Education and Training to Increase Adoption of IPM for Western Flower Thrips, Frankliniella Occidentalis (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) (Integrated Pest Management) (Report‪)‬

The development of sustainable approaches for managing western flower thrips (WFT), Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), and the tospoviruses they vector, requires accurate species identification and understanding of the behavior and ecology of thrips (Funderburk 2002). WFT is the most efficient vector of tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV). Although WFT is a common species in Florida and the U.S., specimens can be confused with other species in the field, partly due to the wide variation of color morphs. As Florida and the U.S. are constantly at risk from the potential introduction of non-indigenous species and limited taxonomic information is available for thrips, correct identification is a key component of any integrated pest management (IPM) program. Knowledge of the geographic distribution and movement of thrips can be used to prevent outbreaks and minimize damage to crops. Due to trade and travel routes, storm patterns, and climate, Florida is highly suitable to establishment of exotic thrips. Many of the non-indigenous thrips detected in Florida within the last 20 years have become important pest species (Edwards 1995; Edwards 1996; Edwards 2000; Hamon & Edwards 1994). Of the 275 known species of thrips from Florida, 55 are not believed to be indigenous to North America (Diffie et al. 2008). Additionally, 10 non-indigenous species have been reported in Georgia but have not yet been detected in Florida. Unfortunately, the number of species occurring in Florida and North America is not completely known or described in the literature due to limited faunistic studies (Diffie et al. 2008).