Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata (2005) 117, 185-192

Junrui Zhi, Greg K. Fitch, David C. Margolies and James R. Nechols (2005)
Apple pollen as a supplemental food for the western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis: response of individuals and populations
Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata 117 (3), 185-192
Abstract: Experiments were performed to investigate the influence of apple pollen, plant diet, and relative humidity on the individual life-history traits and on the population growth of the western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae). In experiments with individual thrips, availability of bean pods plus a mixture of apple pollen and lycopodium shortened larval development time, and hence time from egg to adult, compared to bean pods alone. Similarly, the total number of eggs laid and the mean number of eggs laid per female per day were greater in the presence of pollen plus bean pods than on bean pods alone. Diet did not affect survival or length of the pre-oviposition and oviposition periods. A diet including bean pods plus pollen shortened the generation time and population-doubling time, and increased the net reproductive rate and the intrinsic rate of increase, compared to bean pods alone. In experiments on populations, growth was measured with different amounts of pollen on bean pods under two relative humidities, ca. 38% and 66%, and separately on two bean substrates, pods or leaves, at ca. 45% r.h. The presence or amount of pollen had no effect on population growth regardless of the other variables. Greater population growth occurred under the higher relative humidity regardless of substrate. Population growth was greater on bean pods than on bean leaves. Despite reports on the nutritional benefit of pollen for F. occidentalis, this benefit may be affected by pollen type, host plant, and other factors. In situations in which pollen has little influence on the growth of F. occidentalis populations, pollen that benefits a thrips predator could be used in an integrated management plan for controlling thrips.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): David C. Margolies, Junrui Zhi

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
general biology - morphology - evolution

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Frankliniella occidentalis	Beans (Phaseolus)