[Objectives]  To determine the influence of tomato spotted wilt orthotospovirus (TSWV) on the parthenogenetic reproduction of Frankliniella occidentalis, and investigate how TSWV modulates host plant nutrition to regulate the development and reproductive capacity of these thrips. [Methods]  The parthenogenetic fecundity of F. occidentalis that fed on either TSWV-infected, or uninfected, Datura stramonium leaves, were compared. The nutrient content of infected D. stramonium was determined using biochemical methods and the effects of adding amino acids to the growth and fecundity of F. occidentalis were determined. [Results]  The parthenogenetic fecundity of F. occidentalis that fed on infected leaves was significantly (1.5 times) higher than that of the control group. The total free amino acid and soluble protein content of infected D. stramonium plants were 1.3 and 3.0 times higher, respectively, than those of uninfected plants. The nymphal development of F. occidentalis fed on leaf disks supplemented with amino acids was significantly accelerated by 0.3 d, and offspring numbers produced by sexual and parthenogenetic reproduction were 50% (P<0.01) and 60% (P<0.01) higher, respectively, than those of the control group. [Conclusion]  TSWV infection increases the total free amino acid content of D. stramonium, which appears to benefit the development and reproduction of F. occidentalis.