This work aimed to study biological aspects of Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) (Thysanoptera, Thripidae) considering that almost nothing is known about the thrips fauna associated with strawberry crop. Newly hatched larvae were individualized into Petri dishes, containing a flower or a foliole of strawberry and kept in chambers (25 ± 1 °C, 60 ± 10% RH; 12 hours photophase). Daily observations were conducted until the insect death. The average time of the biological cycle (larva-adult) and viability did not differ between the insects maintained in flowers (8.49 ± 0.18 and 68.52%) and folioles (8.85 ± 0.15 and 75.47%). The daily and total average fecundity were higher when flowers were provided as food (7.4 ± 0.69 and 70.0 ± 9.18 eggs/femeale respectively) compared with folioles (2.4 ± 0.35 and 8.5 ± 1,13 eggs/femeale respectively). The average time, in days, of the embryonic period was significantly different for the insects reared in flowers (3.7 ± 0.03) than in folioles (4.4 ± 0.09). The viability of eggs deposited in flowers and folioles was 65.5 ± 0.01 and 74.3 ± 0.03% respectively. Based upon the fertility life table, the performance of F. occidentalis reared in flowers was better when compared to folioles. A generation (egg-adult) occurs each 20.92 days at 25 °C.
Fragaria x ananassa; life of cycle; Thripidae; thrips
