Treesearch

A standardized method of extracting pear thrips from forest soils, modified from a procedure of Walter et al. (1987) was developed.

This poster is a representation of a key which could be adapted in a computer program for easy and quick identification of the genera of the Tubulifera (Fig. 1); (Chiasson 1985).

The entomology program in ornamental floriculture at the University of Georgia places primary emphasis on commercial production of flowering and foliage plants under greenhouse conditions. Thrips management is a major part of that program. Several species of foliage and flower inhabiting species are pests on greenhouse crops. The western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande), has become the most important pest of the thrips complex during this decade. Other thrips species have also become more difficult to control or occur more frequently on greenhouse crops in different...

Thrips populations and injury attributed to their feeding on nectarine and peach fruit surfaces were monitored in sprayed and unsprayed orchards in central Georgia from 1983-1988. Frankliniella tritici (Fitch), the eastern flower thrips; F. occidentalis (Pergande), the western flower thrips; and Neohydatothrips ( = Sericothrips) variabilis (Beach), the soybean thrips; were the most abundant of the 31 thrips species recovered from the orchards. Their relative abundance changed each year. The western flower thrips appears to be most damaging in causing russeting on nectarine surfaces....

The western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande), has recently become one of the most serious pest problems facing the ornamental industry (Robb & Parrella 1988). It is polyphagous and has been collected from plants of almost every order of the Spermatophyta in California (Watson 1923, Bailey 1933, Bryan & Smith 1956). However, western flower thrips probably has a greater impact on ornamental crops than any other crop. It attacks essentially all floricultural crops and also transmits the tomato spotted wilt virus to numerous ornamental plants (Best 1968).

Basswood (Tilia americana L.) stands in the Lake States have been experiencing defoliation since around 1979. These symptoms were originally attributed to frost damage because they occur in early spring. However, the pattern of damaged trees was atypical of frost injury. Only basswood trees were affected, and there was no relationship to sites known to be frost pockets.

The feasibility of using aerial application as a means of managing a pear thrips infestation in maple forest stands is examined, based on existing knowledge of forest aerial application acquired from theoretical and empirical studies. Specific strategies by which aerial application should be performed and potential problem areas are discussed. Two new tools, aircraft characterization equipment and an aerial spray program mission planning computer software package are briefly described as examples of technology transfer which have been used to improve aerial applications in forests.

Herbivory by Thrips tabaci (Lindeman) affects both the bulb yield and phytohormone balance in its major host plant, the onion (Alium cepa L.). Seasonal changes in the susceptibility of onion yield to T. tabaci feeding were examined during the three growth stages of onion; prebulbing, bulbing and sizing (Kendall & Capinera 1987). The prebulbing stage is characterized by rapid leaf initiation. Increased bulb size and decreased leaf initiation occurs during bulbing. Further bulb growth and collapse of the leaf bundle characterizes the sizing stage.

Although it is a pleasure to be here, our primary reason for being here is far from pleasant. During the last ten years, we have had serious problems with the gypsy moth, western spruce budworm, southern pine beetle, mountain pine beetle, fusiform rust and root diseases and the worst spruce budworm epidemic ever recorded. Just when these outbreaks have largely subsided, a new pest rears its ugly head in our Nation's forests.

This study evaluates the potential of measuring, mapping and monitoring sugar maple damage caused by pear thrips in southern Vermont and northwestern Massachusetts using satellite imagery data. Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) data were obtained during a major thrips infestation in June 1988, and were compared with satellite data acquired during June 1984 (before pear thrips were a major problem in the area).