The western flower thrip (WFT), Frankliniella occidentalis pose a serious threat to horticultural and agricultural crops by feeding and ovipositing on plants, and by transmitting plant viruses. Plant induced defense responses are the most environmentally friendly method of protecting crops from the WFT. In the interaction between plants and the WFT, herbivore damage, exogenous plant hormones and microorganisms，and abiotic factors, can all enhance plant defensive responses. In addition, plant secondary compounds, intracellular Ca²⁺, defensive enzymes and signaling pathway-related genes, all play an important role in the induction of plant resistance. The WFT adapts to plant defenses by a series of detoxification processes and behavioral adaptations. In this article, we review progress in research on induced plant defense response against the WFT and adaptations of the WFT to counter these responses.