Search results
Results from the WOW.Com Content Network
The western flower thrips [Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande)] is an invasive pest insect in agriculture. This species of thrips is native to the Southwestern United States [1] but has spread to other continents, including Europe, Australia (where it was identified in May 1993 [1]), and South America via transport of infested plant material.
However, some thrips, including rose thrips, onion thrips, and western flower thrips, damage plants. They can weaken vegetables and flowers and even spread plant diseases . What Do Thrips Look Like?
The western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis, has spread until it now has a worldwide distribution, and is the primary vector of plant diseases caused by tospoviruses. [86] Other viruses that they spread include the genera Ilarvirus, (Alpha |Beta |Gamma)carmovirus, Sobemovirus and Machlomovirus. [87]
They are sites where a female has oviposited into developing flower buds or fruitlets. Despite the cosmetic damage suffered by these light skinned apple cultivars they are seemingly unaffected by most thrip vectored viruses. Infested apples of the mountain west simply provide a natural setting for Western Flower Thrips to thrive and reproduce.
In order to protect their eggs, thrips insert their eggs into various types of plant tissue. Eggs can be found in the stems, leaves, or flowers of plants. [8] Thrips hatch in 2–3 days and complete their life cycle in 20–30 days. [2] Adult thrips feed on the flower bud, stem and leaf parts of the plant. [8]
Both adults and larvae of the common blossom thrips feed on flowers and pollen. The flowers are damaged causing discolouration, distortion and stunting, and may die. Secondary damage is caused by the viruses that can be transmitted between plants. [1] The insect can be a vector of tomato spotted wilt virus, which causes a serious disease of ...
Flower thrips can be agricultural pests in either two species of thrips in the genus Frankliniella: F. tritici , Eastern flower thrips F. occidentalis , Western flower thrips
Dicyphus hesperus has also been tested as a biological control for the western flower thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis) on tomatoes. It was effective at reducing the number of thrips but when the ratio of predator to prey was too high (>1:10), some damage was caused to the tomato fruits by D. hesperus. [7]