African Entomology (2001) 9, 153-162

T. Grové, J.H. Giliomee and K.L. Pringle (2001)
Thrips (Thysanoptera) species associated with mango trees in South Africa
African Entomology 9 (2), 153-162
Abstract: Thrips (Thysanoptera) were collected on mango trees (Mangifera indica L. (Anacardiaceae)) from 1992–1996 in the main mango production areas in South Africa to identify the complex of species associated with this crop and to monitor their abundance. Different monitoring techniques were used, which included sampling of flowers, fruit and leaves and the use of both yellow card and dispersal/emergence trapping methods. Fifteen thrips species were recorded, eleven belonging to the family Thripidae and four to the family Phlaeothripidae. The citrus thrips, Scirtothrips aurantii Faure, and the red-banded thrips, Selenothrips rubrocinctus (Giard), were the only two species that caused lesions on the fruit. Numbers of S. rubrocinctus were usually low in mango orchards and did not seem to be of economic importance. By contrast, Scirtothrips aurantii was abundant on new growth, causing stunting of growth and leaf malformation. Aleurodothrips fasciapennis (Franklin) and Haplothrips bedfordi Jacot-Guillarmod were the only predatory thrips recorded. The western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande), was collected from mango flowers in the Letsitele area, while Thrips acaciae Trybom, Thrips tenellus Trybom and S. aurantii were the most abundant species in the flowers.
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Database assignments for author(s): Jan H. Giliomee, Tertia Grové, Ken L. Pringle

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
surveys/sampling/distribution
damage/losses/economics
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
surveys/distribution/isolation

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Frankliniella occidentalis	Mango (Mangifera indica)
	Selenothrips rubrocinctus	Mango (Mangifera indica)	South Africa
	Scirtothrips aurantii	Mango (Mangifera indica)	South Africa
Aleurodothrips fasciapennis (predator)			South Africa