Survey of thrips and predators collected from commercial snap bean fields in south Florida

Monday, November 14, 2022

11:54 AM – 12:06 PM PT

Location: Vancouver Convention Centre, Meeting Room 109

Presenting Author(s)

CI

Cleveland B. Ivey

Graduate Research Assistant
University of Florida
Wimauma, Florida

Co-Author(s)

PH

Philip G. Hahn

Assistant Professor
University of Florida
Gainesville, Florida
Hugh A. Smith

University of Florida
Wimauma, Florida

Thrips, mainly Megalurothrips usitatus (Bagnall), an invasive confirmed in Florida in early 2020, and Thrips palmi are economically important pests of snap beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) grown in the southern part of Florida. To determine seasonal abundance and distribution, surveys were conducted in five commercial snap bean fields from fall 2021 to spring 2022 in the Homestead agricultural area of south Florida. Each week from crop establishment till harvest, five plant samples were collected in a transect and processed in the laboratory. Vegetative, flowering, and fruiting (pods) plant parts were collected separately to determine the relative abundance of thrips species in distinct plant parts and phenological stages. The average numbers of thrips by species and sex were calculated. Additionally, predators were identified to order.