‘Ataulfo’ Mango Flowers Contain a Diversity of Thrips (Thysanoptera)

‘Ataulfo’ mango (Mangifera indica L.) is the most popular cultivar of mango to have originated in Mexico. Because of its relatively recent discovery, few studies have been carried out on the best agricultural practices for production of this cultivar, and there is wide variation in methods among growers. Among other aspects, the insect fauna associated with this cultivar has not been formally studied. However, numerous growers spray synthetic insecticides on a regular basis against thrips to reduce populations. The present study was conducted with the main objective of determining the diversity of thrips in Ataulfo mango flowers in Chiapas, Mexico. Two representative orchards were selected: the orchard “Tres-A” characterized by an intensive use of agrochemicals, especially broad-spectrum synthetic insecticides directed against thrips, and the orchard “Rancho La Escondida” that does not spray insecticides. Inflorescences were sampled every five days, from Nov 2008 to Feb 2009. The results confirm the presence of 15 species of thrips in 7 genera and 3 families. Species composition was consistent in both orchards. This included phytophagous species in the genera Frankliniella, Arorathrips, Haplothrips and Scirtothrips, and the predatory thrips Aeolothrips microstriatus Hood, Franklinothrips orizabensis Johansen, Karnyothrips texensis (Hood) and K. flavipes (Jones). Frankliniella was the dominant genus: F. borinquen Hood, the F. gossypiana Hood/ F. williamsi Hood complex, F. cephalica (Crawford), F. gardeniae Moulton, F. invasor Sakimura and F. parvula Hood. A new species of Frankliniella was collected as well. Frankliniella invasor was the most abundant species throughout the flowering cycle in both orchards with a mean of 613 individuals per inflorescence. Both mango orchards had statistically similar numbers (P > 0.05) of thrips over time. This suggests that the use of broad-spectrum synthetic insecticides is not effective for thrips control and the use of other methods is necessary.