Thrips (Thysanoptera) Species, Their Occurrence and Seasonal Abundance on Developing Buds and Flowers of Florida Citrus

Abstract

Citrus groves in Florida were sampled during 1986 - 1990 to determine the distribution and abundance of the thrips species complex infesting closed buds and open flowers of citrus. Frankliniella bispinosa (Morgan) was the dominant species accounting for 92% of collected specimens from Dade to Volusia Counties. Frankliniella kelliae Sakimura was the second most abundant species comprising 7% of specimens collected. This species was not found north of a line between Manatee and Martin Counties. Low populations of 11 other thrips species were found. They appear to have no potential as pests of citrus flower buds or bloom. They included the phytophagous species: F. cephalica (Crawford), F. tritici (Fitch), F. insularis (Franklin), F. williamsi Hood, Thrips hawaiiensis (Morgan), Pseudothrips inequalis (Beach) and Haplothrips gowdeyi (Franklin). Predaceous thrips collected included: Scolothrips pallidus (Beach), Aeolothrips vittipennis Hood, Karnyothrips merrilli (Watson) and Leptothrips mali (Fitch).