Effect of temperature on the development and reproduction of Thrips flavus (Thysanoptera: Thripidae)

In Northeast China, thrips have long been considered a secondary pest of soybean until recent years. No study has provided clear reports regarding the effects of temperature on the development and reproduction of Thrips flavus Schrank (Thysanoptera: Thripidae). Our aim was to study whether the population dynamics of T. flavus were affected by temperatures. Thus, the development, reproduction and growth of T. flavus populations reared on soybean leaves were studied at five different constant temperatures. The temperature and rate of development from eggs to adults were linearly related between 19 and 31°C. The developmental threshold temperature and effective accumulated temperature were 11.60°C and 273.89 degree‐days for the whole generation. The viability of adult survival decreased with the increase in temperature between 19 and 31°C. The value of life expectancy of females ranged from 7.47 days (at 31°C) to 16.66 days (at 22°C), while the life expectancy value of males ranged from 5.33 days (at 19 and 31°C) to 17.0 days (at 25°C). The mean fecundity per female was highest at 19°C, with 7.85 eggs/day. The intrinsic rate of increase was the highest (0.102) at 31°C. The results obtained indicate that temperature is a key factor associated with the development and reproduction of T. flavus on soybean.