Crops
Thrips
Thrips ( Thrips ), which belong to the order Thysanoptera and the family Thripidae , are globally distributed, occurring from tropical regions to polar regions depending on the species. Several of them attack vegetable crops, in particular the tobacco thrips ( Thrips tabaci Lindeman) and the Californian thrips ( Frankliniella occidentalis Pergande (figure 1). The former has been rampant for many years in Europe and therefore in France. It was gradually supplanted by the second which caused significant damage on many productions, in particular in greenhouses, since the beginning of the 1980s (cucumber, pepper, melon, eggplant, chrysanthemum, rosebush ). These two thrips can attack the tomato. Let us point out that they are vectors of several formidable viruses, in particular the Tomato spotted wilt virus . Other species of thrips attack the tomato, Thrips palmi Karny, Heliothrips haemorrhoidalis (Bouché), Frankliniella spp . , etc.
- Nature of damage
Silver lesions, irregular in size and shape, appear on the limbus; they gradually necrotize and take on a beige tint (Figures 2 to 4). These lesions are also strewn with tiny black dots materializing the droppings of thrips . Affected leaflets tend to chlorinate and take on a dull color. Flower falls may take place. oviposition sites F. occidentalis on young fruits, appearing as brown punctate lesions, are surrounded by a large whitish subepidermal ring (Figure 5). Sometimes the more or less deformed fruits show linear corky lesions.
- Biology
The development of thrips comprises 6 stages (figure 6): egg, two larval stages, two pronymph stages and adult (figure 6). The length of the cycle varies depending on the temperature and the host plant; for example, for F . occidentalis it fluctuates from 34 days at 15 ° C to 13 days at 30 ° C.
- Forms of conservation and / or alternative hosts : it is the larvae and adults, taking refuge in places with mild temperatures, which ensure the sustainability of these insects. For that, they settle in the plant debris, the frames of the shelters ; they sometimes bury themselves up to 8 centimeters deep. They can also hibernate on field crops, especially on various Alliums.
- Stages of development : the kidney-shaped eggs (figure 6-1) (figure 7) are deposited on the aerial organs, especially the leaves on tomato. Once formed, the larvae (Figure 6-2 and 3) (Figure 8), which are very mobile, will feed on the underside of the leaves. At the end of the second larval instar (Figure 6-3), they drop to the ground and pupate. The first pronymph stage (Figure 6-4) is characterized by the appearance of wing outlines. The second, clearer, pronymphal stage (Figure 6-5) also shows larger wing outlines and long antennae curving towards the rear of the body. Adults (Figure 6-6) have 2 pairs of well-developed wings.
T. tabaci and F. occidentalis (Figure 9) are morphologically quite comparable. Only an observation of adults using a microscope can differentiate them. Their reproduction may be different depending on the species. It is asexual in T. tabaci, unfertilized females giving birth only to females (parthenogenesis). In F. occidentalis , it can be sexual or asexual, unfertilized females giving birth only to males while those which are fertilized give birth to females.
Thrips feed by sucking the contents of cells in the epidermis. Damaged tissue quickly necroses.
- Dispersion in crops : thrips are fairly easily dispersed in crops, passively carried away by drafts and / or actively flying. Workers can contribute to it during cropping operations. These insects can be dispersed by plants or plants of other parasitized species.
- Favorable development conditions : the nature of the plant, the temperature, the hygrometry in the crop, notably influence the development of thrips.
- Forms of conservation and / or alternative hosts : it is the larvae and adults, taking refuge in places with mild temperatures, which ensure the sustainability of these insects. For that, they settle in the plant debris, the frames of the shelters ; they sometimes bury themselves up to 8 centimeters deep. They can also hibernate on field crops, especially on various Alliums.
- Stages of development : the kidney-shaped eggs (figure 6-1) (figure 7) are deposited on the aerial organs, especially the leaves on tomato. Once formed, the larvae (Figure 6-2 and 3) (Figure 8), which are very mobile, will feed on the underside of the leaves. At the end of the second larval instar (Figure 6-3), they drop to the ground and pupate. The first pronymph stage (Figure 6-4) is characterized by the appearance of wing outlines. The second, clearer, pronymphal stage (Figure 6-5) also shows larger wing outlines and long antennae curving towards the rear of the body. Adults (Figure 6-6) have 2 pairs of well-developed wings.
T. tabaci and F. occidentalis (Figure 9) are morphologically quite comparable. Only an observation of adults using a microscope can differentiate them. Their reproduction may be different depending on the species. It is asexual in T. tabaci, unfertilized females giving birth only to females (parthenogenesis). In F. occidentalis , it can be sexual or asexual, unfertilized females giving birth only to males while those which are fertilized give birth to females.
Thrips feed by sucking the contents of cells in the epidermis. Damaged tissue quickly necroses.
- Dispersion in crops : thrips are fairly easily dispersed in crops, passively carried away by drafts and / or actively flying. Workers can contribute to it during cropping operations. These insects can be dispersed by plants or plants of other parasitized species.
- Favorable development conditions : the nature of the plant, the temperature, the hygrometry in the crop, notably influence the development of thrips.
- Protection methods
Several protection methods are recommended to control the development of thrips on tomatoes in France:
- treat the plants before uprooting in the presence of high populations of pests;
- remove and destroy plant debris and crop residues;
- disinfect the substrate reused or the soil;
- preheat the greenhouse before planting the plants and carry out an insecticide or acaricide treatment ( link e-phy ) *;
- check the sanitary quality of the plants before and during their introduction into the shelter;
- produce the plants in an shelter insect-proof ;
- install canvases insect-proof at shelter openings;
- weed the greenhouse and its surroundings;
- detect the first pests thanks to the yellow sticky panels placed above the crop as soon as the plants are introduced;
- detect the first pests thanks to the blue sticky panels placed above the crop;
- use the auxiliary Macrolophus caliginosus , an insect with secondary efficacy;
- consider chemical protection (r) ( e-phy site ) *, in particular if you use auxiliaries.
(r): resistance to insecticides or acaricides is known in these pests.
- treat the plants before uprooting in the presence of high populations of pests;
- remove and destroy plant debris and crop residues;
- disinfect the substrate reused or the soil;
- preheat the greenhouse before planting the plants and carry out an insecticide or acaricide treatment ( link e-phy ) *;
- check the sanitary quality of the plants before and during their introduction into the shelter;
- produce the plants in an shelter insect-proof ;
- install canvases insect-proof at shelter openings;
- weed the greenhouse and its surroundings;
- detect the first pests thanks to the yellow sticky panels placed above the crop as soon as the plants are introduced;
- detect the first pests thanks to the blue sticky panels placed above the crop;
- use the auxiliary Macrolophus caliginosus , an insect with secondary efficacy;
- consider chemical protection (r) ( e-phy site ) *, in particular if you use auxiliaries.
(r): resistance to insecticides or acaricides is known in these pests.
* Chemical control : As the number of pesticides available for a given use is constantly changing, we advise you to always confirm your choice by consulting the e-phy site of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries which is an online catalog of plant protection products and their uses, fertilizers and growing media approved in France. This also applies to all biological products based on microorganisms or natural substances.
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
Figure 4
Figure 5
Figure 6
Figure 7
Figure 8
Figure 9
Figure 10