Seasonal abundance of thrips (Thysanoptera) in capsicum and chilli crops in south-east Queensland, Australia.
Bronwyn WalshA,B, John E. MaltbyC, Brendan NolanA,D and Iain KayC
A Agri-Science Queensland, DEEDI, Locked Bag 7, MS 437, Gatton, Queensland 4343, Australia.
B Current address: Agri-Science Queensland, DEEDI, Bentley Mail Delivery Centre, Western Australia 6983, Australia.
C Agri-Science Queensland, DEEDI, 49 Ashfield Road, Bundaberg, Queensland 4670, Australia.
D Current address: Education Queensland, 275 North Street, Toowoomba, Queensland 4350, Australia.
Summary
Thrips can be important pests of capsicum and chilli crops, causing damage through their feeding and by vectoring viral diseases. As different species vary in their ability to transmit viruses and in their susceptibility to insecticides, it is important to know which species are present in a crop. The seasonal occurrence of thrips in capsicum and chilli crops in the Bundaberg district of south-east Queensland was investigated from July 2002 to June 2003.
Fifty flowers were collected weekly from crops on seven farms and the adult thrips extracted and identified. Thrips palmi
Karny and Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) were collected in the greatest numbers, with T. palmi predominant in autumn crops (March to July) and F. occidentalis predominant in spring crops (August to November). Pseudanaphothrips achaetus (Bagnall) was common, while Thrips tabaci Lindeman, Thrips imaginis Bagnall and Frankliniella schultzei (Trybom) were collected in low numbers.
Plant Protection Quarterly (2012) 27 (1) 19-22.