (Crawford). In the absence of MI, the white ruffle trap caught 7–22× more thrips than the control Bug‐scan trap. A similarly designed blue ruffle trap and a modified Lynfield trap caught lower thrips numbers than the white ruffle and the control Bug‐scan traps. Presence of MI substantially increased the captures of T. tabaci in all three trap types in the field (2.5–18×). In the greenhouse, without MI the white ruffle trap caught 3.5–14× more thrips than the Bug‐scan, blue ruffle, or modified Lynfield traps. Presence of MI increased the captures of F. occidentalis males and females in the Lynfield and blue ruffle traps (1.4–2.8×), but not in the white ruffle trap in the greenhouse (ca. 1.1×). The importance of visual and olfactory factors for the design of effective auto‐dissemination and lure‐and‐infect strategies for thrips management is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The flower thrips, Frankliniella schultzei Trybom (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) is a common pest of rose causing quality deterioration and yield loss. The study reports comparative performance of 11 insecticides for their toxicity against rose thrips. Acute toxicity revealed thiamethoxam (Actara 25 WG) to be highly toxic with a LC50 of 6.566 ppm followed by acephate (LC50=6.948). Spray of thiamethoxam 25 WG @ 0.2 gL-1 of water was the most effective followed by acetamiprid in field studies conducted with 8 efficacious insecticides applied at visible thrips damage in flowers and repeated twice at 20 d interval. None of the test formulations caused any phytotoxicity against the rose plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Investigations were carried out on the life history and seasonal abundance of the thrips, Scirtothrips bispinosus infesting tea at Coonoor, The Nilgiris, Tamilnadu. The total developmental duration of females from egg to adult stage was 18.15±0.23, 12.55±0.15 and 10.30±0.23 days at 20, 25 and 30°C respectively. The net reproductive rate (Ro), mean generation time (Tc), intrinsic rate of natural increase (rm), finite rate of increase (λ) and weekly multiplication (Wm) rates were high at 25°C followed by 30°C and 20°C. Multiple regression analysis revealed that population density of S. bispinosus showed a negative relationship with rainfall (-0.266), maximum temperature (-38.839) and maximum relative humidity (-3.356) and positive relationship with minimum temperature (63.205), minimum relative humidity (1.686) and sunshine period (2.887). Incidence of thrips was high in the fields recovering from pruning followed by second, third and fourth year in a pruning cycle. The number of thrips per shoot was significantly higher on the plucking table when compared to the shoots present below the plucking table and side branches. In the tea plantations of South India, four species of predatory mites (Amblyseius cucumeris, A. fallacies, A. degenerans and Balaustium sp.), two species of predatory thrips (Franklinothrips vespiformis and Leptothrips mali), an anthocorid predator (Orius sp.) and one parasitoid (Trichogramma sp.) were found feeding and parasitizing on tea thrips, S. bispinosus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maternal effects of heat shock are reported for some species of insects, but little is known about such effects in the western fl ower thrips (WFT) Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae). WFT is a pest of vegetables in greenhouses worldwide. It is susceptible to high temperatures in its natural environment and is controlled using heat treatment in China. WFT population growth is suppressed by a brief exposure to a high temperature of 40°C or 45°C in the laboratory. To explore the mechanism by which high temperatures suppress the growth of WFT populations, as well as the effects of multiple heat treatments on WFT, we recorded the duration of development and survival of immature WFT, and the sex ratio (female/male) and fecundity of F1, F2, F3 and F4 adult females that developed after a single heat shock, and those of F2 offspring after a double heat shock. We also recorded the longevity and ovarian structure of adult females of the treated generation (P) and their F1, F2 and F3 offspring after a single heat shock. In addition, we determined whether the effects of a heat shock on second instar nymphs and adults differed. The results indicate that exposure of the parental generation to 41°C or 45°C for 2 h significantly prolonged the duration of development, reduced survival of immature WFT and altered the sex ratio (female/male), longevity and fertility of their adult female offspring. The effects of a heat shock of 41°C persisted for two generations, whilst the effect of heat shock of 45°C persisted for three generations. In addition, double heat shocks had more pronounced effects than a single heat shock. Heat shock administered to second instar nymphs resulted in a decrease in the number of ovarioles, whilst a heat shock administered to adults resulted in ovariole deformity. The maternal effects of heat shock in terms of the biological parameters of WFT, structure and number of ovarioles, are critical in determining the suppression of the growth at high temperatures of WFT populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Watermelon, Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum. & Nakai (Cucurbitales: Cucurbitaceae), is one the 5 most-consumed fresh fruits in the world. The thrips Frankliniella schultzei (Trybom) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) is an important pest of watermelon crops in tropical regions. Among the principal factors that regulate pest populations in crops are phenological stage of the host plant, weather and climate, and natural enemies. Thus, knowledge of such factors may allow the prediction of the risk of pest damage to such crops. The objective of this study was to identify factors that drive F. schultzei population densities in watermelon crops. During 2014 and 2015, we evaluated the effect of abiotic (weather) and biotic (phenological stage of leaves, and occurrence of natural enemies) factors on F. schultzei population densities on watermelon commercial crops. Frankliniella schultzei densities were higher in dry periods with more intense winds. Insect pest density was higher on younger leaves of plants in the vegetative stage. Frankliniella schultzei preferred to attack younger leaves of the plant located at the apex of the branches. The results obtained in this work suggest that the population growth of F. schultzei in watermelon crops is higher in periods of low rainfall. The population densities of F. schultzei depend on the phenological stage of plants, weather, and populations of natural enemies. Farmers should seek to preserve the populations of Chrysoperla sp. (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae), which are an important natural enemy of F. schultzei. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The South African avocado industry is export-oriented, with approximately 3.0 % of international market share and with a five-year mean annual production of 118 000 t from 17 500 ha. Feeding by thrips results in fruit scarring and corky tissue development, making the fruit unsuitable for export. The study aimed to identify the spectrumof thrips in avocado flowers and more importantly, to confirm the identity of the thrips species responsible for damaging fruit. Thrips were collected from flowering panicles and identified using taxonomic keys. Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande), Scirtothrips aurantii (Faure), Thrips gowdeyi (Bagnall), Thrips pusillus (Bagnall), Thrips tenellus (Trybom), Haplothrips gowdeyi (Franklin), Haplothrips bedfordi (Jacot-Guillarmod) and Megalurothrips sjostedti (Trybom) were consistently collected from May to September 2018. The minute size of thrips warranted a pre-season trial to determine the best netting material to contain thrips. Insect screen (149 µm), nylon netting (250 µm), chiffon (210 µm), voile (250 µm), organza (500 µm), tea filter paper (74 µm) and coffee filter paper (53 µm) were evaluated. The experiment was laid out as a randomised complete block design with six replications and the trials repeated twice. Only coffee filter paper and tea filter paper contained at least 85%of the thrips and were therefore chosen for thrips exclusion trials. Surveillance by fruit sampling was undertaken to determine the natural host status of avocado to thrips. Avocado fruitlets were randomly sampled and incubated under laboratory conditions. Scirtothrips aurantii (Faure) (the South African citrus thrips) emerged from fruitlets and was sustained on that fruit to adulthood. This is the first study to demonstrate that avocado is a natural host to this pest in South Africa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Temperature fluctuations may influence the behaviour of insects. Frankliniella occidentalis and Thrips hawaiiensis are sympatric pests on flower and vegetable host plants in China. This study evaluated the influence of constant (23.0°C) and fluctuating temperatures (average of 23.0°C) on the population development of these two species. The results showed that both of these pests showed faster development and higher fecundity at a constant temperature than at fluctuating temperatures when fed on Rosa rugosa flowers, and F. occidentalis showed faster development and higher fecundity than T. hawaiiensis under both conditions. Under the constant and fluctuating temperatures, the development times from egg to adult were 9.57 and 10.62 day for F. occidentalis and 10.71 and 11.82 day for T. hawaiiensis, respectively. The total numbers of first instar nymph produced were 103.08 and 86.32 by F. occidentalis, 86.96 and 73.32 by T. hawaiiensis, under the constant and fluctuating temperatures, respectively, and a higher intrinsic rate of natural increase (rm) (0.173 and 0.160) and R0 (46.31 and 36.86) were obtained in F. occidentalis compared with T. hawaiiensis (rm for 0.154 and 0.141 and R0 for 34.46 and 27.81, respectively). Our results indicate that the constant temperature had a positive effect on the population development of both F. occidentalis and T. hawaiiensis. Furthermore, F. occidentalis showed a stronger adaptability over T. hawaiiensis at both constant and fluctuating temperatures, according to its faster development and higher fecundity. These results may contribute to the better understanding of the biology of different thrip species, especially the interspecific competition between invasive and native thrips under the changing environment. These findings also provide basic data for the thrip pests control by using fluctuating temperatures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To survive in nature, organisms may need to take direct action to mitigate specific dangers from their environmental surroundings. Tiny flying insects are thought to be at particular risk from rainfall that would be of negligible concern to larger animals. The study species Frankliniella schultzei is a thrips that inhabits flowers and feeds mostly on petal tissue and pollen. While found to respond in the laboratory to decreases in atmospheric pressure associated with cyclonic conditions (rather than merely heavy rainfall), their responses to conditions preceding rainfall have not been tested in the field. Initial field sampling investigated the relationship between floral development and sites at which male, female, and larval thrips were generally present on sunny days. We then designed a sampling strategy to test if these thrips can anticipate imminent rainfall or storms and so seek shelter deep within flowers, by sampling host flowers (in sections) on multiple days with different weather conditions. Sticky traps were used to intercept thrips in flight, thus providing a measure of flight behavior across different days. The initial sampling found adult thrips primarily at the petal apex of anthesis‐stage flowers where pollen is distributed. We subsequently found that rainfall, atmospheric pressure change, temperature, humidity and wind had no effect on flight behavior of F. schultzei, or on their positions within flowers. These findings suggest rainfall is not a serious hazard for them. Perhaps thrips can survive raindrop collisions during flight, as impacts with water droplets are not expected to break the surface tension. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cassava and cacao are 2 of the most important crops grown in Costa Rica, and also are major sources of income for rural farmers. These crops are frequently attacked by Corynothrips stenopterus Williams and redbanded thrips, Selenothrips rubrocinctus Giard (Thysanoptera: Thripidae). Most farmers who grow these crops apply synthetic insecticides on a calendar basis, but there are no well-established studies on the effectiveness or toxicity of different chemical insecticides on these species of thrips. The objective of this study was to determine the toxicity of 8 insecticides with different modes of action that are used in the control of other thrips species. Commercial formulations of chlorfenapyr, imidacloprid, chlorpyrifos, spinosad, malathion, thiamethoxam, spinetoram, and α-cypermethrin were evaluated on adults of both thrips species under laboratory conditions. Probit analyses showed that spinetoram, spinosad, and chlorfenapyr were the most effective against both thrips species, with median lethal dosages of 50% below 1 µg per mL for both species: 0.12, 0.08, and 0.21 µg per mL for C. stenopterus, and 6 × 10-3, 0.06, and 0.53 µg per mL for S. rubrocinctus. For the other 5 insecticides tested, C. stenopterus had a higher susceptibility than S. rubrocinctus. Among all the insecticides tested, malathion was the least efficacious against both thrips species. The mortality rate in the control treatments never exceeded 10%. The results of this study suggest that spinetoram, spinosad, and chlorfenapyr are the most efficacious insecticides for the control of both thrips species. These results should be complemented with field trials for confirmation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Soybean vein necrosis virus (SVNV), a new virus in the genus Orthotospovirus, has been found in all soybean-growing regions in the United States and Ontario, Canada. Soybean thrips, Neohydatothrips variabilis (Beach) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), tobacco thrips, Frankliniella fusca (Hinds) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), and eastern flower thrips, Frankliniella tritici (Fitch) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) are reported vectors of this virus, but there are no reports on their distribution in Alabama. A monitoring study was conducted in 2015 and 2016 to determine thrips species composition and abundance in Alabama soybean agroecosystems. Thrips were monitored weekly by collecting them on yellow sticky traps and soybean plant parts including foliage and reproductive structures. All three reported vectors of SVNV were identified in Alabama, with N. variabilis and F. tritici as the predominant species, while F. fusca was not consistently collected from soybean plants. Four additional thrips species were collected, of which Echinothrips americanus (Morgan) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) was commonly found on soybean at all three locations. Results presented in this study provide new information about seasonal thrips species abundance in soybean agroecosystems in Alabama, and is an important first step to understanding thrips vector species of epidemiological importance in the Southern United States. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Field experiments were conducted in 2016 and 2017 in Tennessee to evaluate the effects of a novel Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt)-transgenic toxin, Bt Cry51Aa2.834_16, on thrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) and tarnished plant bug, Lygus lineolaris (Palisot De Beauvois) (Hemiptera: Miridae), in cotton. Protection from thrips injury with the Bt trait was as good or better than an insecticide-based approach. The use of the Bt trait resulted in reduced numbers of immature tarnished plant bug, particularly large nymphs, and partial protection from plant bug injury. Cotton that expressed Bt Cry51Aa2.834_16 had greater yields than the non-Bt isoline when insecticides were not used. Although Bt Cry51Aa2.834_16 reduced the need for insecticide applications, foliar-applied insecticide applications were needed to provide adequate plant protection from tarnished plant bug. The currently recommended treatment thresholds for tarnished plant bug performed similarly well for Bt Cry51Aa2.834_16 and non-Bt isolines. Insecticide applications for tarnished plant bug increased fiber quality, while Bt Cry51Aa2.834_16 had minor effects. The Bt-transgenic toxin Cry51Aa2.834_16 is expected to reduce the need for insecticide applications targeting thrips and tarnished plant bug and could be a valuable addition to an overall insect management program in cotton. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]