Colonization of weeds and lettuce by thrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae)

In Lactuca sativa fields at Kula, Hawaii, Frankliniella occidentalis, a vector of tomato spotted wilt virus, was the most abundant thrips species (82.4% of total) of the 12 species collected. Nonflowering lettuce was less attractive to thrips than flowering plants of the weed species. Among weeds in flower, Verbesina encelioides, Malva parviflora and Amaranthus hybridus were most attractive to thrips, but among nonflowering stages, V. encelioides attracted the fewest thrips and only A. hybridus and M. parviflora were more attractive than lettuce. -from Authors