Effects of pine pollen supplementation in an onion diet on Frankliniella fusca reproduction.
A micro-cage bioassay was developed to test the effect of slash pine pollen (Pinus elliottii Engelm.) supplementation to a whole onion plant (Allium cepa L. variety Pegasus) diet on thrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) reproductive parameters. Frankliniella fusca (Hinds) females were placed on two to three-leaf stage onion seedling under a treatment of either slash pine (Pinus elliottii Engelm.) pollen dusting (a pollen supplement) or no pollen treatment. Adult survival, net oviposition, and offspring produced over a series of ten 2-d intervals were recorded. From these values, l(x), l(x)m(x), and R(0) values were constructed. A trimodal distribution of oviposition was observed with the pollen supplement. Increased oviposition rates led to higher female offspring production per female and to a four-fold increase in F. fusca net reproduction on pollen-treated onions.
Angelella
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Department of Entomology, University of Georgia, Tifton Campus, 122 S Entomology Dr, Tifton, GA 31793, USA.
Riley
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DG
D000818:Animals; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D007313:Insecta / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D019697:Onions; D052287:Oviparity; D028223:Pinus; D011058:Pollen