FRANKLINIELLA OCCIDENTALIS, F. SCHULTZEI AND F. FUSCA (THYSANOPTERA:THRIPIDAE) IN PUERTO RICO

摘要

Frankliniella Karny (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) is a large genus of about 180 species. Species of Frankliniella tend to be polyphagous pests of ornamental crops, fruits and vegetables. Feeding by these thrips can result in distortion, discoloration, stunting, and silvering of foliage, flowers and fruits (Chaput and Schooley, 1998; Childers, 1997; Agricultural Experiment Station, 1999; Medina, 1961). Direct feeding damage and pathogen transmission by thrips cost growers billions of dollars worldwide incontrol measures besides in production losses (Ullman et al., 1997). An even greater concern with some Frankliniella species is their ability to transmit viruses in the genus Tospovirus (Bunyaviridae) to a wide variety of plants (Sether and Deangelis, 1992; Ullman et al., 1997).