Life tables for experimental populations ofFrankliniella occidentalison 6 vegetable host plants

Abstract

Western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) , has become one of the most important agricultural pests worldwide,because of its extensive host range, reproductive capacity, invasion potential, plant viruses transmition ability and insecticide resistance. All of these interrelating factors are related to the basic life cycle and life history of the species, making western flower thrips the significant, difficult pest to manage. More than 500 kinds of host plants of western flower thrips have been reported. Notably, more and more serious damage to vegetables by F. occidentalis has been observed in recent years and the levels of damages were different with vegetable species. In order to know the differences and offer basis data for control, the life tables for experimental populations of F. occidentalis were established at constant temperature of 25 益 , relative humidity of 70% and photoperiod of 16L 颐8D, on cucumber, lettuce, eggplant, cabbage, celery and garlic leaves, respectively. The results showed that the thrip could develop and reproduce on all tested host plants, and there were significantly differences in the developmental periods, survival rates and fecundities on the 6 vegetable hosts. The shortest time for F. occidentalis to complete one generation was 11. 43 days on cucumber, and the longest was 16. 11 days on celery. The survival rates of F. occidentalis at different stages were different on different host