Thrips (Thysanoptera) associated with onion (Allium cepa L.) and Welsh onion (Allium fistulosum L.)

Abstract We determined the abundance, species composition, sex ratio and seasonal dynamics of thrips on one cultivar of Welsh onion (Allium fistulosum) and eight cultivars of onion (Allium cepa) in South Poland within three vegetation seasons (2014–2016). Nine species of Thysanoptera were identified on A. cepa and A. fistulosum. Irrespective of the onion cultivar, Thrips tabaci was the dominant species (64.4% of all collected thrips specimens), while Frankliniella intonsa also occurred in high numbers (28.3%). Conversely, Welsh onion was most often inhabited by F. intonsa (62.7%), although T. tabaci was also numerous (28.3%). The predatory Aeolothrips intermedius accounted for 4.5% on A. cepa and 2.9% on A. fistulosum. In the most numerous species, T. tabaci, F. intonsa and A. intermedius populations were formed mainly by females. The cultivar most colonised by thrips was Kroll of A. fistulosum. The tested cultivars of A. cepa demonstrated varying degrees of attractiveness to thrips in the subsequent years. The relationship between populations of T. tabaci, F. intonsa and A. intermedius changed in the subsequent months of the growing season. In June, mainly T. tabaci and F. intonsa occurred on onion plants, while from July, the percentage shares of F. intonsa and the predatory A. intermedius in the thrips population on many onion cultivars increased. The level of attractiveness of A. cepa related to onion thrips, which is reported as a main pest of onion, varies depending on the year and cultivar.