Collecting and Sampling Methods for Thrips

Thrips (order Thysanoptera) are best known for the economic damage they cause in several crops. The use of appropriate sampling methods can help anticipate potential risks to plants (especially crops and other economic important plants) and to control thrips populations after outbreaks. We reviewed widely used methods to sample thrips and provide the main characteristics of each method. We came across 19 that have been developed and constantly updated to sample thrips and obtain the best estimates of their populations. The most common were binomial sampling, direct counts, beating, and sticky traps. All these methods have advantages and disadvantages, and the choice of which to use may depend on the objectives of the sampling (e.g., to confirm the presence of thrips, to identify their richness, or to infer the damage to plants), personnel, budget available, time, species of thrips, and characteristics of the target crop. Recognized pest species in the genera Frankliniella and Thrips are consistently sampled using different techniques, and this permits prediction of potential damage to crops due to the presence of these insects. Trustworthy sampling and monitoring protocols, established through detailed observations and previous experience working with thrips, are vital for management decisions, because even at very low densities, thrips can cause considerable yield losses.