Indoor subculture breeding method for Echinothrips americana
By using cucumber seedlings and specific environmental conditions for subculture of American thrips indoors, the problem of unstable insect population was solved, achieving a high adult rate and stable reproduction, meeting the needs of scientific research, and possessing the potential for large-scale application.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202511803550.1
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2025-12-03
- Publication Date
- 2026-01-16
AI Technical Summary
Existing technologies make it difficult to stably and controllably rear American thrips indoors, resulting in unstable insect populations and inconsistent growth patterns, which hinders the progress of scientific research.
Cucumber seedlings were used as host plants. Insect cages covered with 200-mesh netting were used to control temperature, humidity and photoperiod. Adult American thrips of the same age, size and physiological state were selected for indoor subculture. After laying eggs, the adults were removed to continue culturing the next generation.
It has achieved a high adult rate and stable reproduction of American thrips, provided stable insect source testing conditions, met various research needs, has the potential for large-scale application, and is low in cost and easy to operate.
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Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This invention belongs to the field of indoor insect rearing technology, specifically relating to an indoor succession rearing method for the American thorny thrips. Background Technology
[0002] American thrips Echinothrips americanus Morgan, belonging to the order Thysanoptera and family Thripidae, is an important quarantine pest of vegetables and ornamental crops. The American spiny thrips has a wide host range, covering 106 species of plants in 48 families, and is widely distributed in field vegetables and greenhouse ornamental plants. When damaging host plants, the American spiny thrips feed on the leaves with its rasping-sucking mouthparts. Adults lay eggs inside the leaves using their ovipositors, causing the leaves to wrinkle and curl, with white spots and black excrement appearing on the damaged areas. In severe cases, it can even cause leaves to turn yellow and wither, affecting photosynthesis, reducing the quality of vegetable crops, and damaging the appearance of ornamental plants, thus impacting their economic benefits.
[0003] The American spiny thrips is a parthenogenetic thrips, meaning the females can reproduce sexually or through parthenogenesis. It is characterized by its small size, high concealment, and high reproductive rate, leading to overlapping generations in the field and making it highly susceptible to spread. Currently, this insect is distributed across many parts of my country, causing economic losses to some crops, and there is a risk and trend of further spread. Therefore, systematic scientific research on it is both necessary and urgent. However, current research mainly relies on field surveys and collection, which is easily affected by natural conditions such as climate, natural enemies, and crop growth stages, resulting in unstable populations, high mortality rates during collection, and insufficient numbers of collected insects to meet the needs of various scientific studies. Inconsistencies in the age and growth status of the insects also affect research progress. In contrast, indoor rearing conditions are not affected by seasons or environment, and can provide a stable and controllable source of insects, meeting the requirement for consistent physiological states of test insects in various experiments. However, there is currently no method for indoor subculture of American thorny thrips, which makes it difficult to meet the needs of various experiments for American thorny thrips insect sources. Summary of the Invention
[0004] The purpose of this invention is to address the aforementioned shortcomings of the prior art by providing a method for the subgeneration rearing of American thrips that can be raised indoors, has high adult reproductive capacity, and high nymph survival rate.
[0005] The present invention provides an indoor succession rearing method for American thrips, comprising the following steps: S1. Cultivate cucumber seedlings as host material and place them in an insect rearing cage covered with 200-mesh netting; S2. Collect leaves from plants damaged by American thrips and select healthy American thrips adults of the same age, size and physiological state as the initial insect source. S3. The initial insect source was transferred and inoculated onto cucumber seedling leaves in an insect rearing cage for culture; S4. Laying eggs and then raising them to obtain domesticated American thrips.
[0006] Preferably, the cucumber seedling is a three-leaf stage cucumber seedling with three true leaves and the diameter of the first true leaf being greater than 7 cm.
[0007] Preferably, the length × width × height of the insect rearing cage is 25 cm × 25 cm × 40 cm.
[0008] Preferably, the male-to-female ratio of the American thorny thrips adults used as the initial insect source is 3:1.
[0009] Preferably, the cultivation conditions are a temperature of 26±2℃, a relative humidity of 65%±5%, and a photoperiod of 14 L:10 D.
[0010] Preferably, step S3 is as follows: the initial insect source is transferred and inoculated onto the upper surface of the first true leaf of the cucumber seedling in the insect rearing cage, with an adult spacing of 0.5 cm, and then cultured.
[0011] Preferably, step S4 is as follows: after laying eggs, the adult insects are removed and the next generation is raised until they become adults. Then, they are transferred to cucumber seedling leaves in a new insect rearing cage for cultivation. This step is repeated to obtain reared American thrips.
[0012] Preferably, the spawning occurs 48 hours after spawning.
[0013] Preferably, the cucumber seedlings are seedlings of the Qingxiu No. 1 variety.
[0014] In this invention, cucumber seedlings are selected as the host plant. The American thrips exhibits a significant feeding preference for cucumber seedlings and has a shorter developmental period and higher egg production on them. Therefore, selecting cucumber seedlings as the host plant is beneficial for the successive rearing of American thrips.
[0015] This invention successfully established an indoor subculture system for the American thrips. This system is easy to operate, low in cost, and possesses strong potential for large-scale application, providing a stable and sufficient supply of American thrips for various related research studies. The American thrips nymphs reared using this method exhibit a consistently high adult rate, and the number of offspring steadily increases with each generation, demonstrating that this method can be used for the long-term reproduction of the American thrips.
[0016] This invention cultivates American thrips collected outdoors, providing consistent culture conditions for the tested species and resulting in an indoor population of American thrips with high reproductive capacity, high adult rate, and stable population growth, meeting the requirements of various experiments regarding the physiological state and population size of the insect source. The method of this invention is low-cost, easy to operate, and requires simple materials, saving time, labor, and costs, making it suitable for large-scale rearing of American thrips. Detailed Implementation
[0017] The following embodiments are further illustrations of the present invention, but not limitations thereof.
[0018] The cucumber seeds used in the following examples (variety: Qingxiu No. 1, a cross between glossy green cucumbers) were produced by Guangxi Nanning Qiushou Agricultural Technology Co., Ltd.
[0019] Example 1: Selection of Optimal Feeding Plants 1. Selectivity of different plant seedlings Seeds of cucumber, pepper, pumpkin, cowpea, soybean, pea, green bean (kidney bean), bitter melon, eggplant, zucchini, and tomato were sown in seedling trays filled with sterilized nutrient soil. Each tray contained 10 seeds, and 3 trays were prepared for each plant species. When the seedlings had 3 true leaves and the diameter of the first true leaf was greater than 7 cm, all the selected 11 plant seedlings were randomly arranged and placed in a large cage (covered with 200-mesh netting). 500 healthy adult American thrips (F0 generation, female-to-male ratio of 3:1) that had emerged from the larvae of the same age, body size, and physiological state were evenly transferred to the center of the rearing cage and allowed to freely choose seedlings to feed and lay eggs. They were cultured under conditions of 26±2℃, 65%±5% relative humidity, and a photoperiod of 14 L:10 D. After 48 hours of egg laying, all adults in the cage were removed. After the F1 generation of adults emerged, the number of F1 generation American thrips adults on each seedling was investigated. If any seedlings die during this period, replace them with seedlings of the same age.
[0020] The results (Table 1) show that the American thrips prefers cucumber seedlings.
[0021] Table 1. Selectivity of American thrips for seedlings of different plants 2. Selectivity of the American thrips towards cucumber seedlings and kidney bean fruits Approximately 250 healthy adult American thrips of uniform instar, size, and physiological condition were harvested and starved for one hour before being placed in rearing cages (25 cm × 25 cm × 40 cm, covered with 200-mesh mesh). Cucumber seedlings (with three true leaves and the first leaf diameter greater than 7 cm) and fresh kidney bean fruits were placed at opposite ends of the cage. The number of American thrips on the cucumber seedlings and kidney bean fruits was counted at 1, 2, 6, 24, and 48 hours, and the selection rate was calculated. The results (Table 2) showed that after 48 hours, the number of American thrips on cucumber seedlings was significantly higher than that on kidney bean fruits. This free selection experiment of American thrips on cucumber seedlings and kidney bean fruits indicates that thrips prefer cucumber seedlings. Therefore, cucumber seedlings were chosen as the food source for the subsequent rearing of American thrips.
[0022] Table 2. Selectivity of American thrips on cucumber seedlings and kidney bean fruits Example 2 (1) Host plant cultivation and preparation of insect rearing cages: Cucumber seeds were sown in seedling trays filled with sterilized nutrient soil, one seed per tray, and placed in an artificial climate chamber under cultivation conditions of 26±2℃, 65%±5% relative humidity, and a photoperiod of 14 L:10 D. The entire process from sowing to development was carried out under uniform and controllable conditions to provide stable host conditions for the tested American thrips. Watering was done regularly and appropriately, and no pesticides were applied to the host plants throughout their growth period. When the seedlings had grown three true leaves and the diameter of the first true leaf was greater than 7 cm, the cucumber seedlings at the three-leaf stage were used as host materials for later use. The rearing cages, measuring 25 cm × 25 cm × 40 cm and covered with 200-mesh mesh, were used to provide ample space for the American thrips to feed and move around. These cages ensured effective ventilation and light penetration while preventing escape of the tested thrips and the entry of external insects. Suitable lighting and ventilation conditions were maintained for the daily needs of the American thrips: temperature 26±2℃, relative humidity 65%±5%, and photoperiod 14 L:10 D. Four prepared three-leaf stage cucumber seedlings were evenly placed in each cage, ensuring the plants were healthy, vigorous, free from pests and diseases, and provided with sufficient food. During each generation transfer in the rearing experiment, the American thrips were transferred to the upper surface of the first true leaf of a cucumber seedling in a new rearing cage (a cage newly containing four three-leaf stage cucumber seedlings). The adults were spaced approximately 0.5 cm apart, and then could freely move to other leaves. Water regularly during the experiment to keep the host plants growing well; if other pests or diseases are found, immediately transfer the American thrips to a new healthy, disease-free host plant.
[0023] (2) Adult rearing and reproduction: Leaves with American thrips adults were collected from the greenhouse of the Vegetable Institute of Guangxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences. Healthy adults with the same age, size and physiological state were selected as F0 generation adults (the male-to-female ratio was 3:1, which is the same as the female-to-male ratio naturally bred in the greenhouse). The adults were evenly transferred and inoculated on the upper surface of cucumber seedling leaves in the rearing cage, so that the adults were distributed on the upper surface of the leaves. The distance between adults was controlled to be about 0.5 cm to reduce interspecific competition among American thrips and ensure even distribution of oviposition.
[0024] (3) Egg laying, hatching and rearing: After inoculating the adults, place the rearing cages under the conditions of 26±2℃, 65%±5% relative humidity and 14 L:10 D photoperiod. After laying eggs in a concentrated manner for 48 h, remove all the adults from the cages to ensure that the offspring are of the same age.
[0025] (4) F1 generation nymph rearing: After removing the adults, count the number of F1 generation nymphs in the rearing cage, and continue to rear the nymphs under the same culture conditions until they all develop into adults.
[0026] (5) Transfer of F1 generation adults: After all the F1 generation nymphs have developed into adults and emerged two days later, the adults are evenly transferred to the cucumber seedling leaves in the new insect rearing cage. The spacing between adults is controlled to be about 0.5 cm, that is, a density of about 60 adults per leaf, to ensure that the adults are evenly distributed on the cucumber leaves.
[0027] (6) F2 generation nymph rearing: 48 h after the F1 generation adults laid eggs, all F1 generation adults were removed from the rearing cage with a brush, leaving only the F2 generation individuals. The number of F2 generation nymphs was recorded, and they were continued to be reared under the same culture conditions.
[0028] (7) F2 generation adult treatment and oviposition: After all F2 generation adults have developed into adults and emerged two days ago, use a paintbrush to evenly transfer the F2 generation adults to the cucumber seedling leaves in the new insect rearing cage, controlling the spacing between adults to about 0.5 cm. Natural oviposition will take 48 hours.
[0029] (8) F3 generation cultivation and statistics: 48 h after the F2 generation adults lay eggs, all F2 generation adults are removed from the rearing cage and new eggs and nymphs are raised under the same cultivation conditions. The number of F3 generation nymphs is recorded until all of them develop into adults, and the number of F3 generation adults is counted.
[0030] The adult American thrips collected from the greenhouse of the Vegetable Research Institute of Guangxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences were selected as the source of F0 generation insects with the same age, body size and physiological state (male-female ratio of 3:1). Five experimental groups were set up, with 200 F0 generation American thrips adults in each experimental group. They were raised according to the steps (1)-(8) above in this embodiment. During the raising process, the number of nymphs and the number of adults produced by the adults in cucumber seedling raising experimental groups 1-5 were recorded.
[0031] The number of American thrips reared for 48 hours after inoculation was 315.4 nymphs and 304.2 adults in the first generation; 522.4 nymphs and 509.8 adults in the second generation; and 955.8 nymphs and 933.6 adults in the third generation (Table 3). The number of American thrips reared for subsequent generations steadily increased with each generation.
[0032] Table 3. Number of insect sources for indoor rearing of American thrips Note: The last column in the table represents the mean ± standard error of the five experimental groups. Table 4. Adult rate of American thrips offspring indoors Note: The last column in the table represents the mean ± standard error of the five experimental groups. The same letter indicates no significant difference (P ≥ 0.05), and different letters indicate significant difference (P < 0.05).
[0033] As shown in Table 4, there was no significant difference in the adult rate of the American thrips after successive rearing, and all of them were as high as 95% or more. This indicates that the rearing method is stable and reliable and can be used for the long-term rearing of American thrips, providing a large number of standardized insect sources.
[0034] Table 5. Average number of offspring produced per adult American thrips within 48 hours indoors. Note: The last column in the table represents the mean ± standard error of the five experimental groups. The same letter indicates no significant difference (P ≥ 0.05), and different letters indicate significant difference (P < 0.05).
[0035] The results (Table 5) showed that at 48 hours after natural oviposition, the average number of adult offspring produced per initial adult of *Thrips glabripennis* was 1.5. The average number of adult offspring produced per adult in the first generation of subcultured *Thrips glabripennis* was 1.7, and the average number of adult offspring produced per adult in the second generation was also 1.7. The average number of nymphs produced per adult in subcultured *Thrips glabripennis* increased with each generation, indicating that subculture had a significant reproductive effect, producing a stable and growing indoor culture population, suitable for large-scale production, and meeting the quantity requirements for large-scale experiments.
[0036] The results from experimental groups 1-5 above show that the reproductive capacity of the American thrips adults in this invention exhibits a significant positive correlation with the increase in generations, providing a large and stable supply of American thrips nymphs and adults. This invention establishes an indoor subculture system for American thrips, which has significant advantages in saving time, labor, and costs, and possesses the potential for large-scale breeding applications, providing a sufficient source of test insects for various research studies.
Claims
1. A method for rearing Spodoptera eridania in the laboratory, characterized by, The method comprises the following steps: S1. Cultivate cucumber seedlings as host material and place them in insect-rearing cages covered with 200-mesh gauze; S2. Collect plant leaves damaged by the western flower thrips and screen healthy adult western flower thrips of the same age, size and physiological state as the initial insect source; S3. Transfer the initial insect source to the leaves of the cucumber seedlings in the insect-rearing cages for culture; S4. Obtain the reared western flower thrips through oviposition and subculture.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein, The cucumber seedlings are three-leaf-stage cucumber seedlings with three true leaves and the first true leaf having a diameter greater than 7 cm.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein, The insect-rearing cages have a length of 25 cm, a width of 25 cm and a height of 40 cm.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein, The number ratio of males to females of the adult western flower thrips used as the initial insect source is 3:
1.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein, The culture conditions are a temperature of 26±2℃, a relative humidity of 65%±5% and a light cycle of 14L:10D.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein, In step S3, the initial insect source is transferred to the first true leaf of the cucumber seedlings in the insect-rearing cages, and the distance between the adult thrips is 0.5 cm.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein, In step S4, the adult thrips are removed after oviposition, and the next generation is cultured until the adults appear, and then the adults are transferred to the leaves of new cucumber seedlings in new insect-rearing cages for culture; the step is repeated to obtain the reared western flower thrips.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein, The oviposition lasts for 48 h.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein, The cucumber seedlings are seedlings of the Qingxiu No. 1 variety.