Journal of Applied Entomology - Zeitschrift für angewandte Entomologie (2002) 126, 343-348

P.N. Deligeorgidis, C.G. Athanassiou and N.G. Kavallieratos (2002)
Seasonal abundance, spatial distribution and sampling indices of thrip populations on cotton; a 4-year survey from central Greece
Journal of Applied Entomology - Zeitschrift für angewandte Entomologie 126 (7-8), 343-348
Abstract: Field studies were carried out in order to assess the populations of thrips on cotton leaves, by developing a sampling program to estimate the density with an acceptable level of precision. Thus, in a cotton field (1.1 ha) in central Greece, 45 leaves were collected (one leaf per cotton plant) at 10-day intervals from May to September, for four consecutive growing seasons (1995-98). Five species of thrips were found: Frankliniella intonsa was the most abundant species followed by Thrips angusticeps, Thrips tabaci, Frankliniella occidentalis and Aeolothrips intermedius. Although considerable differences were observed in the population fluctuations among species, the highest population densities, for all species found, were recorded in July and August. As indicated by Taylor's power law estimates, all species presented aggregated distribution among sampling units. As this type of spatial pattern indicates, the accuracy obtained in estimating mean population density increased with the increase of the mean. Furthermore, the increase of the mean caused an exponential decrease in sample size. However, the precision level is acceptable only in high mean values, while at the same time the benefit from an increase in sample size is of no practical value.
(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): Nickolas G. Kavallieratos

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
surveys/sampling/distribution
population dynamics/ epidemiology
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
surveys/distribution/isolation
population dynamics/epizootiology

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Frankliniella occidentalis	Cotton (Gossypium)	Greece
	Thrips tabaci	Cotton (Gossypium)	Greece
	Thrips angusticeps	Cotton (Gossypium)	Greece
	Frankliniella intonsa	Cotton (Gossypium)	Greece
Aeolothrips intermedius (predator)			Greece