Seasonal Abundance of Thrips (Thysanoptera: Suborders Terebrantia and Tubulifera) in Georgia Flue-Cured Tobacco and Impact of Management Practices on the Incidence of Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus

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Abstract
Flue-cured tobacco plant beds and fields were surveyed from 1989–91 to determine the seasonal abundance and species composition of thrips in Georgia. A total of 43 species were collected from tobacco foliage and blooms. Five species were commonly encountered all three years and accounted for over 95% of all thrips collected. These included Frankliniella fusca (Hinds), F. occidentalis (Pergande), F. tritici (Fitch), F. bispinosa (Morgan) and Limothrips cerealium (Haliday). Frankliniella fusca and F. occidentalis are known vectors of tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV), a serious threat to Georgia's flue-cured tobacco production. Thrips population densities in plant beds rose steadily from the time covers were removed until all plants were pulled or mowed down. Field populations of thrips peaked on foliage just prior to the initiation of flowering and rapidly declined after flowering. Flower thrips were present as soon as flowers opened and peaked about one week later. Thrips population densities and the resultant incidence of TSWV were reduced with a combination of transplant treatment of either aldicarb or carbofuran and six weekly foliar sprays of acephate. Insecticide treatments applied only at transplanting were ineffective in reducing TSWV.

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