Species of thrips (Insecta, Thysanoptera) in two strawberry production systems in Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil

Species of thrips (Insecta, Thysanoptera) in two strawberry production systems in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Thrips are tiny insects responsible for the reduction of strawberry fruit quality. The work aimed to record and quantify the thysanopterofauna present in two strawberry production systems, low tunnel and semi-hydroponic. Leaves, flowers and fruits were collected weekly, from July 2005 to December 2006 in Caxias do Sul and Bom Princípio municipalities, RS. A total of 664 individuals were collected, representing two families, four genus and 10 species: Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande, 1895), F. schultzei (Trybom, 1910), F. rodeos Moulton, 1933, F. simplex (Priesner, 1924), F. williamsi (Hood, 1915), F. gemina (Bagnall, 1919), Frankliniella sp., Thrips tabaci (Lindeman, 1888), Thrips tabaci (Lindeman, 1888), Caliothrips fasciatus (Pergande 1895) from Thripidae and Heterothrips sp. from Heterothripidae. Frankliniella occidentalis represented 89.7% of the samples with 95.8% of the species collected in flowers, 3.9% in fruits and 0.8% in leaves. The results show that flowers are the most important food resource for these insects on strawberry plants. Frankliniella rodeos, F. simplex, F. williamsi, C. fasciatus, and Heterothrips sp. are new records on strawberry for Brazil

Thysanoptera: plantas visitadas e hospedeiras no Parque Estadual de Itapuã, Viamão, RS, Brasil Thysanoptera: visited and host plants at Parque Estadual de Itapuã, Viamão, RS, Brazil

O conhecimento científico sobre a associação de Thysanoptera com plantas nativas ou cultivadas na região Neotropical é praticamente inexistente. Este trabalho objetivou identificar as espécies de tripes e as plantas por eles visitadas ou utilizadas como hospedeiras em uma unidade de conservação, o Parque Estadual de Itapuã (30°22'S 51°02'W), Viamão, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil. Entre junho de 1999 e maio de 2001, ramos (n=1.274), flores (n=774) e touceiras de gramíneas (n=596) foram sistematicamente amostradas em 20 pontos em quatro transectos estandardizados. O total de 72 espécies de plantas pertencentes a 26 famílias foram identificadas, 60 das quais foram registradas como hospedeiras. Do total de 9.602 espécimes de tripes, 4.900 (50%) foram registrados em flores, 3.764 (39%) em ramos e 938 (10%) nas touceiras de gramíneas. Para 6.533 dos espécimes (4.480 imaturos e 2.053 adultos), foi possível identificar a planta na qual foram coletados. De uma riqueza total de 61 espécies de tripes, 35 foram registradas em flores, 36 em ramos e 14 em touceiras de gramíneas. As espécies de tripes mais abundantes e as plantas que apresentaram a mais alta diversidade de tripes são comentadas.The scientific knowledge about the association of Thysanoptera with native or cultivated plants in the Neotropical region is practically nonentity. This work aimed at identifying the thrips species and the plants visited by them or used as hosts in a Conservation Unit, the "Parque Estadual de Itapuã" (30°22'S 51°02'W), Viamão, Rio Grande do Sul, Southern Brazil. Between June 1999 and May 2001, branches (n=1,274), flowers (n=774) and grass tussocks (n=596) were systematically sampled at 20 points in four standardized transects. A total of 72 plant species belonging to 26 families were identified, 60 of those were registered as host plants. From a total of 9,602 thrips specimens, 4,900 (50%) were registered in flowers, 3,764 (39%) in branches and 938 (10%) in grass tussocks. For 6,533 of the specimens (4,480 immatures and 2,053 adults), it was possible to identify the plant on which they were collected. Of a total richness of 61 species of thrips, 35 were recorded in flowers, 36 in branches and 14 in grass tussocks. The most abundant thrips species and the plant species that showed the higher thrips diversity are commented upon