Biology and life table parameters of the Heliothrips haemorrhoidalis on strawberries

Heliothrips haemorrhoidalis (Bouche) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) has been reported on several crops. The development time, viability of immature stages, and reproductive parameters of H. haemorrhoidalis in ‘Camino Real’ strawberry leaflets were investigated under controlled conditions (25 ± 2 °C, 70 ± 10% relative humidity, and 14 h photoperiod). Life cycle was completed with 28.39 ± 0.15 days. The duration (mean ± standard error) and the viability (%) of the 1st larval instar, 2nd larval instar, pre-pupa, and pupa stages were 4.03 ± 0.04 (97.00%), 5.01 ± 0.03 (98.97%), 1.04 ± 0.02 (98.96%), and 2.98 ± 0.02 (100.00%) days, respectively. The pre-oviposition, oviposition, and post-oviposition periods lasted 5.00 ± 0.05, 66.19 ± 0.28, and 4.85 ± 0.10 days, respectively. The fertility parameters in the life table were as follows: net reproduction rate (R0) = 105.06 larvae; innate capacity for increase in number (rm) = 0.09 larva/female/day; finite increase ratio (λ) = 1.09 larva/female; time interval between each generation (T) = 53.02 days; population doubling time (TD) = 7.89 days. These results evidence that H. haemorrhoidalis develops successfully when feeding on strawberry leaflets. The relatively high viability observed at every stage, and the values of R0, rm, λ, T, and TD populations suggest that H. haemorrhoidalis may thrive on strawberry plants under favorable environmental conditions. The implications of these findings are discussed.