Growers in the Midwest have assumed that bronzed strawberries are a result of feeding by two species of thrips, (Frankliniella occidentalis and F. tritici). Based on this assumption, strawberry growers now apply insecticides to their fields early in the season to control thrips. In 2000 and 2001, F. tritici was collected from three fields in Iowa, but no bronzed fruit was observed in any field. Greenhouse experiments demonstrated that thrips (5-25 per flower) are beneficial for developing fruit (increased pollination) rather than detrimental to fruit development.
Species 1: Thysanoptera Thripidae Frankliniella tritici (eastern flower thrips)
Keywords: Frankliniella tritici, strawberries
The ESA 2001 Annual Meeting - 2001: An Entomological Odyssey of ESA