Abstract This study examined the thrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) species complex associated with relay-cropped strawberry–Jalapeño pepper fields in Florida and evaluated how sampling methods influenced species detection. Four thrips species were present across all fields, with Frankliniella bispinosa Morgan being the most common, while Scirtothrips dorsalis Hood, Thrips palmi Karny, and Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) occurred at substantial levels. Whole-plant sampling provided the most accurate representation of thrips species composition and was essential for detecting less common species. S cirtothrips dorsalis appeared later in the season and their population increased toward the end of the Jalapeño pepper crop, suggesting that relay-cropped peppers may serve as a source of S. dorsalis for subsequent strawberry plantings.
Busuulwa et al. (Thu,) studied this question.