WINTER SURVEY OF THRIPS (THYSANOPTERA: THRIPIDAE) FROM CERTAIN SUSPECTED AND CONFIRMED HOSTS OF TOMATO SPOTTED WILT VIRUS IN SOUTH TEXAS

Abstract

A survey of peanut fields for thrips on selected and confirmed hosts of the tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) was conducted from November 24, 1986 to April 6, 1987. Berlese separators were utilized to extract thrips from plant samples. The only known thrips vector of TSWV collected during this study was Frankliniella occidentalis. Adult and immature forms of F. occidentalis were common on several weed hosts throughout the winter months. Twelve additional species of thrips were collected during the course of this study.