The attractiveness of Tagetes patula L. (marigold) to thrips (Thysanoptera) in greenhoused melon was evaluated. Abundance, dominance, frequency, and constancy of thrips species were studied by using faunistic analysis, cluster analysis (CA) and principal component analysis (PCA). Marigold was planted only at the edge of the greenhouses. Insect sampling on melon plants was taken by shaking three vine growing ends on a white tray whereas similar procedure was used for sampling marigold but shaking all plants of 1 m². Samplings points where on T. patula edge, on melon planted along with marigold, and on melon planted at 6m, 12m, 18m, and 24m from marigold edge. Eleven thrips species were found on both melon and marigold plants: Neohydatothrips sp., Frankliniella sp. 1, Frankliniella sp. 2, Frankliniella schultzei (Trybom), Scirtothrips sp., Caliothrips sp., Microcephalothrips sp., Franklinothrips vespiformis (Crawford), Arorathrips sp., Ceratothripoides sp., and Haplothrips sp. The dominant species were: Neohydatothrips sp., Frankliniella sp. 1, F. schultzei, and Caliothrips sp. Analyses of the dominant species indicate three different groups according to abundance: (1) marigold, (2) melon along with T. patula, and (3) melon at 6m, 12m, 18m, and 24m from marigold. Significant differences among sampling sites were verified by using CA and PCA. Therefore, T. patula is attractive to thrips and may be used as trap crop in melon cultivation for several thrips species.
Thysanoptera; trap crop; abundance; diversity
