Abstract
ABSTRACT. 1. A laboratory technique for measuring the number of pollen grains consumed by thrips is described.2. Thrips imaginis Bagnall and Thrips obscuratus (Crawford) (Thripidae) were studied particularly on pollen of the kiwifruit Actinidia deliciosa (A. Chevalier) Liang & Ferguson in New Zealand, and Echium plantagineum L. in Australia.3. Mean daily feeding rates (in grains per thrips per day) ranged from 29 to 843, with an individual rate as high as 1626 for T.imaginis larvae II on E. plantagineum.4. The time taken to feed on a single grain was proportional to grain volume, and decreased with temperature.5. Daily feeding rates were significantly different between pollens, and were higher for smaller grains. The total volume of pollen contents consumed and the total time spent ingesting this volume per thrips per day may be constant with respect to pollen species.6. Daily feeding rates were equivalent to 0.2–0.7% of the average total pollen production of a flower per thrips per day.7. Extrapolation of the daily feeding rates suggests that pollen damage by thrips could sometimes be reducing crop yield or plant fitness.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
