Overwintering of the onion thrips, Thrips tabaci (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), in New York

A survey of overwintering thrips and the potential for Thrips tabaci Lindeman to overwinter in upstate New York were investigated during the winters of 1982-83 and 1983-84. Six species--T. tabaci, Anaphothrips obscurus (Mueller), Chirothrips manicatus Haliday, Limothrips denticornis (Haliday), Frankliniella tenuicornis (Uzel), and Aptinothrips rufus (Gmelin)--were able to survive as adults in the vegetation sampled, but only Anaphothripini survived as larvae, T. tabaci adults overwinter within winter wheat, alfalfa, and weedy vegetation, and these overwintering females are capable of ovipositing on these plants during the spring. Winter wheat, oats, and alfalfa were the best oviposition and reproduction hosts examined.