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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]

Background. Different species of thrips are listed as important pests in berries. They cause damage to leaves, flowers and fruits, which cause poor development and deformation of the berry, and loss of production; some species are associated with plant pathogens transmission. Objectives. To determine the species of thrips (Thysanoptera) associated with blackberry and blueberry and their seasonal abundance, in the producing region of Los Reyes, Michoacán, Mexico and to determine the most attractive sticky trap color to collect thrips. Methodology. The thrips were captured monthly through direct collection on the plants, and with sticky traps (yellow and blue), from April 2021 to August 2022. Results. 1,615 specimens were obtained, all from Thripidae family, belonging to four genera and six species. Frankliniella and Scirtothrips were the most abundant genera and accounted 96% of the material collected. F. occidentalis was most abundant in blackberry var. Laurita and Elvira, and S. dorsalis in blackberry var. Dasha and blueberry var. Arana. F. bruneri and F. minuta and Plesiothrips ayarsi were first recorded as occasional species, and Neohydatothrips gracilipes as frequent in blackberry var. Dasha and Laurita. The sticky yellow traps caught more thrips. The greater abundance coincided with periods of sprouting and flowering of both crops. Implications. The determination of thrips species that damage berries cultivation and their population fluctuation are fundamental for the implementation of an integrated management program. Conclusions. These results enrich the information of the Mexican fauna of Thysanoptera in berries, as well as the attraction to the color of certain traps and seasonal abundance.

Next-generation sequencing combined with bioinformatic analysis has become an instrumental tool for quick and reliable SNP discovery in genomes. Here, we utilized a genomic DNA library prepared from 200 Frankliniella occidentalis adults, collected from multiple weed and cultivated plant species in Konya, Karaman and Mersin (2016–2017), Turkey. Specimens were morphologically identified and preserved in ethyl alcohol. High molecular weight genomic DNA was extracted using the CTAB method. For NGS-seq library preparation, 40 µl of DNA was fragmented in a Monorex ultrasonic bath. The fragmented DNA was cleaned and size selected using AMPure XP beads and subjected to the Illumina TruSeq Nano library preparation protocol. The resulting library was bidirectionally sequenced on the HiSeq-X platform. Raw sequencing reads were trimmed and filtered by the "fastp" and "trim galore" bioinformatic programs. After data filtering, a total of 645,144 NGS reads were "bowtie2" aligned with the reference mitochondrial genome (NC_018370.1). The aligned reads were subjected to the SNP calling pipeline using "freebayes," resulting in 61 SNPs between the sample and reference mitochondria. Of those SNPs, 46 were found to be in protein-coding genes (PCGs), whereas 15 SNPs were located in tRNA regions. All 13 PCGs on the mitochondria were found to have at least one SNP site. Among the PCGs, cox1 was the most polymorphic gene, bearing 8 SNPs along its 1553 bp length. On the other hand, the nad5 gene (1598 bp length) had only a single SNP location. Despite the results suggesting that the cox1 gene may be the most useful gene for population and phylogenetic studies, other PCGs, such as cox3 and cob, could also be utilized, as their polymorphism rates were comparable to that of the cox1 gene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this article review, divided in two parts, was to summarize the main research carried out on thrips-nematode relationships, and this first part is concerned with the studies conducted on obligate parasitic nematodes of thrips species. The nematode species Thripinema aptini Sharga, Thripinema reniraoi Siddiqi, Thripinema nicklewoodii Siddiqi, Thripinema fuscum Tipping et al., and Tripinema khrustalevi Chizhov et al. were found parasitizing diverse species of Thysanoptera. Nematodes reduce feeding of the insect hosts and their ability to produce progeny, modifying their reproductive system. In certain species of thrips, their ability to transmit viruses such as TSWV is reduced. These nematodes, with very short life cycles, whose extension depends on temperature, produced different percentages of natural parasitism in fields of, at least, seven countries. In vivo reproduction methods of Thripinema species were evaluated, and the bioecology of some species were studied. The possibility of using these organisms in integrated thrips management programs was highlighted by several researchers, and so was the need for increasing the studies of the thrips-nematodes system because of the insufficient research results allowing the use of Tripinema spp. in inoculative releases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objectives of this study are to identify thrips and their biological controllers, to analyze their abundance in three flower opening stages stages of chrysanthemum crops, and to determine alpha and beta diversity in two ecoregions of Jujuy province (Argentina). The study was carried out in the Chaco ecoregion (ECH) in October and November 2016, and in the Prepuna ecoregion (EP) in February and March 2018. On each date, six replicates of five flowers were excised in the stages: flower bud, semi-open flower and open flower. Diversity profiles and rank-abundance curves were built, and Jaccard's coefficient of similarity was applied. The diversity profiles showed significant differences in thrips communities. In the ECH, 15 thrips species were identified; the dominant and permanent species were Microcephalothrips abdominalis (Crawford) and Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande). Five species were recorded in the EP, although Frankliniella gemina Bagnall and Thrips tabaci Lindeman on their own represented 78% of the total abundance. In the ECH, 20 entomophagous species/morphospecies were recognized, and 19 in the EP; antocorids were dominant in both ecoregions. The thrips and the entomophagous communities of chrysanthemum flowers were different (34%) between the ecoregions studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Colombiana de Entomología is the property of Universidad del Valle and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) is a member of the Tospoviridae family and has an negative/ambisense single-stranded RNA genome. Frankliniella occidentalis and F. intonsa are known to be dominant pests in Capsicum annuum (hot pepper) and can cause damage to the plant either directly by feeding, or indirectly by transmitting TSWV in a persistent and propagative manner, resulting in serious economic damage. This study compared the immune responses of two different thrips species against TSWV infection by transcriptome analysis, which then allowed the assessment of antiviral responses using RNA interference (RNAi). Both adult thrips shared about 90 % of the transcripts in non-viruliferous conditions. Most signal components of the immune pathways were shared by these two thrips species, and their expression levels fluctuated differentially in response to TSWV infection at early immature stages. The functional assays using RNAi treatments indicated that the Toll and JAK/STAT pathways were associated with the antiviral responses, but the IMD pathway was not. The upregulation of dorsal switch protein one supported its physiological role in recognizing TSWV infection and triggering the eicosanoid biosynthetic pathway, which mediates melanization and apoptosis in thrips. In addition, the signal components of the RNAi pathways fluctuated highly after TSWV infection. Individual RNAi treatments specific to the antiviral signalling and response components led to significant increases in the TSWV amount in the thrips, causing virus-induced mortality. These findings suggest that immune signalling pathways leading to antiviral responses are operating in the thrips to regulate TSWV litres to prevent a fatal viral overload. This study also indicates the differential antiviral responses between the TSWV-transmitting F. occidentalis and F. intonsa .

Almost all of the thrips species that are considered pests are members of a single subfamily of Thripidae, the Thripinae, a group that represents less than 30% of the species in the insect Order Thysanoptera. Three of the five major Families of Thysanoptera (Aeolothripidae, Heterothripidae, Melanthripidae) are not known to include any pest species. The Phlaeothripidae that includes more than 50% of the 6300 thrips species listed includes very few that are considered to be pests. Within the Thripidae, the members of the three smaller subfamilies, Panchaetothripinae, Dendrothripinae and Sericothripinae, include remarkably few species that result in serious crop losses. It is only in the subfamily Thripinae, and particularly among species of the Frankliniella genus-group and the Thrips genus-group that the major thrips species are found, including all but one of the vectors of Orthotospovirus infections. It is argued that the concept of pest is a socio-economic problem, with the pest status of any particular species being dependent on geographical area, cultivation practices, and market expectations as much as the intrinsic biology of any thrips species.

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]

Pheromones play an important role in mediating interspecific interactions in insects. In an insect community, pheromones can reveal information about the senders, which could be used by other members of the food web (competitor, natural enemies, etc.) to their own advantage. The aggregation pheromones of two closely related thrips species, Frankliniella occidentalis and Frankliniella intonsa, have been identified with the same major compounds, (R)-lavandulyl acetate and neryl (S)-2-methylbutanoate, but in different ratios. However, the roles of the aggregation pheromones in the interspecific interactions between these two closely related species are unknown. Here, we investigated the roles of major aggregation pheromone compounds in interspecific interactions between F. occidentalis and F. intonsa for both long and short ranges. The results showed that, at tested doses, neither aggregation pheromone-induced long range cross-attraction nor short range cross-mating was detected between F. occidentalis and F. intonsa. Field-trapping trials showed that the speciesspecificity in aggregation pheromones was regulated by the ratio of two major compounds. However, species-specific blends of the two major compounds had no effect on short-range interactions between these two species. Our data from the thrips species provide support for the 'aggregation model of coexistence', explaining the species-specific pheromone-mediated coexistence of closely related species. Thus, species-specific pheromones could be one of the factors affecting population dynamics and community structure in closely related insects with similar niches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Brazilian Journal of Biology is the property of Instituto Internacional de Ecologia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

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]

Impatiens necrotic spot virus (INSV) causes serious damage to gentian (Gentiana spp.). Symptom development, in planta distribution, and transmission of INSV were studied after mechanical inoculation of gentian plants and propagation of shoot cuttings from infected stock plants. When young gentian plants at the 2nd-leaf stage were inoculated with INSV, plants developed systemic symptoms that were restricted to a few upper leaves. However, older plants at the 6th-leaf stage did not develop systemic symptoms. After plant inoculation, INSV was detected using DAS-ELISA in symptomatic upper leaves, and rootlets and winter buds, but not in asymptomatic leaves. When asymptomatic shoot cuttings from infected stock plants were vegetatively propagated in a thrips-free glasshouse, 44.4% of those obtained from the apical shoot and 20.6% of those obtained from the middle section of the plant developed systemic symptoms. These results indicated that when gentian plants were infected with INSV, the virus was preferentially transported from the infected leaves to the root and winter buds. However, even asymptomatic shoot cuttings may develop systemic symptoms when obtained from infected stock plants. Therefore, vegetative propagation from infected stock plants can be a source of INSV infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flower thrips (mainly Frankliniella spp.) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) are common in Florida strawberries, causing bronzed fruit and reduced yields. As control relies on just a few insecticides, there is a need to evaluate novel management options and insecticides. The entomopathogenic nematode Steinernema feltiae (Filipjev) (Rhabditida: Steinernematidae) has been shown to be effective on flower thrips larvae in other plants, and the new insecticide sulfoxaflor has been effective on thrips in other crops. In winter 2016, S. feltiae was evaluated at 2 foliar application rates (2.47 and 4.94 billion infective juveniles per ha) in combination with and without the insecticide spinetoram by counting thrips in strawberry flowers and assessing numbers of damaged fruits. A second experiment was conducted to compare sulfoxaflor, spinetoram, and S. feltiae applications based on flower thrips thresholds. High and low S. feltiae rates did not reduce or suppress thrips and did not reduce fruit damage. Sulfoxaflor reduced thrips by 60 to 70% compared to the reduction caused by spinetoram. Hot, dry conditions likely limited the survival and effectiveness of S. feltiae. Sulfoxaflor appears to be a promising insecticide for flower thrips, and may reduce reliance on spinetoram by strawberry producers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The common blossom thrips, Frankliniella schultzei Trybom (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), is an important lettuce pest worldwide. Conventional sampling plans are the first step in implementing decision-making systems into integrated pest management programs. However, this tool is not available for F. schultzei infesting lettuce crops. Thus, the objective of this work was to develop a conventional sampling plan for F. schultzei in lettuce crops. Two sampling techniques (direct counting and leaf beating on a white plastic tray) were compared in crisphead, looseleaf, and Boston lettuce varieties before and during head formation. The frequency distributions of F. schultzei densities in lettuce crops were assessed, and the number of samples required to compose the sampling plan was determined. Leaf beating on a white plastic tray was the best sampling technique. F. schultzei densities obtained with this technique were fitted to the negative binomial distribution with a common aggregation parameter (common K = 0.3143). The developed sampling plan is composed of 91 samples per field and presents low errors in its estimates (up to 20%), fast execution time (up to 47 min), and low cost (up to US $1.67 per sampling area). This sampling plan can be used as a tool for integrated pest management in lettuce crops, assisting with reliable decision making in different lettuce varieties before and during head formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aggregation pheromones have been identified and tested in the field for Frankliniella occidentalis and Thrips palmi. These pheromones are produced by adult males and attract both males and females. They are likely to be widespread across the Thripidae and identification is in progress for several other pest species. Aggregation pheromones are used commercially for monitoring and activation. Field trials have shown they can be cost effective for mass trapping when used as part of an integrated pest management (IPM) programme. Use for other approaches, such as lure and kill and mating disruption have not yet been tested. A better understanding of the role of these pheromones in the mating behaviour of thrips is needed and this may suggest further ways of developing their potential for pest management. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Sampling plans are essential components of integrated pest management programs. The thrips Frankliniella schultzei (Trybom) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) is an important pest of watermelon crops. Despite the importance of sampling plans and of F. schultzei as a pest of watermelon crops, no research has been previously conducted on this subject for this crop. The objective of this work was to create a standardized sampling plan for F. schultzei in watermelon crops. Over two consecutive years, weekly samplings were performed in commercial watermelon crops. The aim of these assessments was to select the best sampling unit and the best sampling technique for F. schultzei assessment and to determine the number of samples necessary for a standardized sampling plan for this pest. In watermelon crops in the vegetative, flowering, and fruiting stages, the ideal location for sampling F. schultzei was the most apical leaf of the branches. The best sampling technique was a direct count of F. schultzei individuals. The F. schultzei sampling plan involved the evaluation of 69 samples per plot. The execution duration of this sampling plan in 1- to 15-ha plots was <1 h and was inexpensive (

In Brazil, almost nothing is known about the thrips fauna associated with rice crops. This is especially true for Rio Grande do Sul State (RS), the major rice producer in Brazil, where no systematic surveys have been conducted. Thus, this work records preliminarily the species of suborder Terebrantia inhabitanting irrigated rice (RC) and three nearby habitats: the area selected for rice, before cultivation (BR), grassland (GR) and forest border (FB) in Cachoeirinha, RS (50º58'21"W; 29º55'30"S). Eight field trips were carried out between October/2004 and February/2005 to Estação Experimental do Arroz in Cachoeirinha. Thrips specimens were collected with sweeping net and transported to laboratory for identification. A total of 623 adults terebrantians were recorded, belonging to two families and 18 species. Frankliniella rodeos (55.5%), Neohydatothrips cf. paraensis (30.3%) and Frankliniella schultzei (5.6%), were the most abundant, comprising more than 90% of the individuals. FB showed the highest species richness (S=15), followed by GR (S=10), RC (S=9) and BR (S=6). FB presented a low number of individuals (14.0%), contrasting with GR (44.8%) and BR (36.7%). In general, thrips abundance in RC was low at EEA (4.5%), and few species seems to effectively use rice as a host-plant. Two species previously considered of economic importance were found, F. rodeos and F. schultzei, the latter a new record for rice in Brazil. Five species are new records to RS.No Brasil, pouco se sabe a respeito da fauna de tripes associada à cultura do arroz. Isto é especialmente válido para o Rio Grande do Sul (RS), o maior produtor de arroz do país, onde nenhum levantamento sistemático tem sido realizado. Visando suprir tal lacuna, este estudo registra preliminarmente as espécies da subordem Terebrantia habitantes do arroz irrigado (RC) e de três habitats vizinhos: área antes do plantio do arroz (BR), campo (GR) e borda de mata (FB) em Cachoeirinha, RS (50º58'21"W; 29º55'30"S). Foram realizadas oito saídas de campo entre outubro de 2004 e fevereiro de 2005 para a Estação Experimental do Arroz em Cachoeirinha. Os tripes foram coletados através de varredura e levados até o laboratório para identificação. Foram amostrados 623 Terebrantia adultos, pertencendo a duas famílias e 18 espécies. Frankliniella rodeos (55,5%), Neohydatothrips cf. paraensis (30,3%) e Frankliniella schultzei (5,6%), foram as espécies mais abundantes, perfazendo mais de 90% da amostra. FB apresentou a maior riqueza de espécies (S=15), seguida por GR (S=10), RC (S=9) e BR (S=6). FB apresentou um baixo número de indivíduos (14,0%), contrastando com GR (44,8%) e BR (36,7%). No geral, a abundância de tripes em RC na área de estudo foi baixa (4,5%), e provavelmente poucas espécies usam efetivamente o arroz como hospedeira. Foram coletadas duas espécies de importância econômica, F. rodeos and F. schultzei, sendo esta última um novo registro para o arroz no Brasil. Cinco espécies são novos registros para o RS.

A second review of the 13 Mexican species in the Frankliniella paricutinensis Johansen species assemblage is presented, including the description of a new species. It was sampled from the onion Allium cepa L. agro-ecosystem, in 2 different localities in southern Tamaulipas. The study includes new records for 7 of the 13 previously described species. New morphological data, measurements of several specimens, and illustrations of head, thorax and abdomen, together with some ecological comments, are also included for the new species. A new key for the determination of the 14 species in the F. paricutinensis assemblage is provided.Se hace la segunda revisión de las 13 especies mexicanas integrantes del ensamble específico Frankliniella paricutinensis Johansen. También se incluye la descripción de una especie nueva afín a este ensamble específico encontrada en agroecosistemas de cebolla Allium cepa L. en 2 localidades del sur del estado de Tamaulipas. El estudio incluye registros nuevos de 7 de las 13 especies previamente descritas. Se incluyen con la descripción de la especie nueva, datos morfológicos, medidas de varios ejemplares, así como ilustraciones de cabeza, tórax y abdomen, junto con algunos comentarios ecológicos. Se incluye una clave nueva para la determinación de las 14 especies del ensamble F. paricutinensis.

Thrips are important agricultural pests and accurate identification is important for their effective management. In order to determine species, however, they need to be mounted on slides and the traditional process is time-consuming. The aim of this paper is to describe a simple and fast method to prepare temporary slides for the routine identification of thrips, which is not dependent on their colour and hardness. Four species of thrips of different colours were used in the preparations: Frankliniella occidentalis (yellow with brown tergal markings), Frankliniella schultzei (entirely brown), Haplothrips gowdeyii (dark brown to carmine) and Caliothrips phaseoli (brown to black). Slides of each species were prepared using three different methods: traditional (3 days), simplified (6 h) and fast method (10 min). The thrips on the resulting slides were observed under a microscope and important structures used in their identification were compared. The quality of the slides prepared using the traditional method was superior to those prepared using the other two methods if only the transparency and general position of the insects on the slides were considered. The transparency of the slides prepared using the simplified method was also good, but only for the pale coloured species (yellow and grey-brown). The fast method, on the other hand, was very efficient for routine identification since it resulted in slides of sufficient quality for identifying species regardless of their colour. It is important, however, to stress that the fast method is only suitable for preparing temporary slides for routine identification and is not a substitute for the traditional method of preparing permanent slides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Elucidating the factors determining the occurrence of florivorous organisms is an essential step for comprehending arthropod-plant interactions, especially when considering florivores that use flowers/inflorescences as microhabitats. In this study, we characterize the interaction between florivorous thrips (Thysanoptera) and Palicourea rigida (Rubiaceae), a distylous hummingbird-pollinated shrub. We investigated the relative role of different factors in determining thrips occurrence in the flower and inflorescence microhabitats. Furthermore, we experimentally examined the protective role of corolla influencing thrips exploration of floral buds. Frankliniella musaeperda (Thripidae) was the only species recorded on P. rigida, feeding on floral tissue, pollen and nectar. Thrips occurrence was not related to distyly, but rather to floral stage. Open flowers presented the highest abundance of thrips, followed by senescent flowers and then buds. The experimental opening of buds translated in increased thrips occurrence, indicating that F. musaeperda manage to explore the microhabitat offered by the floral chamber, as long as there is an opening in the corolla. In inflorescences, thrips abundance was negatively related to the number of ants visiting extrafloral nectaries. We found that the marked difference between floral morphs of distylous plants is not necessarily reflected in the abundance of florivores. Thrips seek for floral cavities, preferentially those with fresh tissue, which may confer nutrient-rich food and protection. Buds also provide this; however, the enclosed petals are an effective barrier against F. musaeperda entrance. At inflorescence scale, presence of mutualistic ants in high numbers can drive away these flower-feeding insects. Despite the abundance of thrips in the flowers, there was no evidence of any functional relationship, either of pollination for flowers or of breeding for insects. We demonstrate here that in the flower/inflorescence microhabitat, structural and biotic factors play a key role in the exploitation and occupation by insect florivores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The complexity of tospovirus-vector-host plant interaction is linked to a range of factors influencing vector's efficacy in virus transmission, leading to high variability in the transmission efficiency within vector populations. Main shortcomings of most studies are the missing information on the intrinsic potential of individual insects to serve as efficient vectors, both at phenotypic and at genotypic levels. Moreover, detailed analysis of vector competence heredity and monitoring the splitting of both genotypes and phenotypes in filial generations has not been reported. In this study, using the model system Frankliniella occidentalis and Tomato spotted wilt virus, we evaluated the inheritance and stability of the trait vector competence in a population through basic crossings of individually characterized partners, as well as virgin reproduction. We hypothesized that the trait is heritable in F. occidentalis and is controlled by a recessive allele. From the results, 83% and 94% of competent and noncompetent males respectively, inherited their status from their mothers. The trait was only expressed when females were homozygous for the corresponding allele. Furthermore, the allele frequencies were different between males and females, and the competent allele had the highest frequency in the population. These suggest that the trait vector competence is inherited in single recessive gene in F. occidentalis, for which the phenotype is determined by the haplodiploid mechanism. These findings are fundamental for our understanding of the temporal and spatial variability within vector populations with respect to the trait vector competence and at the same time offer an essential basis for further molecular studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Few publications exist toward the identification of larval thrips. As a result, researchers and practitioners often are unable to report larval species data or may misinterpret what is a host plant when adults of multiple species are collected. Therefore, we conducted repetitive plant sampling and detailed examination of larvae with adults, which revealed morphological differences of some undescribed Frankliniella (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) larvae. The morphological differences were confirmed by non-destructive DNA extraction, PCR, and sequencing of the COI mitochondrial gene. A larva II morphological key to 7 Frankliniella species found in Florida is presented with new larval descriptions of 4 species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Groundnut ringspot virus (GRSV) is a tospovirus species transmitted in a circulative propagative manner by several thrips species. Traditionally, GRSV is detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), so this paper describes a rapid diagnostic system for the reliable detection of GRSV in plants and individual thrips by real-time RT-PCR. Watermelon GRSV infected leaves and fruits, and individual thrips (Frankliniella schultzei) collected from flowers on infected watermelons were used in the test. We designed a GRSV TaqMan assay to efficiently detect GRSV in all samples. The method had high specificity and could distinguish GRSV from the other tospovirus species, like Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV), Tomato chlorotic spot virus (TCSV) and Zucchini lethal chlorosis virus (ZLCV). The test will help us to collect epidemiological data for GRSV in plants and thrips worldwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thrips palmi Karny and Frankliniella schultzei Trybom (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) are serious pests of various crops of economic importance across the globe. Two species of phytoseiid mites were evaluated as potential predators of T. palmi and F. schultzei in the laboratory, a shade house and a commercial cucumber production field. In a no-choice lab bioassay, both Amblyseius swirskii (Athias-Henriot) and Neoseiulus cucumeris Oudemans (Mesostigmata: Phytoseiidae) preyed in equal measure on larvae of T. palmi and F. schultzei placed on leaf disks. In the shade house, mites were only recovered from leaf samples and not in flowers. Consequently, they were only effective in controlling T. palmi on leaves. Two rates of mites (20 and 40 mites/plant) were tested in the field. Neither species nor rate suppressed F. schultzei in blooms. In contrast, both rates of A. swirskii suppressed T. palmi on leaves, although the high rate acted more rapidly and therefore had a greater overall effect over the course of the 22-day study. These results suggest that A. swirskii can serve as an effective alternative to conventional insecticide-based management of T. palmi in commercial open field cucumber production in Florida. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

First occurrence, faunistical records and flight data of three Thysanoptera species (Scolothrips tenuipennis zur Strassen, 1965, Frankliniella schultzei Trybom, 1910, Zurstrassenia figuratus zur Strassen, 1968) new for the Hungarian fauna are given. The thrips species were collected by suction trap. With 3 figures and one table. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Se presenta una clave ilustrada para 15 géneros de Thysanoptera que han sido localizados en 4 zonas hortícolas de Alajuela, Costa Rica. Se encontró 2 géneros de Aeolothripidae: Franklinothrips y Erythrothrips. También se encontró 2 géneros de Panchaetothripinae (Heliothrips y Selenothrips), 6 géneros de Thripinae (Bregmatothrips, Chirothrips, Neohydatothrips, Microcephalothrips, Frankliniella y Thrips) y 5 géneros de Tubulifera (Karnyothrips, Haplothrips, Leptothrips, Liothrips y Adraneothrips). Se incluye una clave ilustrada para 5 especies de Frankliniella (parvula, fallaciosa, insularis, invasor y cubensis).

The potato psyllid, Bactericera cockerelli (Sulc), is the primary insect vector of the bacterium Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum Leifting et al., the causal agent of zebra chip disease in solanaceous crops. Some phloem-feeding insects harbor bacterial communities determined by the food sources of the insects. Horizontal transmission of bacteria between individuals of the same species and insects of different species, with their host plants as reservoirs occurs in several plant insect systems. Ca. L. solanacearum is symbiotic in potato psyllid and can colonize plants before transmitted to its next insect host. Flower thrips, Frankliniella tritici (Fitch), that co-colonize plants have tested positive for Ca. L. solanacearum, although vector status is unknown. The bacterial community of thrips co-colonizing plants infected with Ca. L. solanacearum was analyzed and compared to that of potato psyllids on the same plants. Bacterial communities of samples were sequenced via the Illumina MiSeq platform and analyzed with macQIIME. Of the three thrips samples subjected to 16s bacterial community sequencing, the bacterium Ca. L. solanacearum comprised 6, 1, and 3% of their total bacterial community; of the three psyllid samples screened it comprised 1, 43, and 20% of the total bacterial community. This suggests that thrips can harbor the bacterium Ca. L. solanacearum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Obligate bacterial symbionts are widespread in many invertebrates, where they are often confined to specialized host cells and are transmitted directly from mother to progeny. Increasing numbers of these bacteria are being characterized but questions remain about their population structure and evolution. Here we take a comparative genomics approach to investigate two prominent bacterial symbionts (BFo1 and BFo2) isolated from geographically separated populations of western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis. Our multifaceted approach to classifying these symbionts includes concatenated multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA) phylogenies, ribosomal multilocus sequence typing (rMLST), construction of whole-genome phylogenies, and in-depth genomic comparisons. We showed that the BFo1 genome clusters more closely to species in the genus Erwinia, and is a putative close relative to Erwinia aphidicola. BFo1 is also likely to have shared a common ancestor with Erwiniapyrifoliae/Erwinia amylovora and the nonpathogenic Erwinia tasmaniensis and genetic traits similar to Erwinia billingiae. The BFo1 genome contained virulence factors found in the genus Erwinia but represented a divergent lineage. In contrast, we showed that BFo2 belongs within the Enterobacteriales but does not group closely with any currently known bacterial species. Concatenated MLSA phylogenies indicate that it may have shared a common ancestor to the Erwinia and Pantoea genera, and based on the clustering of rMLST genes, it was most closely relatedtoPantoea ananatis but represented adivergent lineage. We reconstructed a core genome of a putative common ancestor of Erwinia and Pantoea and compared this with the genomes of BFo bacteria. BFo2 possessed none of the virulence determinants that were omni present in the Erwinia and Pantoea genera. Taken together, these data are consistent with BFo2 representing a highly novel species that maybe related to known Pantoea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of a thrips-non-transmissible Tomato spotted wilt virus ( TSWV) on insect-host interactions between thrips and Arabidopsis thaliana was analysed. A wild-type TSWV virulent isolate and a TSWV isolate that induces mild symptoms on inoculated plants ( TSWV-Mo) were used in this study, and TSWV-Mo isolate was obtained by single local lesion isolation using Petunia x hybrid after several passages on Nicotiana rustica plants. In transmission test, although wild-type TSWV ( TSWV-wt) was transmitted by two thrips species (transmission ratio; Frankliniella occidentalis, 25%; Thrips tabaci, 10%; and T. palmi, 0%), none of the thrips transmitted TSWV-Mo. Feeding damage by F. occidentalis in A. thaliana plants was more extensive on TSWV-wt-infected plants than on TSWV-Mo-infected plants, despite comparable preference. Among the markers of plant defences, salicylic acid-regulated genes were upregulated threefold to sixfold by TSWV-wt or TSWV-Mo infection. In contrast, jasmonate-regulated genes and jasmonate/ethylene-regulated genes were not affected by the infections. Pull assays showed that adjacent TSWV-Mo-infected plants were preferred over uninfected plants. In conclusion, our results showed that the transmissibility by thrips of TSWV is not related to preference of vector thrips and suggested that TSWV-Mo-infected plants may be used as attractants for behaviour control of thrips. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Essential oils, volatile compounds obtained from plants, provide an alternative approach for controlling agricultural pests due to problems with conventional chemical products, such as insect resistance, environmental issues and human health concerns. This work aimed to extract essential oil from Eucalyptus citriodora to assess its chemical composition and insecticidal activity against the green peach aphid (Myzus persicae) and thrips (Frankliniella schultzei). The essential oil was obtained by hydrodistillation using the Clevenger apparatus and analyzed by gas chromatography with a flame ionization detector and mass spectrometry (GC-FID and GC-MS). A Potter tower was used to spray the insects with the essential oil solutions. The major components found in E. citriodora essential oil were citronellal (29.31%), geraniol (27.63%), β-citronellol (14.88%) and d-cadinene (6.32%). Mortality of M. persicae and F. schultzei nymphs were 85.5% and 34.8%, respectively, using essential oil at 1% (w v-1). Estimated values of LC50 (0.40% w v-1) and LC90 (1.15% w v-1) for M. persicae evidences the potential use of E. citriodora essential oil in controlling this pest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The following nomenclatural actions are in response to a series of published reports, emanating from the University of Costa Rica, that were based on faulty microscopy and inaccurate scholarship. Among Thysanoptera Phlaeothripidae, the recently described genera Kolia and Arthrips are considered new synonyms of Holothrips, and reasons are provided for continuing to regard Abiastothrips as a synonym of Holothrips; also Camilothrips and Marinaella are considered new synonyms of Eurythrips. Among Thripidae, Frankliniella caribae is considered a new synonym of Frankliniella insularis and the synonymy of Frankliniella fortissima with insularis is re-established; Jessicathrips is considered a new synonym of Thrips genus. In addition, two misinterpretations of the Code of Zoological Nomenclature are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A field survey was conducted in Ataulfo mango (Mangifera indica L.) orchards in Chiapas, Mexico, with the objective of determining the natural enemies of the Frankliniella complex species (Thysanoptera: Thripidae). Seven species of this genus feed and reproduce in large numbers during the mango flowering. Two representative orchards were selected: the orchard “Tres A” characterized by an intensive use of agrochemicals directed against thrips, and the orchard “La Escondida” that did not spray insecticides. During mango flowering, five inflorescences were randomly collected every 5 d in both orchards, for a total of 18 sampling dates. Results revealed the presence of 18 species of arthropods that were found predating on Frankliniella. There were 11 species in the families Aeolothripidae, Phlaeothripidae, Formicidae, Anthocoridae and Chrysopidae; and seven species of spiders in the families Araneidae, Tetragnathidae, and Uloboridae. Over 88% of predators were anthocorids, including, Paratriphleps sp. (Champion), Orius insidiosus (Say), Orius tristicolor (White), and O. perpunctatus (Reuter). The orchard that did not spray insecticides had a significantly higher number of predators suggesting a negative effect of the insecticides on the abundance of these organisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To compare the performance of Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) and native Frankliniella intonsa (Trybom) on cucumber and tomato leaves in laboratory, life history characters were investigated, and life tables were constructed using the method of age-stage, two-sex table life. Compared with tomato leaf, there were shorter total preoviposition period (TPOP), higher fecundity, longer female longevity, and higher intrinsic rate of increase ( r) of both F. occidentalis and F. intonsa on cucumber leaf. Meanwhile, on cucumber leaf, the shorter TPOP, higher fecundity, longer female longevity, and higher value of r were found on population of F. intonsa but on tomato leaf which were found on population of F. occidentalis. From above, cucumber leaf was the preference to population development of both F. occidentalis and F. intonsa compared with tomato leaf. Nevertheless, on cucumber leaf, population of F. intonsa would grow faster than that of F. occidentalis, which was the opposite on tomato leaf. As to the population development in fields, much more factors would be taken into account, such as pollen, insecticide resistance, and effects of natural enemies etc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Four new species are described in Frankliniella genus Frankliniella marinae sp. n., moundi sp. n., sandovalensis sp. n. and orlandoi sp. n. The later synonyms of Frankliniella (Exophtalmothrips and Bolbothrips) are discussed upon phylogenetical criteria, these criteria support the redescription of these genera because they are independent evolutionary lineages. The three genera are redescribed and resurrected Exophtalmothrips and Bolbothrips following the actual phylogenetics of the generic group. The genus Exophtalmothrips was a little genus with only three species, some studies on Mexico fauna, and the analysis of the species of Frankliniella from Costa Rica described in the last years increase the number of species for this genus. Bolbothrips is considered a monospecific genus with the single species aztecus misidentified as Frankliniella aztecus by some writers.

The phylogeny of the species groups of Frankliniella and the position of Exophtalmothirps and Bolbothrips are discussed with reference to recent literature and analysis with the cladistic software PAUP 3.0 in its heuristic option, the matrix has 24 taxa and 25 characteristics for each; 1) the intonsa group is not a well defined taxon and may include groups of species, but there are no good morphological traits for its recognition, 2) the pulchella and cephalica groups are consistent monophyletic groups of species, 3) the minuta group is monophyletic with a few morphological constraints, 4) Exophtalmothrips and Bolbothrips seem to be segregated, and not synonymous of Frankliniella.

Blackberries are a relatively new crop to Florida, and little is known about which pests will become key pests in the system. This study was conducted to determine the pest potential of flower thrips in blackberries in Florida. Flower thrips were present in large numbers, particularly in early flowering cultivars. Frankliniella bispinosa Morgan (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) was the dominant species found in blackberries. Flower thrips populations behaved in a density dependent manner with Orius sp. (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae) populations, so Orius sp. may be an important predator of flower thrips in this system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thrips is an ideal group for studying the evolution of mitochondrial (mt) genomes in the genus and family due to independent rearrangements within this order. The complete sequence of the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) of the flower thrips Frankliniella intonsa has been completed and annotated in this study. The circular genome is 15,215 bp in length with an A + T content of 75.9% and contains the typical 37 genes and it has triplicate putative control regions. Nucleotide composition is A + T biased, and the majority of the protein-coding genes present opposite CG skew which is reflected by the nucleotide composition, codon and amino acid usage. Although the known thrips have massive gene rearrangements, it showed no reversal of strand asymmetry. Gene rearrangements have been found in the lower taxonomic levels of thrips. Three tRNA genes were translocated in the genus Frankliniella and eight tRNA genes in the family Thripidae. Although the gene arrangements of mt genomes of all three thrips species differ massively from the ancestral insect, they are all very similar to each other, indicating that there was a large rearrangement somewhere before the most recent common ancestor of these three species and very little genomic evolution or rearrangements after then. The extremely similar sequences among the CRs suggest that they are ongoing concerted evolution. Analyses of the up and downstream sequence of CRs reveal that the CR2 is actually the ancestral CR. The three CRs are in the same spot in each of the three thrips mt genomes which have the identical inverted genes. These characteristics might be obtained from the most recent common ancestor of this three thrips. Above observations suggest that the mt genomes of the three thrips keep a single massive rearrangement from the common ancestor and have low evolutionary rates among them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A push-pull strategy for managing the anthophilous Frankliniella bispinosa (Morgan) in pepper and increasing conservation biological control was evaluated. Push components of ultra-violet (UV)-reflective mulch and foliar applications of kaolin and the pull component of sunflower companion plants were evaluated in replicated field experiments in 2011 and 2012. Adult F. bispinosa rapidly colonized and reproduced in the peppers and sunflowers during early flowering, but populations declined later, as numbers of the predatory Orius insidiosus (Say) and Orius pumilio (Champion) increased in both hosts. Numbers of F. bispinosa were reduced by kaolin during early pepper flowering. Thrips numbers were increased on some of the later sample dates, apparently due to reduced predation that resulted from negative effects of kaolin and UV-reflective mulch on Orius populations. Numbers of thrips increased in peppers with companion plants during the first week of flowering each year, followed by declines in thrips numbers during the next 2 wk in 2011. There was little effect each year of the companion plants on the numbers of Orius in the pepper flowers. There was one date in 2011 and no dates in 2012 in which UV-reflective mulch or kaolin acted in concert with the presence of the companion plants to reduce thrips numbers in the main crop of pepper. Yield effects were not attributed to thrips damage. We conclude that sunflower companion plants did not act additively or synergistically with kaolin or UV-reflective mulch to reduce thrips and increase Orius populations in pepper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lethal chlorosis of cucurbits, caused by the tospovirus Zucchini lethal chlorosis virus (ZLCV), is an important disease in the Brazilian zucchini squash crop. The virus is transmitted by the thrips Frankliniella zucchini. Progress of the disease in time and space was studied in zucchini squash experimental fields to better understand disease epidemiology. Nine independent experiments were carried out between December 2006 and September 2010. The effects of the disease were assessed every 2-7 days, depending on the experiment. The thrips population was monitored in five of these experiments. For disease progress over time, four models (exponential, monomolecular, logistic and Gompertz) were tested. Disease progress in space analysis included both the index of dispersion and Taylor's power law. The monomolecular model was the best fit to the disease incidence data, and spatial analysis indicated aggregated diseased plants at the end of the season in most experiments. A correlation was detected between the number of collected thrips and the incidence of zucchini squash lethal chlorosis. The results indicate that the thrips population significantly contributed to the primary spread of disease incidence. We propose that disease management should focus mainly on the elimination of the source of the inoculum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aquatic grass-inhabiting thrip, Frankliniella zizaniophila (Han & Zhang 1982) (Thripidae: Thripinae), is redescribed and illustrated, and the larvae and the yellow color type of this species are described for the first time. Judging from its unique morphological characters and host plant, the systematic position of this species in Frankliniella is questionable, but until the thrips fauna of Asia is better explored, it seems best to leave this species in Frankliniella, rather than to erect a new monobasic genus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The magnitude of plant intra-specific variation for indirect defence and the underlying plant traits influencing predators remain relatively unstudied, particularly in cultivated plants., We tested whether differences in flower number, pollen production, and leaf trichome density among 17 pepper ( Capsicum annuum Linnaeus) varieties influenced the abundance and predation intensity by the omnivorous mite Amblyseius swirskii Athias-Henriot., A greenhouse experiment was conducted where pepper plants were infested with thrips ( Frankliniella cephalica Crawford DL) and subsequently exposed to A. swirskii. We estimated thrips and mite density based on arthropod counts conducted over a 4-week period, and also performed flower and trichome counts, and estimated pollen production per anther., Significant differences were found among varieties for all three traits, as well as mite and thrips density. After accounting for all traits in a multiple regression model, we found that flower and trichome number had significant positive effects on mite density (by providing food and shelter, respectively). Increased mite density was in turn associated with a decrease in thrips density, presumably as a result of mite predation. Moreover, we found that flower number (but not trichome density) increased the strength of thrips suppression and that such an effect was mediated by mite density., These findings suggest that genetic variation for plant traits may indirectly influence herbivore suppression in peppers (although traits may vary in the strength or direction of their effects), and underscore the evolutionary potential and importance of selection not only for direct but also indirect resistance in crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mango cv. 'Ataulfo' is perhaps the most popular mango produced in Mexico. The presence of high densities of thrips in mango blossoms, mainly the species Frankliniella invasor Sakimura, has been linked to yield decline. Growers spray synthetic insecticides on a regular basis against thrips to reduce their numbers, but no studies on the effectiveness of these insecticides have been conducted. The present study was undertaken with the objective of assessing the toxicity of 4 insecticides commonly used by growers. Commercial formulations of spinosad, imidacloprid, malathion, and a-cypermethrin were evaluated on adults of F. invasor under laboratory conditions. Six concentrations of each insecticide were assessed: 0.1, 1, 10, 100, 1000, and 10,000 ppm. Snap bean pods were submerged into the different concentrations of insecticides, dried on paper towels, and placed in a plastic container with the thrips adults. A completely randomized design with 10 replicates per treatment was performed. Probit analyses revealed that spinosad and a-cypermethrin were the most toxic insecticides for F. invasor with estimated LC50 values of 0.413 and 0.636 ppm, respectively. No significant differences in toxicity were found between imidacloprid (LC50 = 23.013 ppm) and malathion (LC50 = 34.422 ppm). Mortality in control treatments (distilled water) was never higher than 14%. Our study suggests the use of spinosad and a-cypermethrin as the best control for F. invasor. However, these results should be complemented with field evaluations before being recommended to mango growers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The common blossom thrips, Frankliniella schultzei (Trybom), has been recently reported as an agronomic pest in South Florida. It poses a serious threat to tomato and pepper growers due to its ability to transmit Groundnut ring spot virus (GRSV). In the wake of the current problem 3 trials were undertaken to control F. schultzei using conventional and novel insecticides of different modes of action. Specifically, the efficacies of neonicotinoid, diamides, spirotetramat, spinosyn/spinosad and Chenopodium ambrosioides were evaluated with the aim of controlling F. schultzei and minimizing the transmission of the virus. In the first trial, imidacloprid (IRAC Group 4) applied at planting as a soil drench followed by drip irrigation application of cyazypyr showed some reduction of the F. schultzei population and of the transmission of GRSV on tomato. The change in the method of application of cyazypyr from drip irrigation to direct application on the foliage in the second trial improved both the control of F. schultzei and the reduction of GRSV on tomato. In the third trial, the foliar applications of spirotetramat, spinetoram and Chenopodium ambrosioides did not control F. schultzei populations nor reduce the transmission of GRSV on pepper. Results from this study will help in the development of a management program using imidacloprid and cyazypyr in rotation with spirotetramat, spinetoram and Chenopodium ambrosioides. The development of such a program to suppress F. schultzei populations thrips and prevent transmission of GRSV will be challenging, but an effective IPM program would also serve as a strong insecticide resistance management program for F. schultzei. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A high incidence of plants with mosaic, chlorotic spots, ringspots, necrosis, smaller leaves, and stunting was observed on peanut crops ( Arachis hypogaea L.) in Itápolis, São Paulo State, Brazil. Transmission electron microscope examination of thin sections of infected leaves revealed the presence of spheroidal particles, ca. 80 nm in diameter, suggestive of Tospovirus. A DNA fragment of ~600 bp was amplified by RT-PCR from total RNA extracted from infected tissues using primers specific for the nucleocapsid gene of Groundnut ringspot virus (GRSV). Nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequences of the fragments showed high identities with known GRSV isolates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]