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Title: THYSANOPTERA COLLECTED DURING BLOOM ON COLORED DISPOSABLE STICKY CARDS IN FLORIDA CITRUS GROVES

Author
item CHILDERS, CARL - UNIV. OF FL, LAKE ALFRED
item Nakahara, Sueo
item BESHEAR, RAMONIA - UNIV. OF FL, LAKE ALFRED

Submitted to: Journal of Entomological Sciences
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/4/1996
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: The Thysanoptera, commonly known as thrips, was not considered to be a pest of citrus in Florida until recent studies found damage to citrus blossoms and buds and correlated reduction in fruit set caused primarily by one species. Eighty-six species were found in several studies of citrus groves in which the thrips were collected in citrus blossoms and buds, collected on emergence cards and trapped by using sticky cards with different colors. Thirty-seven species feed in blossoms or on foliage of plants of which six were collected from citrus blossoms. Seventeen species prey on thrips and other arthropods. This is the first comprehensive study elucidating the diversity and composition of thrips in citrus groves in Florida and provides useful information to researchers, extension agents and commercial advisors to citrus growers in citrus pest management programs.

Technical Abstract: Between 1990 through 1993, 86 species of thrips were identified from disposable colored sticky traps in navel orange groves in Polk and Osceola counties in central Florida and Hendry and Lee counties in southwest Florida. Seventy-five species were identified from Hendry and Lee counties and 46 species from Polk and Osceola counties. Only 34 species were common to both areas. Thirty-seven species are polyphagous of which 12 feed on plants of the Graminae, 17 species are predators, and 28 species are fungivorous or saprophytic. Franklinlinella bispanosa (Morgan) was the predominant species in all years consisting of 65-98% of the identified specimens. Other species found in lesser frequencies of 1% or greater include Adraneothrips pallidus (Watson) (1-4%), Arorathrips spiniceps (Hood) (2 or 3%), F. insularis (Franklin) (10%), F. kelliae Sakimura (34%), Gastrothrips callipus Hood (3%), Hoplandrothrips raptor (Crawford) (4%), Leptothrips cassiae Watson (1%), L. macroocellatus Watson (2%), Microcephalothrips abdominalis (Crawford) (1%) and Neurothrips magnafemoralis (Hinds) (1%).