Insects

Research

18 pages, 4558 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Changes in Diversity and Structure of Thrips (Thysanoptera) Assemblages in the Spruce Forest Stands of High Tatra Mts. after a Windthrow Calamity

by Rudolf Masarovič, Martina Zvaríková, Milan Zvarík, Oto Majzlan, Pavol Prokop and Peter Fedor

Insects 2022, 13(8), 670; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects13080670 - 25 Jul 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1976

Abstract

Strong winds, fire, and subsequent forest management impact arthropod communities. We monitored the diversity and changes in the community structure of forest thrips assemblages in the context of secondary succession and anthropogenic impact. There were eight study plots that were affected to varying [...] Read more.

Strong winds, fire, and subsequent forest management impact arthropod communities. We monitored the diversity and changes in the community structure of forest thrips assemblages in the context of secondary succession and anthropogenic impact. There were eight study plots that were affected to varying degrees by the mentioned disturbances that were selected in the Central European spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) forests in Slovakia. The soil photoeclectors were used to obtain thrips in the study plots during two vegetation seasons. The thrips assemblages and their attributes were analyzed by non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS). The significant changes in community structure, composition, stratification, species richness, and diversity of thrips assemblages that were caused by natural- (wind) and human-induced disturbance (forestry and fire) were observed in our research. Our analyses revealed a clear relationship between different thrips assemblages and impacted environment. Moreover, our results indicate that silvicolous thrips species may be useful for indicating changes and disturbances in forest ecological systems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Economic Pest Thrips: Biology, Ecology, and Population Genetics)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

14 pages, 2620 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Effect of Species Soybean Vein Necrosis Orthotospovirus (SVNV) on Life Table Parameters of Its Vector, Soybean Thrips (Neohydatothrips variabilis Thysanoptera: Thripidae)

by Asifa Hameed, Cristina Rosa and Edwin G. Rajotte

Insects 2022, 13(7), 632; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects13070632 - 14 Jul 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3309

Abstract

Soybean vein necrosis orthotospovirus (SVNV: Tospoviridae: Orthotospovirus), the causal agent of soybean vein necrosis disease, is vectored by soybean thrips Neohydatothrips variabilis (Beach, 1896), and to a lesser extent by five other thrips species. There is increasing incidence of soybean vein necrosis (SVN) [...] Read more.

Soybean vein necrosis orthotospovirus (SVNV: Tospoviridae: Orthotospovirus), the causal agent of soybean vein necrosis disease, is vectored by soybean thrips Neohydatothrips variabilis (Beach, 1896), and to a lesser extent by five other thrips species. There is increasing incidence of soybean vein necrosis (SVN) disease in all soybean growing states in the United States, Canada, Egypt and Pakistan, necessitating a study of the system’s ecology and management. We addressed the effect of SVNV on the life table parameters of the vector. We used an ‘age-stage two-sex’ life table approach, which provided detailed life stage durations of each larval instar and adults (both sexes). Our results showed that the intrinsic rate of increase (r), finite rate of increase (λ) and mortality index (qx) were higher in the infected population, while the net reproduction rate (Ro), cumulative probability of survival (lx) and gross reproduction rate (GRR) were lower in the uninfected population. Overall, in both infected and uninfected populations, the number of eggs producing haploid males via arrhenotoky ranged from 9–12 per female. Male to female ratio was female biased in the infected population. Overall, our study provided evidence that virus infection, by decreasing the population doubling time, could enhance the virus and vector populations in soybeans. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Economic Pest Thrips: Biology, Ecology, and Population Genetics)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

18 pages, 5802 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Morphology of the Female Reproductive System of the Soybean Thrips, Neohydatothrips variabilis (Beach, 1896) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae)

by Asifa Hameed, Jonah M. Ulmer, Istvan Miko, Cristina Rosa and Edwin G. Rajotte

Insects 2022, 13(7), 566; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects13070566 - 23 Jun 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 3008

Abstract

Soybean thrips (Neohydatothrips variabilis) are an important phytophagous vector of the widely recognized Soybean vein necrosis orthotospovirus (SVNV). Understanding the egg-laying behavior of these thrips could aid in developing strategies for the management of the vector and virus. In this study, [...] Read more.

Soybean thrips (Neohydatothrips variabilis) are an important phytophagous vector of the widely recognized Soybean vein necrosis orthotospovirus (SVNV). Understanding the egg-laying behavior of these thrips could aid in developing strategies for the management of the vector and virus. In this study, we described the egg-laying behavior of N. variabilis and reconstructed the three-dimensional morphology of the female terminalia by using serial block-face scanning electron microscopy (SBFSEM) and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). The female reproductive system consists of two panoistic ovaries consisting of eight ovarioles. The appendage gland is connected to the ovaries by two muscles, and to the body wall by a single muscle. The spermatheca is connected to the eighth tergum through four branched muscles, to the basivalvulae of the ovipositor by one muscle and to the vagina by a single muscle. The external genitalia are operated by seven muscles. The movement of the eggs inside the ovipositor is achieved by the back and forth “rocking” movement of the first valvulae and valvifer. Eggs are deposited into the parenchymatous tissue alongside leaf veins. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study describing the internal and external genitalia of N. variabilis. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Economic Pest Thrips: Biology, Ecology, and Population Genetics)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

20 pages, 3279 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Colour Response in Western Flower Thrips Varies Intraspecifically

by Karla Lopez-Reyes, Karen F. Armstrong, David A. J. Teulon, Ruth C. Butler, Coby van Dooremalen, Monika Roher and Robert W. H. M. van Tol

Insects 2022, 13(6), 538; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects13060538 - 10 Jun 2022

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3067

Abstract

Discrepancies in the published research as to the attraction of the economically important pest western flower thrips (WFT) to different colours confounds the optimisation of field traps for pest management purposes. We considered whether the different experimental conditions of independent studies could have [...] Read more.

Discrepancies in the published research as to the attraction of the economically important pest western flower thrips (WFT) to different colours confounds the optimisation of field traps for pest management purposes. We considered whether the different experimental conditions of independent studies could have contributed to this. Therefore, the behavioural response (i.e., landings) to different colour cues of two WFT laboratory populations from Germany (DE) and The Netherlands (NL), which had previously been independently shown to have different colour preferences, were tested in the same place, and under the same experimental conditions. Single-choice wind tunnel bioassays supported previous independent findings, with more of a NL population landing on the yellow LED lamp (588 nm) than the blue (470 nm) (p = 0.022), and a not-statistically significant trend observed in a DE population landing more on blue compared to yellow (p = 0.104). To account for potential original host rearing influences, both populations were subsequently established on bean for ~20 weeks, then yellow chrysanthemum for 4–8 and 12–14 weeks and tested in wind tunnel choice bioassays. Laboratory of origin, irrespective of the host plant rearing regime, remained a significant effect (p < 0.001), with 65% of the NL WFT landing on yellow compared to blue (35%), while 66% of the DE WFT landed on blue compared to yellow (34%). There was also a significant host plant effect (p < 0.001), with increased response to yellow independent of laboratory of origin after rearing on chrysanthemum for 12–14 weeks. Results suggest that differing responses of WFT populations to colour is, in this case, independent of the experimental situation. Long-term separate isolation from the wild cannot be excluded as a cause, and the implications of this for optimising the trap colour is discussed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Economic Pest Thrips: Biology, Ecology, and Population Genetics)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

16 pages, 2036 KiB

Open AccessArticle

There Is No Influence of Egg Size on Sex Allocation in Arrhenotokous Lineages of Thrips tabaci Lindeman

by Saranda Musa, Márta Ladányi and József Fail

Insects 2022, 13(5), 408; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects13050408 - 24 Apr 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2728

Abstract

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 [...] Read more.

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. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Economic Pest Thrips: Biology, Ecology, and Population Genetics)

► Show Figures

Graphical abstract

14 pages, 2258 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Preliminary Survey of Olive Grove in Biskra (Southeast Algeria) Reveals a High Diversity of Thrips and New Records

by Chahrazed Warda Halimi, Malik Laamari and Arturo Goldarazena

Insects 2022, 13(5), 397; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects13050397 - 19 Apr 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2604

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine Thysanoptera species composition associated with olive trees, fruit injury, fluctuations in the abundance of the most phytophagous species relative to the phenological stages of the olive tree, and the temporal variations in the species Neohydatothripsamygdali in [...] Read more.

This study was conducted to determine Thysanoptera species composition associated with olive trees, fruit injury, fluctuations in the abundance of the most phytophagous species relative to the phenological stages of the olive tree, and the temporal variations in the species Neohydatothripsamygdali in relation to environmental variations in Biskra province between 2018 and 2020. The olive orchard chosen for this study is located at the Experimental Station of the Technical Institute for the Development of Saharan Agriculture (ITDAS) in El Outaya (Biskra, a Saharan region of Algeria). Five trees were sampled each week, and thrips were collected by shaking 20 twigs (4 twigs per tree). Identification of thrips species was based on morphological characters of adults. Microscopic observation of the collected thrips specimens made it possible to report nine thrips species. Among them, four are reported for the first time in Algeria. Three taxa, namely Haplothrips tritici, Neohydatothrips amygdali, and Frankliniella occidentalis constituted the eudominant groups, representing 28.65%, 27.98%, and 23.39% of total specimens collected during the study, respectively. Thrips injury appeared as scaring and silvering of the fruit. The most abundant species was H. tritici, but N. amygdali was most common in the last two years of the survey. The influence of phenological stages of olive trees on the total number of H. tritici and F. occidentalis was significant. The highest numbers were recorded in flowering stage. The highest number of N. amygdali had two peaks: April (2020) and May (2018, 2019), as well as September (2020) and October (2018, 2019), when temperatures fluctuated between 20 °C and 30 °C. N. amygdali was totally absent during the other months (in winter and summer). During the three years of investigation, N. amygdali reproduced by thelytoky, with only females present. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Economic Pest Thrips: Biology, Ecology, and Population Genetics)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

19 pages, 5435 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Integrative Insight into Relationships between Florivorous Thrips Haplothrips leucanthemi and H. niger (Insecta, Thysanoptera)

by Agnieszka Kaczmarczyk-Ziemba, Halina Kucharczyk, Marek Kucharczyk and Kinga Kucharska

Insects 2022, 13(3), 279; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects13030279 - 11 Mar 2022

Viewed by 2672

Abstract

Haplothrips niger is recognized as a parthenogenetic form of H. leucanthemi and is also considered to be a pest in clover-seed plantations. On the contrary, some researchers highlight the distinctiveness of H. niger and H. leucanthemi. Taking into account these two points [...] Read more.

Haplothrips niger is recognized as a parthenogenetic form of H. leucanthemi and is also considered to be a pest in clover-seed plantations. On the contrary, some researchers highlight the distinctiveness of H. niger and H. leucanthemi. Taking into account these two points of view, as well as the lack of molecular studies investigating the relationship between the mentioned thrips, we decided to perform analyses of both mitochondrial (COI) and nuclear markers (28S and ITS2) to determine the genetic diversity of H. leucanthemi and H. niger. Additionally, as a part of an integrative approach, we determined and analyzed their microbiota profiles, based on high-throughput 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The results of the molecular analyses revealed high intraspecific diversity of H. leucanthemi and did not support the distinctiveness of H. niger. The identified microbiota profiles were similar in both species and the performed analyses also did not support the distinctiveness of H. niger. Significant differences were, in turn, observed between H. leucanthemi and H. niger larvae. Moreover, two known endosymbiotic bacteria were found in the analyzed microbiota profiles (i.e., Wolbachia and Rickettsia). Nevertheless, these symbionts were not predominantly found in the bacterial communities that are associated with H. niger and thus, its impact on the parthenogenetic mode of its reproduction seems less likely. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Economic Pest Thrips: Biology, Ecology, and Population Genetics)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

13 pages, 6556 KiB

Open AccessArticle

”Unmasking the Villain”: Integrative Taxonomy Reveals the Real Identity of the Key Pest (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) of Peanuts (Arachis hypogaea L.) in South America

by Élison Fabrício Bezerra Lima, Áquila Rayane Silva de Alencar, Frederico Nanini, Marcos Doniseti Michelotto and Alberto Soares Corrêa

Insects 2022, 13(2), 120; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects13020120 - 24 Jan 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3027

Abstract

The peanut thrips, Enneothrips enigmaticus sp. n., is the key pest of Arachis hypogaea L. in South America, where it can cause yield losses of up to 85%. This species has historically been identified as Enneothrips flavens, but access to the holotype [...] Read more.

The peanut thrips, Enneothrips enigmaticus sp. n., is the key pest of Arachis hypogaea L. in South America, where it can cause yield losses of up to 85%. This species has historically been identified as Enneothrips flavens, but access to the holotype of this species and freshly collected material from southeastern and northern Brazil revealed that specimens commonly collected on peanut crops are not conspecific with E. flavens. Biological, molecular, and morphological assessments were carried out and led to the conclusion that the key pest of A. hypogaea belongs to a previously undescribed species: Enneothrips enigmaticus sp. n. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Economic Pest Thrips: Biology, Ecology, and Population Genetics)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

12 pages, 2009 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Thelytokous Reproduction of Onion Thrips, Thrips tabaci Lindeman 1889, Infesting Welsh Onion and Genetic Variation among Their Subpopulations

by Falguni Khan, Miltan Chandra Roy and Yonggyun Kim

Insects 2022, 13(1), 78; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects13010078 - 11 Jan 2022

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2629

Abstract

Parthenogenesis is not uncommon in thrips. This asexual reproduction produces males (arrhenotokous) or female (thelytokous). Only females are found in the onion thrips (Thrips tabaci Lindeman 1889) infesting Welsh onion (Allium fistulosum) in several areas of Korea. To determine the [...] Read more.

Parthenogenesis is not uncommon in thrips. This asexual reproduction produces males (arrhenotokous) or female (thelytokous). Only females are found in the onion thrips (Thrips tabaci Lindeman 1889) infesting Welsh onion (Allium fistulosum) in several areas of Korea. To determine the reproduction mode of T. tabaci, thrips infesting Welsh onion were collected from different localities in Korea. Cytochrome oxidase I (COI) sequences were then assessed. Results showed that all test local populations had signature motif specific to a thelytokous type. These COI sequences were clustered with other thelytokous populations separated from arrhenotokous T. tabaci populations. In a laboratory test, individual rearing produced female progeny without any males. These results support that Korean onion thrips infesting Welsh onion have the thelytokous type of parthenogenesis. Local thrips populations exhibited significant variations in susceptibility to chemical and biological insecticides. Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis indicated genetic variations of local populations. However, the genetic distance estimated from RAPD was independent of the actual distance among different local populations. These results suggest that genetic variations of T. tabaci are arisen from population subdivision due to asexual thelytokous reproductive mode. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Economic Pest Thrips: Biology, Ecology, and Population Genetics)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

11 pages, 1307 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Life Table and Preference Choice of Frankliniella occidentalis (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) for Kidney Bean Plants Treated by Exogenous Calcium

by Guang Zeng, Jun-Rui Zhi, Mao Ye, Wen Xie, Tao Zhang, Ding-Ying Li, Li Liu, Xiao-Bao Wu and Yu Cao

Insects 2021, 12(9), 838; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects12090838 - 17 Sep 2021

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2603

Abstract

Exogenous calcium (Ca) has been used to induce host plant resistance in response to abiotic and biotic stresses, including from thrips attack. The aim of this study was to determine whether exogenously applied Ca affects the performance of Frankliniella occidentalis. We assessed [...] Read more.

Exogenous calcium (Ca) has been used to induce host plant resistance in response to abiotic and biotic stresses, including from thrips attack. The aim of this study was to determine whether exogenously applied Ca affects the performance of Frankliniella occidentalis. We assessed the development time, total longevity, reproduction, and population parameters of F. occidentalis, and its preference choice on Ca-treated or untreated control kidney bean plants under laboratory conditions. The results showed that F. occidentalis fed on Ca-treated leaves had a longer developmental time but lower longevity (female and male) and fecundity than F. occidentalis fed on control leaves. Population parameters, including the intrinsic rate of increase (r), finite rate of increase (λ), and net reproductive rate (R₀), were all found higher in control leaves than in Ca-treated leaves, and the mean generation time (T) was shorter. In preference choices, the number of thrips on control plants was higher than the number of thrips on Ca-treated kidney bean plants. Overall, our results indicated that exogenous Ca pretreatment on kidney bean plants affected the life history and preference choice of F. occidentalis, suggesting Ca might be used as a promising elicitor of inducible plant defense against thrips. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Economic Pest Thrips: Biology, Ecology, and Population Genetics)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

11 pages, 2290 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effect of Different Plants on the Growth and Reproduction of Thrips flavus (Thysanoptera: Thripidae)

by Yu Gao, Yijin Zhao, Di Wang, Jing Yang, Ning Ding and Shusen Shi

Insects 2021, 12(6), 502; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects12060502 - 28 May 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3177

Abstract

Host plants play an important role in affecting insect development and reproduction. Understanding the host plant preferences is important for pest control. Thrips flavus Schrank (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) is a worldwide phytophagous pest in Palearctic Asian and European countries. We used a life table [...] Read more.

Host plants play an important role in affecting insect development and reproduction. Understanding the host plant preferences is important for pest control. Thrips flavus Schrank (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) is a worldwide phytophagous pest in Palearctic Asian and European countries. We used a life table analysis to study the development duration, population parameters, and population growth of T. flavus on five plant species, including Solanum melongena (Solanaceae), Capsicum annuum (Solanaceae), Glycine max (Leguminosae), Brassica rapa var. glabra (Cruciferae), and Cucumis sativus (Cucurbitaceae). The results showed that T. flavus can survive and reproduce on Cu. sativus and G. max, which were two potentially suitable host plants. T. flavus preferred to oviposit on Cu. sativus with a shorter duration of development (17.8 days) at 25 °C. Therefore, the host plant was an important factor influencing the development and fecundity of T. flavus populations. These results will improve our understanding of the population dynamics of T. flavus and facilitate the development of more scientific and efficient measures to control thrips. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Economic Pest Thrips: Biology, Ecology, and Population Genetics)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

10 pages, 1386 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Sequential and Binomial Sampling Plans to Estimate Thrips tabaci Population Density on Onion

by Lauro Soto-Rojas, Esteban Rodríguez-Leyva, Néstor Bautista-Martínez, Isabel Ruíz-Galván and Daniel García-Palacios

Insects 2021, 12(4), 331; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects12040331 - 8 Apr 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2636

Abstract

Thrips tabaci Lindeman is a worldwide onion pest that causes economic losses of 10–60%, depending on many factors. Population sampling is essential for applying control tactics and preventing damage by the insect. Conventional sampling methods are criticized as time consuming, while fixed-precision binomial [...] Read more.

Thrips tabaci Lindeman is a worldwide onion pest that causes economic losses of 10–60%, depending on many factors. Population sampling is essential for applying control tactics and preventing damage by the insect. Conventional sampling methods are criticized as time consuming, while fixed-precision binomial and sequential sampling plans may allow reliable estimations with a more efficient use of time. The aim of this work was to develop binomial and sequential sampling for fast reliable estimation of T. tabaci density on an onion. Forty-one commercial 1.0-ha onion plots were sampled (sample size n = 200) to characterize the spatial distribution of T. tabaci using Taylor’s power law (a = 2.586 and b = 1.511). Binomial and sequential enumerative sampling plans were then developed with precision levels of 0.10, 0.15 and 0.25. Sampling plans were validated with bootstrap simulations (1000 samples) using 10 independent data sets. Bootstrap simulation indicated that precision was satisfactory for all repetitions of the sequential sampling plan, while binomial sampling met the fixed precision in 80% of cases. Both methods reduced sampling time by around 80% relative to conventional sampling. These precise and less time-consuming sampling methods can contribute to implementation of control tactics within the integrated pest management approach. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Economic Pest Thrips: Biology, Ecology, and Population Genetics)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Research, Other

27 pages, 1149 KiB

Open AccessReview

Host Plant Association and Distribution of the Onion Thrips, Thrips tabaci Cryptic Species Complex

by Roberto Carlos Loredo Varela and József Fail

Insects 2022, 13(3), 298; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects13030298 - 17 Mar 2022

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 7046 | Correction

Abstract

Onion thrips, Thrips tabaci Lindeman, 1889 (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) is a pest of economic importance traditionally treated as a polyphagous, cosmopolitan single species. Recent genetic evidence, however, suggests that it is rather a cryptic species complex of three lineages referred to by their host [...] Read more.

Onion thrips, Thrips tabaci Lindeman, 1889 (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) is a pest of economic importance traditionally treated as a polyphagous, cosmopolitan single species. Recent genetic evidence, however, suggests that it is rather a cryptic species complex of three lineages referred to by their host association and displaying different biological and ecological characteristics: leek-associated 1, leek-associated 2 and tobacco-associated. This study reviews host plant associations and distribution of the lineages of this cryptic species complex and discusses its consequences from an agronomical perspective. Overall, leek-associated 2 lineage has the broadest host range, including major crops from different plant families, and it is the only lineage with a confirmed worldwide distribution. Leek-associated 1 lineage shares some host plants with leek-associated 2. It is often found in Allium crops and its geographic distribution is limited to a few dozen countries. Finally, tobacco-associated lineage has only been collected from tobacco and their associated weeds in central and east Europe, and the Middle East. Additionally, this work presents a list of 391 plant species on which breeding and development of T. tabaci occurs, regardless of lineage. These host plant species belong to 64 different families, most importantly Asteraceae, Fabaceae, Brassicaceae, Poaceae, and Solanaceae. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Economic Pest Thrips: Biology, Ecology, and Population Genetics)

► Show Figures

Graphical abstract

13 pages, 1493 KiB

Open AccessReview

A Review of Franklinothrips vespiformis (Thysanoptera: Aeolothripidae): Life History, Distribution, and Prospects as a Biological Control Agent

by Mubasher Hussain, Zhaohong Wang, Steven P. Arthurs, Jing Gao, Fengxian Ye, Lingling Chen and Runqian Mao

Insects 2022, 13(2), 108; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects13020108 - 18 Jan 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 4480

Abstract

Predatory species comprise a small but important and often overlooked component of the Thysanoptera. A case in point, the ant-mimicking Franklinothrips are widely distributed in the tropics and are considered important generalist natural enemies for thrips and some other small arthropod prey. Franklinothrips [...] Read more.

Predatory species comprise a small but important and often overlooked component of the Thysanoptera. A case in point, the ant-mimicking Franklinothrips are widely distributed in the tropics and are considered important generalist natural enemies for thrips and some other small arthropod prey. Franklinothrips present an addition to biocontrol applications, i.e., greenhouse or commercial application for certain target pests and situations. Current knowledge, including distribution, biological features, life history pa rameters, prey specificity, host plant associations and lass production is yet insufficient to decide to what extent Franklinothrips could contribute for biological control programs. In this review, we summarized the geographical background, morphology, and prey associations, with a focus on F. vespiformis, the most widely distributed species of predatory thrips. This literature review serves as the basis for future research into the use of Franklinothrips as biocontrol agents for economically significant insect and mite pests in China and elsewhere. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Economic Pest Thrips: Biology, Ecology, and Population Genetics)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

17 pages, 1704 KiB

Open AccessReview

Problems with the Concept of “Pest” among the Diversity of Pestiferous Thrips

by Laurence A. Mound, Zhaohong Wang, Élison F. B. Lima and Rita Marullo

Insects 2022, 13(1), 61; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects13010061 - 5 Jan 2022

Cited by 32 | Viewed by 4762

Abstract

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 [...] Read more.

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. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Economic Pest Thrips: Biology, Ecology, and Population Genetics)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

26 pages, 1434 KiB

Open AccessReview

Frontiers Approaches to the Diagnosis of Thrips (Thysanoptera): How Effective Are the Molecular and Electronic Detection Platforms?

by Amalendu Ghosh, Sumit Jangra, Ralf G. Dietzgen and Wen-Bin Yeh

Insects 2021, 12(10), 920; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects12100920 - 9 Oct 2021

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 4497

Abstract

Thrips are insect pests of economically important agricultural, horticultural, and forest crops. They cause damage by sucking plant sap and by transmitting several tospoviruses, ilarviruses, carmoviruses, sobemoviruses, and machlomoviruses. Accurate and timely identification is the key to successful management of thrips species. However, [...] Read more.

Thrips are insect pests of economically important agricultural, horticultural, and forest crops. They cause damage by sucking plant sap and by transmitting several tospoviruses, ilarviruses, carmoviruses, sobemoviruses, and machlomoviruses. Accurate and timely identification is the key to successful management of thrips species. However, their small size, cryptic nature, presence of color and reproductive morphs, and intraspecies genetic variability make the identification of thrips species challenging. The use of molecular and electronic detection platforms has made thrips identification rapid, precise, sensitive, high throughput, and independent of developmental stages. Multi-locus phylogeny based on mitochondrial, nuclear, and other markers has resolved ambiguities in morphologically indistinguishable thrips species. Microsatellite, RFLP, RAPD, AFLP, and CAPS markers have helped to explain population structure, gene flow, and intraspecies heterogeneity. Recent techniques such as LAMP and RPA have been employed for sensitive and on-site identification of thrips. Artificial neural networks and high throughput diagnostics facilitate automated identification. This review also discusses the potential of pyrosequencing, microarrays, high throughput sequencing, and electronic sensors in delimiting thrips species. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Economic Pest Thrips: Biology, Ecology, and Population Genetics)

► Show Figures