Effect of temperature on development and reproduction of the onion thrips, thrips tabaci lindeman (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), on pollen and honey solution

Abstract

The effects of five constant temperatures (15°C, 20°C, 23°C, 25°C and 30°C) under 16L8D photoperiod on development, reproduction and population growth of Thrips tabaci reared on a diet of pollen and honey solution were studied. Although hatchability was more than 80% at temperatures between 15 and 25°C, it was low at 30°C. Survival rates from hatch to adult were higher than 65% at all temperatures. Developmental rates increased linearly as rearing temperature increased. It was estimated that 232.6 degree-days, above a developmental zero of 10.8°C, were required to complete development from egg to adult oviposition. These data were related to records of field temperatures in Kurashiki, western Japan, to estimate the potential number of generations per year that could complete development under outdoor conditions. Using this data, a maximum of between seven and 11 generations could have developed annually between 1990 and 1998. Mean adult longevity decreased with increasing temperature, from a maximum of 86.6 days at 15°C to a minimum of 12.8 days at 30°C. The mean fecundity on pollen and honey solution was the highest at 23°C and 270 eggs per female. The intrinsic rate of natural increase (rm) was highest at 25°C and 0.1709.