Thrips Pests on Ornamental Plants in Mahallat, Markazi Province, Iran

Thrips specimens were collected in the year 2014 on different ornamental plants from Mahallat (Markazi Province), Iran. In this study, 11 species in six genera and three different families of Thysanoptera were collected and identified. The scientific names of thrips species are as follow: Melanthrips knechteli, M. pallidior, Frankliniella intonsa, F. occidentalis, Microcephalothrips abdominalis, Tenothrips discolor, T. latoides, Thrips meridionalis, T. nigropilosus, T. tabaci, and Haplothrips reuteri. Among them, seven species are newly recorded for the fauna of Markazi Province. A high number of two harmful thrips, Thrips tabaci and Frankliniella occidentalis were found in all of flowers and ornamental plants. An identification key for phytophagous thrips is also given.