Thrips see red - flower colour and the host relationships of a polyphagous anthophilic thrips.

摘要: 1. The common blossom thrips, Frankliniella schultzei, is a polyphagous anthophilic species that colonises wide range of host-plant across different plant taxa. environmental cues used by these insects to recognise and locate host plants are not known. We therefore determined if colour an important signal F. schultzei flowers eight its more significant species. 2. effect flower on the colonisation was investigated collecting analysing following: (a) numbers thrips from heights aspects primary Malvaviscus arboreus, (b) distribution within Hibiscus rosasinensis, (c) reflectance species, (d) coloured sticky traps number trapped them at times day dates. 3. results indicate that: (both sexes) concentrate towards top M. arboreus distributed differentially according sunny or shady aspect plant, female H. rosasinensis higher in anthers compared petals (corolla) basal parts flower, males were as numerous females, there floral pattern (but with intensities) mainly red part spectrum (600-700 nm). 4. Results trapping show attracts any other most caught between 09.00 11.00 hours. By contrast, male 07.00 Males evenly colours but highest associated yellow traps. 5. densities their may be related early morning (07.00-11.00 hours) activity when portions exposed sunlight. sex-related distributions time, traps, various seem mating swarm formation males, one hand, relative frequency intensity use other, feeding oviposition site. females respond strongly than colours, so it predicted spectral properties recognition this will correlate predominant host, well difference