THIS PROJECT AIMS TO DEVELOP A RAPID TOOL FOR THE IDENTIFICATION OFESTABLISHED AND INVASIVE THRIPS SPECIES IN LEGUMINOUS CROPS USINGMOLECULAR METHODS. ACTIVITIES WILL INCLUDE COLLECTING ADULT AND LARVALTHRIP SPECIMENS FROM THE FIELDS AND SURROUNDING LEGUMINOUS PLANTS INMAIN BEAN PRODUCTION AREAS OF SOUTH FLORIDA, IDENTIFYING SPECIMENMORPHOLOGICALLY AND PHOTOGRAPH EACH SAMPLE, EXTRACT DNA, SEQUENCE ANDCREATE MOLECULAR DNA DATABASE FOR EACH IDENTIFIED SPECIMEN. MOLECULARTOOLS WILL THEN BE DEVELOPED TO HELP WITH RAPID IDENTIFICATION ANDFOLLOWED BY TESTING METHODS ON IMMATURE STAGES.