The influence of crop and leaf position on thrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) oviposition in cotton, soybean, and peanut seedlings.

Thrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) can injure seedling cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.), soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.), and peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) crops in the southern United States. The planting window and timing of thrips infestations into these crops overlap in the region, but thrips preference for oviposition has not been investigated. We evaluated thrips preference for cotton, soybean, and peanut by counting eggs, immatures, and adults at the cotyledon to 4 true leaf stages. Peanut was significantly more attractive for oviposition than cotton and soybean. Oviposition in cotton was significantly higher in the cotyledons than the other leaves. The highest oviposition in soybeans also occurred in the cotyledons but differed only significantly from the fourth true leaf. In all crops, there was no significant difference among oviposition in the true leaves. The highest number of immatures were found on cotton, followed by peanut and then soybean, while adults were evenly distributed among crops. Our results suggest that while peanut is preferred for oviposition, this crop may not facilitate immature development and survival as effectively when compared with cotton. This study presents an initial examination of crop selection by thrips under field conditions and suggests peanut may be the preferred oviposition host.