OVERWINTERING OF THRIPS (THYSANOPTERA, THRIPIDAE) IN NORTH-CAROLINA

Based on field cage studies, Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) suc cessfully overwintered and reproduced during the winter months in Nort h Carolina. A field survey for thrips vectors of tomato spotted wilt v irus (TSWV) was conducted during the winter and spring of 1990-1991 an d 1991-1992 in North Carolina. Plant, litter, and soil samples were co llected from three geographically distinct regions in North Carolina. Plant samples included 51 wild host species and five winter crops. Thr ee species of TSWV vectors, Frankliniella fusca (Hinds), F. occidental is, and Thrips tabaci Lindeman, were collected from plant samples. F. fusca was the most abundant TSWV vector in plant samples and was colle cted from 30 wild host species and five winter crops. Few F. occidenta lis and T. tabaci were collected from plant samples. T. tabaci was the most abundant vector collected from litter samples, and F. occidental is was the second most abundant. Very few thrips were recovered from s oil samples. Terebrantia thrips larvae were collected from 28 wild hos t species, five winter crops, and litter samples. In addition to TSWV vectors, 23 thrips species in the family Thripidae and 1 species in th e family Merothripidae were collected from wild hosts, winter crops, o r litter samples. The highest number of thrips species were observed i n litter samples.