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Overwintering of the western flower thrips in outdoor strawberry crops

Kirk

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Authors

Kirk



Abstract

The western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), is a major pest of semi-protected strawberry crops in the UK. These crops are grown outdoors but sheltered by clear polythene tunnels during the growing season from about April to October. The aims of the study were (1) to test whether F. occidentalis overwinters in strawberry crops in central England, where overwintering in outdoor crops has not previously been demonstrated and (2) to test whether overwintering affects the thrips population during the following season. F. occidentalis was found breeding on several crop weeds that often flower throughout the year, including common chickweed (Stellaria media), groundsel (Senecio vulgaris) and dandelion (Taraxacum officinale). F. occidentalis female adults were found throughout the winter in flowers of these weeds and caught every month on blue sticky traps. Transparent emergence traps placed over various locations in a second-year crop in March caught adult thrips over the following month, showing that thrips survived within the crop. Second-year strawberry crops had earlier infestations and significantly more F. occidentalis adults per flower than nearby first-year crops at the start of the season, indicating that thrips that overwinter in and around retained crops contribute to pest build-up in the following season. Control of overwintering F. occidentalis after the end of first-year cropping before second-year cropping, or growing crops for only 1 year, is a potential strategy to improve thrips management in strawberry. The survival of F. occidentalis over winter on outdoor crops raises concerns that the species could in time become established on other outdoor crops.

Acceptance Date Sep 26, 2019
Publication Date Oct 4, 2019
Publicly Available Date Mar 29, 2024
Journal Journal of Pest Science
Print ISSN 1612-4758
Publisher Springer Verlag
DOI https://doi.org/10.1007/s10340-019-01163-z
Keywords Frankliniella occidentalis · Thrips major · Mortality · Integrated pest management
Publisher URL https://doi.org/10.1007/s10340-019-01163-z

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