Comparative development, reproduction and life table parameters of three populations of Thrips tabaci (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) on onion and tobacco

Abstract

An investigation was carried out to study the developmental time, reproduction and life table of<br><br>three populations of the onion thrips, Thrips tabaci Lindeman, on onion (Khorasan and Golestan<br><br>populations) and also on tobacco (Mazandaran population) in the laboratory at 25°C, 50% RH and 16: 8 h<br><br>L: D. The total life cycle from egg to adult of Khorasan, Golestan and Mazandaran populations were<br><br>gauged as 15.22, 14.66 and 17.82 days, respectively. However, theses populations showed 30%, 38% and<br><br>58% immature mortality, respectively. The females of T. tabaci laid 29.5, 27.7 and 26.3 eggs averagely,<br><br>and had a mean longevity of 18.0, 17.78 and 19.07 days in Khorasan Razavi, Golestan and Mazandaran<br><br>populations, respectively. The net reproductive rate (R0) was 19.75, 18.48 and 10.84, and the intrinsic rate<br><br>of increase (rm) was 0.143, 0.141 and 0.096 in Khorasan Razavi, Golestan and Mazandaran populations,<br><br>respectively. Khorasan Razavi and Golestan populations (both reared on onion) had similar<br><br>developmental time, mortality and life table parameters, while Mazandaran population (on tobacco)<br><br>yielded significantly different values. Based on the differences of development, fecundity and life table<br><br>parameters, there might be two distinct populations exploiting onion and tobacco in Iran.