The species composition and seasonal dynamics of thrips (thysanoptera) populations on maize (Zea mays L.) in Southeastern Poland

Abstract

Thrips species composition and seasonal abundance was studied on maize crops during two seasons (2006-2007), in southeastern Poland. Altogether 21 species have been identified, among them Frankliniella tenuicornis (Uzel 1895) and Haplothrips aculeatus (Fabricius 1803) which are a graminicolous species and were eudominants, comprising 96.8% in 2006 and 82.0% in 2007 of all collected specimens. Other species occurred only in low numbers. The frequent and numerous presence of F. tenuicornis species in their immature stages in the samples, confirmed the role of the maize plant as the host. H. aculeatus probably chose maize as a food source and substitute plant for breeding.