This study was carried out from 2004 to 2006 at La Yerba (Tepic) and Emiliano Zapata (Xalisco) Nayarit, Mexico. The objectives were:to determine thrip species in inflorescences and leaves, population dynamics in foliage, and incidence in foliage of trees treated with different fertilization levels. Thrips belonged to the Aeolthripidae (three species), Phlaeothripidae (two species) and Thripidae (one species) families. For the first time for avocado in Nayarit we recorded the predator thrips Erythrothrips durango, Franklinothrips vespiformis and Leptothrips mcconelli, together with Pseudophilothrips perseae (plant phage). The highest population of the thrip complex (2.09 thrips·leaf-1) occurred in June at La Yerba; and in July for E. Zapata (4.10 thrips·leaf-1). The highest populations of thrips occurred during the flowering and vegetative growth periods; the lowest during the months of the summer precipitation. Thrip populations were 60 % higher at E. Zapata than at La Yerba. We did not detect a higher population of thrips in trees under the fertilization control treatment when compared to tress with balanced fertilization.

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