Identification and abundance of thrips species on soybean in Puerto Rico.

During 2007, phytophagous thrips on soybean (Glycine max Merr.) were collected, and differentiated according to sex, genus and species. Scouting for thrips was carried out on leaves and flowers in two consecutive plantings in Adjuntas, Isabela and Juana Diaz, Puerto Rico. A total of nine genera were found, of which eight species were identified. These included Frankliniella cephalica, Frankliniella gossypiana, Frankliniella insularis, Frankliniella schultzei, Caliothrips phaseoli, Neohydatothrips inversus, Rhamphothrips sp., Scirtothrips dorsalis and Thrips palmi. The last species was the most common in the three locations. However, F. schultzei was the most abundant species in Juana Diaz.