The determination of thrips (Thysanoptera) species, their population fluctuations and damage rates in vineyard areas in Mersin province, Turkey

This study was carried out to determine thrips (Thysanoptera) species, their population fluctuations as well as damage rates in vineyard areas in Mersin province, Turkey in 2019 and 2020. As a results of this study, totally 14 Thysanoptera species, namely Aeolothrips collaris (Priesner) belonging to Aeolothripidae; Drepanothrips reuteri (Uzel), Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande), Mycterothrips tschirkunae (Jachontov), Neohydatothrips sp., Rubiothrips vitis (Priesner), Thrips euphorbiae (Knechtel), Thrips hawaiiensis (Morgan), Thrips major (Uzel), Thrips meridionalis (Priesner), Thrips physapus (Linnaeus), Thrips pillichi (Priesner) and Thrips tabaci (Lindeman) belonging to Thripidae; Haplothrips globiceps (Bagnall) beloging to Phlaeothripidae have been determined. R. vitis was found to be more common (56.70%), this thrips species was followed (23.37%) by M. tschirkunae. The adult thrips species were sampled mostly in fruits (87.72%). Population fluctuations of common thrips species was carried out in the two grape areas in Hacıahmetli and Bağcağız locations. It was observed that population densities of R. vitis and M. tschirkunae population coincided with the mature fruiting period. Damage ratios on grapes due to thrips attacks varied between 10% and 15% in Mersin province, Turkey.