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

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 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.

Keywords: Thrips flavus; development; host plant; life table; population growth.

Figure 1

Developmental durations of Thrips flavus fed on different plants. Different letters indicate significant differences among different treatments at the 0.05 level.

Figure 2

Age stage-specific survival rate (s_xj) of Thrips flavus on different plants.

Figure 3

Age-specific survival rate (l_x), age-specific fecundity (m_x), and age-specific maternity (l_xm_x) of Thrips flavus on different plants.

Figure 4

Life expectancy (e_xj) of each age-stage group of Thrips flavus on different plants.

Figure 5

Reproductive value (v_xj) of each age-stage group of Thrips flavus on different plants.