Rearing Frankliniella zucchini Nakahara & Monteiro (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) on zucchini (Cucurbita pepo L. ‘Caserta’) fruits

Frankliniella zucchini transmits zucchini lethal chlorosis virus, causal agent of lethal chlorosis of zucchini squash. The characteristics of relationship between this virus with its vector have not been studied, one of the reasons being the lack of a method for rearing the thrips for laboratory studies. This work proposes a system for the rearing of F. zucchini on fresh virus free zucchini ‘Caserta’ fruits, offering a practical and efficient alternative for the supply of a large number of insects for later study of virus/vector relationship. In addition, to aid in the identification of this species of thrips, the immature and adult forms obtained from the colony were described. Keywords: Insecta, Tospovirus, Thrips, ZLCV, Zucchini squash