Abstract: 【Aim】 The western flower thrips (WFT), Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande), is an invasive pest in China, while tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV), which is mainly transmitted by WFT, is a very serious virus around the world. Through the study of the interactions between WFT and TSWV, the mechanism of the outbreak of both WFT and TSWV can be further understood. Furthermore, it will provide a theoretical basis for developing reasonable and sustainable control strategies of WFT and TSWV. 【Methods】 Age-stage and two-sex life tables were used to study the effects of the mature excised foliages of three treated peppers (healthy, CK; mechanically damaged, MD; mechanically inoculated by TSWV, MI) on biological characteristics of WFT. 【Results】 The results showed that the developmental periods of preadult thrips were 12.45, 11.97 and 11.18 d on CK, MD and MI foliages, respectively. There were significant differences in adult longevity and female fecundity between different treatments (P<0.05). On MI-leaves, the adult longevity was the longest (female: 13.51 d; male: 12.69 d), and the total number of 1st instar nymphae produced was the highest, up to 33.01 1st instar nymphae per female. The intrinsic rate of increase (r_m) on CK, MD and MI were -0.009, 0.153, 0.190 d^-1, and the net reproduction rate (R₀) were 0.84, 14.54, and 21.79, respectively. 【Conclusion】 The results suggest that infection of host plants with TSWV may benefit WFT through shortening developmental time, prolonging adult longevity, increasing fecundity, and accelerating the population growth of WFT.

Key words:  Western flower thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis), host plant, tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV), virus inoculation, population growth, developmental duration, fecundity, adult longevity