Biodiversity of thrips species (Thysanoptera) on flowering herbs in Cracow, Poland

Abstract

Thrips specimens were collected from 2004 to 2006 from the Herb Collection of the Faculty of Horticulture, the Agricultural University in Cracow, Poland and from 2006 to 2008 from the Botanical Garden in Cracow, Poland. We collected 16,058 adult thrips belonging to 22 Thysanoptera taxa from the flowers and inflorescences of 37 species of herbs from both of the collections. Thrips species composition infesting the flowers and inflorescences of herbs were very similar and not dependent on the plant species and the area of research. Only the participation of particular species differed. The prevailing polyphagous species connected with flowers were: Thrips fuscipennis, Thrips flavus, Frankliniella intonsa, Thrips albopilosus and Thrips major. Also, a high number of Thrips tabaci and random species connected with grass as well as predatory species Aeolothrips were found. The flowers of Salvia officinalis, Lavandula angustifolia, Nepeta cataria and Arnica montana were the most numerously infested by adult thrips.