Can Selenothrips rubrocinctus (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) become a new pest in rose bush?

Abstract

Knowledge about the development and bioecology of red-banded thrips, Selenothrips rubrocinctus (Giard, 1901) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), is scarce. In this work, we tested the hypothesis that the development of S. rubrocinctus is affected by the rose cultivar in which it grows. The biological characteristics of this thrips in two rose cultivars were evaluated and the species life table was elaborated. The development time and viability of egg, nymph of 1st and 2nd instar, pre-pupa and pupa stages were evaluated in Avalanche and Príncipe Negro cultivars, with 100 specimens per cultivar. The two-sex life table was elaborated considering biological, demographic and reproductive parameters, starting with 100 immatures. A total of 73 adults were obtained (94.52 % females). The average embryonic and pre-imaginal development time (egg - adult) was 11.16 and 21.03 days (d), respectively. The average longevity of adults was 9.45 d, and the complete biological cycle was 30.48 d. The average total fertility was 17 eggs per female. Of the total eggs produced, 70.5 % were viable. The intrinsic rate of increase (r), the finite rate of increase (λ), the net reproductive rate (R0) and the mean generation time (T) were 0.094 (d−1); 1.10 (d−1); 11.73 (offspring/specimen); and 26.19 (d), respectively. The cultivars of rose bushes did not affect the biological characteristics of the pre-adult stage of the thrips. In addition, the high survival rate favored the population growth, with no variation in biological aspects. These results show that the rose bush is a suitable host for the development of S. rubrocinctus.