Survey of Thrips (Thysanoptera) Associated with Four Berry Crops in Mexico

Mexico is one of the major exporters of a variety of berries worldwide. Thrips (Thysanoptera) are highly attracted to berry crops, and several species can become serious pests that limit berry yield. Given the pest status of thrips in berry production and the magnitude and importance of berries for export in Mexico, this study was conducted to survey and identify the thrips fauna associated with commercial berry orchards in Mexico. We sampled berry plants in 41 commercial plantations of blackberry (Rubus spp.), blueberry (Vaccinium spp.), raspberry (Rubus spp.), and strawberry (Fragaria × ananasa) in Guanajuato, Jalisco, Michoacán, and Sinaloa during spring and summer 2020. Our study collected 4,394 thrips specimens belonging to 19 species of thrips. Of those, 53.7% were collected from blackberry, 16.1% from blueberry, 15.5% from strawberry, and 14.8% from raspberry. The predominant species in the four berry crops was Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande). Its relative abundance with respect to other species of thrips collected was 52.9% in blueberry, 69% in raspberry, 79.6% in blackberry, and 88.7% in strawberry. The second most abundant species was Scirtothrips dorsalis Hood, varying from 2.6% in strawberry to 24.6% in blueberry. Other important phytophagous species recorded were Frankliniella cephalica (Crawford) and Frankliniella gossypiana Hood. These four species are invasive, polyphagous, and widespread in Mexico; thus, economic damage by one or more of these species can be expected in locales where management measures are not appropriately applied to avoid economic losses. Data gathered in this survey, coupled with information provided by related studies conducted in Mexico, should serve as a basis for further research dealing with monitoring and management of thrips populations.