Thrips (Thysanoptera) species associated with mango trees in South Africa.
Grové T., Giliomee J. H., Pringle K. L.
Author Affiliation: ARC, Institute for Tropical and Subtropical Crops, Private Bag X11208, Nelspruit 1200, South Africa.
African Entomology 9 : 153-162
Abstract : Thrips (Thysanoptera) were collected on mango trees (Mangifera indica) from 1992 to 1996 in the main mango production areas in South Africa to identify the complex of species associated with this crop and to monitor their abundance. Different monitoring techniques were used, which included sampling of flowers, fruit and leaves and the use of both yellow card and dispersal/emergence trapping methods. Fifteen thrips species were recorded, eleven belonging to the family Thripidae and four to the family Phlaeothripidae. The citrus thrips, Scirtothrips aurantii, and the red-banded thrips, Selenothrips rubrocinctus, were the only two species that caused lesions on the fruit. Numbers of Selenothrips rubrocinctus were usually low in mango orchards and did not seem to be of economic importance. By contrast, Scirtothrips aurantii was abundant on new growth, causing stunting of growth and leaf malformation. Aleurodothrips fasciapennis and Haplothrips bedfordi were the only predatory thrips recorded. The western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis, was collected from mango flowers in the Letsitele area. Thrips acaciae, Thrips tenellus and Scirtothrips aurantii were the most abundant species in the flowers.