First notes on plant diversity, finding sites and sex ratio in natural populations of Thrips tabaci Lindeman (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) in Algeria (Biskra province)

Abstract

"Thrips tabaci Lindeman (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), commonly known as onion thrips, is a serious global pest of commercial onion, causing direct and indirect important damages. This survey carried out in natural areas of Biskra province (Algeria) during two periods, 2008/2009 and 2011/2012, aims to review the plant species harbouring T. tabaci in this region. Algerian and Spanish researchers confirmed twenty-three thrips species. T. tabaci is the most abundant and polyphagous. Studies have indicated that it settled in fifty one plant species belonging to nineteen botanical families. The most important are Asteraceae, Brassicaceae, Fabaceae, and Amaranthaceae. In Biskra, T. tabaci was found in sites between -32 m and 1000 m of sea level. The results also indicate the presence of sexual and asexual populations. This study shows that T. tabaci is ubiquitous in the natural habitat of Biskra province. Further research is needed to confirm its host plants and the most common mode of reproduction in this region by studying the largest number of plants in various environments and demonstrating the sex ratio over a broad survey spectrum."