Relative abundance and temporal distribution of adult Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) and Frankliniella schultzei (Trybom) on French bean, lettuce, tomato and zucchini crops in relation to crop age

© 2017 Field studies assessed the differences in temporal distribution and abundance of Frankliniella occidentalis and F. schultzei on French bean, tomato, lettuce and zucchini from one week after planting to senescence or harvest. Ten samples each of three plant parts leaf and stem, flower and growing tip samples were collected at weekly intervals, in eleven field plantings in the Lockyer Valley (south-east Queensland, Australia) over a three-year period from December 2011 to June 2014. There were significantly more F. schultzei than F. occidentalis in lettuce and tomato, and significantly more F. occidentalis than F. schultzei in French beans. Zucchini supported the highest abundance of both species, with no significant difference in mean abundance. Both species displayed similar preferences for different plant parts, with significantly more in flowers compared to leaf and stem and growing tip samples. There were significantly more thrips in female zucchini flowers compared to male flowers. Thrips were present in small numbers one week after planting in all crops, with peak abundance at flowering. F. occidentalis were temporally segregated by crop age (weeks since planting), with significantly higher levels present in zucchini compared to French bean, lettuce and tomato between weeks three and six, followed by significantly higher levels in French bean between weeks eight and ten. F. schultzei were temporally separated by crop age between zucchini and lettuce, with significantly higher levels present in zucchini between weeks four and six, and in lettuce between weeks eight and ten. Implications for crop monitoring are that sampling should be concentrated at pre-flowering for F. occidentalis in French bean and zucchini and for F. schultzei in tomato and zucchini. For lettuce, the seedling stage is most vulnerable to infestation by both species. Growers should be aware of the potential for both Frankliniella species to disperse from senescing zucchini flowers from week seven and aim to implement control strategies around this period

A unified call to action from Australian nursing and midwifery leaders: Ensuring that Black lives matter

Nurses and midwives of Australia now is the time for change! As powerfully placed, Indigenous and non-Indigenous nursing and midwifery professionals, together we can ensure an effective and robust Indigenous curriculum in our nursing and midwifery schools of education. Today, Australia finds itself in a shifting tide of social change, where the voices for better and safer health care ring out loud. Voices for justice, equity and equality reverberate across our cities, our streets, homes, and institutions of learning. It is a call for new songlines of reform. The need to embed meaningful Indigenous health curricula is stronger now than it ever was for Australian nursing and midwifery. It is essential that nursing and midwifery leadership continue to build an authentic collaborative environment for Indigenous curriculum development. Bipartisan alliance is imperative for all academic staff to be confident in their teaching and learning experiences with Indigenous health syllabus. This paper is a call out. Now is the time for Indigenous and non-Indigenous nurses and midwives to make a stand together, for justice and equity in our teaching, learning, and practice. Together we will dismantle systems, policy, and practices in health that oppress. The Black Lives Matter movement provides us with a ‘now window’ of accepted dialogue to build a better, culturally safe Australian nursing and midwifery workforce, ensuring that Black Lives Matter in all aspects of health care