Abundance and Diversity of Thrips Associated with Host Plants in Burkina Faso

Flower thrips are among the most damaging insect pests limiting cowpea yields. Despite their economic importance, the species composition and abundance of thrips associated with cowpea and alternative host plants are little knowing. This study aimed to identify the thrips species associated with various host plants during the main cropping season and to assess their abundance. Thrips samples were collected over two consecutive years across three climatic zones by carefully cutting off flowering structures of the different plants and placing them in vials containing 70% ethanol. Five thrips species were identified on cowpea: Megalurothrips sjostedti, Frankliniella schultzei, Hydatothrips adolfifriderici, Florithrips traegardhi and Arorathrips mexicanus. Arorathrips mexicanus was identified on only cowpea. Among them three species: Megalurothrips sjostedti, Frankliniella schultzei and Hydatothrips adolfifriderici were consistently recorded on cowpea across all three climatic zones. Megalurothrips sjostedti and Frankliniella schultzei were found only on wild host plants and common to all zones. Megalurothrips sjostedti (89.87%) and Frankliniella schultzei (6.91%) were the main thrips species in terms of abundance, occurring on both wild host plants and cultivated cowpea. Florithrips traegardhi (0.39%) was relatively rare, while Arorathrips mexicanus (0.006%) appeared to be an accidental species. Several plants species were identified as alternative thrips hosts. Among them, Piliostigma thonningii and Piliostigma reticulatum were recorded as the main alternative host plants in Burkina Faso.