Species Composition of Thrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) in Strawberry High Tunnels in Denmark

Thrips are a major pest in protected strawberry production. Knowledge of thrips species composition could be instrumental for improved thrips management, but very little is known about which species are present in strawberries grown in high-tunnels in Denmark. Thrips (adults and larvae) were sampled...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Helene Nielsen, Lene Sigsgaard, Sverre Kobro, Nauja L. Jensen, Stine K. Jacobsen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2021-03-01
Series:Insects
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/12/3/208
Description
Summary:Thrips are a major pest in protected strawberry production. Knowledge of thrips species composition could be instrumental for improved thrips management, but very little is known about which species are present in strawberries grown in high-tunnels in Denmark. Thrips (adults and larvae) were sampled in two strawberry tunnels of the cultivars Murano and Furore from May to August 2018, in the middle and in the edges of the tunnels. The most abundant thrips species found in the tunnels were <i>Frankliniella intonsa</i> and <i>Thrips tabaci</i> adults. <i>Frankliniella intonsa</i> were also the most frequently found species of the immatures sampled, followed by <i>T. tabaci</i> larvae, and other species. The number of thrips differed between the two cultivars, sampling times and location in the tunnel. <i>Frankliniella intonsa</i> was more abundant in the middle of the tunnels, while <i>T. tabaci</i> was more abundant in the edge of the tunnels adjacent to the field margins. The number of thrips peaked by the end of July. Both chemical and biological control should consider species composition and occurrence; hence, a fundamental first step for thrips management is to identify the species present on the target crop.
ISSN:2075-4450