Horticulture/Frankliniella occidentalis

Western Flower Thrips Insect Frankliniella occidentalis Thysanoptera ../Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus/ The Western Flower Thrips is a major agricultural and garden pest, affecting hundreds of cultivated and weedy species. Aside from damage due to feeding, its ability to act as a vector for viruses makes it particularly problematic. Description Very small, oblong insects. Symptoms and Signs Puncture holes, silvering, yellowing, or browning of plant parts, eventually leaves and flower parts die off and drop. Ecology Host plants ../Allium/ (Onion) ../Arctium/ (Burdock) ../Asclepias/ (Butterfly weed) ../Capsicum/ (Pepper) ../Chrysanthemum/ ../Citrullus/ (Watermelon) ../Cousinia/ (Burdock) ../Cucumis/ (Cucumber, Melon) ../Datura/ (Jimsonweed) ../Dendranthema/ (Hardy Mum) ../Dianthus/ (Carnation) ../Fragaria/ (Strawberry) ../Hemerocallis/ (Daylily) ../Jasminum/ (Jasmine) ../Lactuca/ (Lettuce) ../Lycopersicon/ (Tomato) ../Malus/ (Apple) ../Malva/ (Mallow) ../Phaseolus/ (Bean) ../Polianthes/ (Tuberose) ../Prunus/ (Stone Fruits) ../Ranunculus/ (Buttercup) ../Rosa/ (Rose) ../Solanum/ (Nightshade) ../Verbena/ Crops attacked by this pest include beans, burdock (gobo), capsicum, cucumber, eggplant, lettuce, onion, tomatoes and watermelon. Ornamental crops include carnation, chrysanthemum, orchids, pikake, rose and tuberose. Refer to Yudin et al., (1986) for a listing of hosts in the vegetable-growing region of Kula, Maui. Control Interrows of non-host species, row covers Bugs including ../Orius tristicolor/ (Minute Pirate Bug), ../Orius persequens/, ../Orius insidiosus/, and ../Paratriphleps laevisculus/, predatory thrips including ../Franklinothrips vespiformi/, lacewings including ../Chrysoperla carnea/ References Hawaii Extension Service