Identification and biology of Frankliniella schultzei (Trybom): an approach towards developing an IPM program

Of the devastating genus Frankliniella, F. schultzei (Trybom) is an emerging pest of various economically important vegetable crops in south Florida. F. schultzei manifests both pale and dark forms of body, with the later form distributed mainly south of the Equator; Africa, India, western Pacific-Australia, Caribbean shore in Colombia to south of Argentina and now in N. America. There have been reports in the past indicating its presence in some ornamental flowers but was not considered as a serious threat until recent when it was found to be infesting cucumber fields in large number in south Florida. Infestation by these darker forms of F. schultzei makes it difficult to distinguish them from Frankliniella fusca and other thrips, bringing in the need to identify them correctly. In addition, spatial and within plant distribution were studied to develop management practices of this thrips causing damage either due to its feeding behavior or TSWV transmission.