Survival of Adult Western Flower Thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis Pergande, on Various Sugar Solutions

Abstract

Adult western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis Pergande, were given 6 sugar solutions of various concentrations as the sole nutrient-source to investigate the sugars that are metabolized. Fifty-percent or more of the adult thrips given the majority of the sucrose solutions of 1-45% (w/v%), glucose solutions of 5-30%, fructose solutions of 5-30%, maltose solutions of 10-25%, and trehalose solutions of 15-25% survived for 15 days on each of the respective sugar-solution concentrations. Adult thrips given only distilled water were all dead within 6 days. These results are evidence that western flower thrips utilize the 6 sugars.