Influencia de variables climáticas sobre la fluctuación poblacional de thrips (Megalurothrips usitatus Bagnall) en frijol

The bean thrips Megalurothrips usitatus Bagnall (Thripidae: Thysanoptera) recently became an important pest for legume crops in Cuba. The objective of the work was to determine the influence of the climate and crop phenology on the population density of M. usitatus. From September to December 2020, the common bean cv. Triunfo 70 was sampled weekly in a 0,70 ha area belonging to the National Center for Animal and Plant Health (CENSA), San Jose de las Lajas, Mayabeque province. The collected specimens were preserved in 70 % alcohol for later identification at the Entomology-Acarology laboratory; in addition, the thrips were counted per plant and recorded. With the data obtained and the climatic variable records, a correlation was made to know the influence of the climate on the insect populations. Thrips populations were present from the appearance of the first trifoliate leaves until the end of the crop cycle, with a population peak in the pod filling stage. This peak coincided with the lowest relative humidity values and the decrease of wind speed. Megalurothrips usitatus resulted the species of thrips with the highest presence in the common bean crop during the period studied.