Search Results (12)

Frankliniella panamensis Hood 1925 (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) is a thrips species of increasing interest as a potential pest of crops in Central and South America and as a contaminant in international trade, especially for ornamentals. We identify, collate, summarize, and critically analyze information from national, regional, and international sources, on the taxonomy, diagnostics, distribution, biology and ecology, pest status, and pest management of F. panamensis. Approximately 90 articles of relevance were identified. Most were locatable in either Google or Google Scholar, but electronic or hard copies were sometimes difficult to obtain. The taxonomic status of F. panamensis is established. After past issues, especially those that related to the distinction between F. panamensis and Frankliniella occidentalis, suitable morphological and molecular diagnostics for F. panamensis have been developed. F. panamensis has mostly been recorded from between 1400 and 3600 m asl in several Central and South American countries and especially in Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, and Panama. Adults of F. panamensis have been recorded from flowers and leaves of many endemic and introduced plants, including weeds, in Central and South America, but details on the feeding and breeding hosts for this thrips species are rare. F. panamensis seems to be multivoltine and exhibits arrhenotoky. F. panamensis is clearly a transitory species in some protected crops but there is little evidence as to whether it maintains breeding populations under these conditions. F. panamensis is listed as a pest in several South American publications, but we found little published evidence of direct or indirect damage caused by the species to any cultivated or uncultivated plant species. Until the pest status of F. panamensis is clarified, this species will probably remain a quarantine issue in international trade in some countries. We identify knowledge gaps and priority areas for future research. Full article

Understanding the reproductive biology of orchids is essential for evaluating population viability and guiding conservation strategies, as their persistence often depends on complex interactions between ecological, physiological, and environmental factors. Govenia capitata, a threatened orchid endemic to the montane forests of central Mexico, had not previously been studied in this regard. We examined flowering phenology, floral longevity, stigmatic receptivity, natural and experimental pollination success, seed viability, and asymbiotic germination in two wild populations. Flowering was synchronous, with inflorescences lasting up to 57 days and individual flowers persisting for an average of 20 days. Stigmatic receptivity was detectable from the first day of anthesis and remained evident for at least eight days. Natural fruit set was very low (16.6%), while assisted self- and cross-pollination reached 100% success, demonstrating self-compatibility despite the inability for autonomous selfing due to floral structure. Seed viability differed significantly among treatments, being lowest in selfed capsules (11%) and highest in cross-pollinated ones (32%), representing a 65% reduction and reflecting severe inbreeding depression that extended to germination performance. In vitro germination success also varied, with the L-arginine medium yielding the highest values (46% for cross-pollinated seeds and 44% for naturally pollinated seeds), though post-germination survival requires optimization for conservation applications. Despite the conspicuous floral display, floral visitation was extremely rare and the pollinator identity remains unknown, with only one potentially effective visitor observed during 144 h of monitoring, and most floral visitors were non-pollinating arthropods such as crab spiders, weevils, hymenopterans, and thrips. Population density varied dramatically (26-fold) between sites separated by less than 1 km, indicating pronounced sensitivity to local environmental conditions. These findings reveal that reproduction in G. capitata is constrained by both extrinsic (pollinator limitation) and intrinsic factors (reduced seed viability), which collectively jeopardize long-term population persistence. From a conservation perspective, protecting montane forest remnants and pollinator communities is essential, while the demonstrated potential of asymbiotic germination provides a complementary tool for ex situ propagation and management of this endemic orchid. Full article

Chrysanthemum morifolium Ramat. is a major ornamental crop that suffers from diverse fungal, bacterial, viral, and insect pests, causing significant yield and quality losses. Between 2015 and 2025, rapid progress in molecular biology, genomics, and ecological regulation has advanced both fundamental research and applied control strategies. Multi-locus sequencing, multiplex PCR, and next-generation sequencing refined the identification of fungal and bacterial pathogens, while functional studies of WRKY, MYB, and NAC transcription factors revealed key resistance modules. Hormone-mediated signaling pathways, particularly those of salicylic acid, jasmonic acid, and abscisic acid, were shown to play central roles in host defense. Despite these advances, durable genetic resistance against bacterial pathogens and broad-spectrum defense against viruses remains limited. Novel technologies, including virus-free propagation, RNA interference, and spray-induced gene silencing, have shown promising outcomes. For insect pests, studies clarified the damage and virus-vectoring roles of aphids and thrips, and resistance traits linked to trichomes, terpenoids, and lignin have been identified. Biocontrol agents such as Trichoderma spp., Bacillus spp., predatory mites, and entomopathogenic fungi have also demonstrated efficacy. Future efforts should integrate molecular breeding, genome editing, RNA-based tools, and microbiome management to achieve sustainable chrysanthemum protection. Full article

Blueberry is a high-value fruit crop in the United States, with Georgia and Florida serving as important early-season production regions. In these areas, several thrips species (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), including Frankliniella tritici (Fitch), Frankliniella bispinosa (Morgan), and Scirtothrips dorsalis (Hood), have emerged as economically significant pests. While F. tritici and F. bispinosa primarily damage floral tissues, S. dorsalis targets young foliage. Their rapid reproduction, high mobility, and broad host range contribute to rapid population buildup and complicate the management programs. Species identification is often difficult due to overlapping morphological features and requires the use of molecular diagnostic tools for accurate identification. Although action thresholds, such as 2–6 F. tritici per flower cluster, are used to guide management decisions, robust economic thresholds based on yield loss remain undeveloped. Integrated pest management (IPM) practices include regular monitoring, cultural control (e.g., pruning, reflective mulch), biological control using Orius insidiosus (Say) and predatory mites, and chemical control. Reduced-risk insecticides like spinetoram and spinosad offer effective suppression while minimizing harm to pollinators and beneficial insects. However, the brief flowering period limits the establishment of biological control agents. Developing species-specific economic thresholds and phenology-based IPM strategies is critical for effective and sustainable thrips management in blueberry cropping systems. Full article

Soybean vein necrosis orthotospovirus (SVNV: Tospoviridae: Orthotospovirus) is a well-recognized thrips-vectored and seed-borne virus common in the United States (U.S.), Canada, and Egypt. Pakistan started the commercial cultivation of soybeans in the 1970s, when some soybean cultivars were imported from the U.S. to meet the country’s domestic requirement of oil, poultry, animal feed, and forage. A survey of farmers and scientists was conducted in the Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces of Pakistan to understand perceptions of SVNV in the indigenous Pakistani community. Concurrently, soybean fields were sampled for SVNV presence at the National Agricultural Research Institute in Islamabad, Pakistan. Based upon survey and SVNV detection results through ELISA and qRT-PCR, a policy was developed. Overall, we found that SVNV was present in Islamabad, Pakistan in USDA-approved soybean cultivars. Although scientists knew about general thrips biology and insecticides, knowledge about identification of vectors (Thrips species) was not significantly different between the scientists and the farmers. Scientists at the Islamabad location were more aware of crop production technology and pests. This study reports that Pakistan needs to strengthen its research institutes, scientists’ and farmers’ capacity building, and extension programs to understand the disease complex in soybean crops. Full article

Frankliniella occidentalis Pergande (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), broadly known as Western flower thrips (WFT), are currently one of the most critical pests worldwide in field and greenhouse crops, and their management is full of yet unsolved challenges derived from their high reproductive potential, cryptic habit, and ability to disperse. The control of this pest relies widely on chemical control, despite the propensity of the species to develop resistance. However, significant advances have been produced through biological and ethological control. Although there has recently been a remarkable amount of new information regarding the management of this pest worldwide, there is no critical analysis of recent developments and advances in the attractive control tactics for WFT, constituting the present compilation’s aim. Hence, this narrative review provides an overview of effective control strategies for managing thrips populations. By understanding the pest’s biology, implementing monitoring techniques, accurately identifying the species, and employing appropriate control measures, farmers and researchers can mitigate the WFT impact on agricultural production and promote sustainable pest management practices. Full article

North American bean thrips, Caliothrips fasciatus, native to California U.S., has been detected inside the navels of navel oranges exported from California for more than 120 years. Despite this long history of accidental movement into new areas, this thrips has failed to establish populations outside of its native range. The cold accumulation hypothesis postulates that increasing levels of cold stress experienced by thrips overwintering inside navels is compounded when harvested fruit is shipped under cold storage conditions. Consequently, the fitness of surviving thrips is compromised, which greatly diminishes invasion potential. At the time this study was conducted, the effects of temperature on C. fasciatus fitness were unknown. To address this shortcoming, the effects of nine fluctuating temperatures that averaged 8, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 32, 35, and 37 °C over a 24 h period on the developmental and reproductive biology of C. fasciatus were evaluated. One linear and five nonlinear regression functions were fit to egg-to-adult development rate data for parent and offspring thrips to characterize thermal performance curves. Estimates of minimum, optimal, and maximum temperature thresholds for development were in the ranges of −4.37–6.52 °C (i.e., T_min), 31.19–32.52 °C (i.e., T_opt), and 35.07–37.98 °C (i.e., T_max), respectively. Degree day accumulation to complete development, estimated from linear regression, ranged 370.37–384.61. Average development times for eggs, first and second instar larvae, propupae, pupae, and adult longevity, and mean lifetime fecundity of females were significantly affected by temperature. These biological responses to temperature may provide insight into how this abiotic variable affects the invasion potential of C. fasciatus. Full article

An understanding of insect olfaction allows for more specific alternative methods of pest control. We evaluated the responses of the western flower thrips (WFT, Frankliniella occidentalis) in a Y-olfactometer to estimate gas-phase concentrations of the aggregation pheromone neryl (S)-2-methylbutanoate and known kairomones such as methyl isonicotinate, (S)-(-)-verbenone, and p-anisaldehyde. The gas-phase concentrations of these compounds were obtained from the release rates measured in dynamic headspace cells. The compounds were collected from the headspace using dried solid-phase extraction (SPE) cartridges and analyzed with a triple quadrupole GC-MS/MS. We observed that the aggregation pheromone significantly attracted WFT females at doses of 10 and 100 µg, whereas methyl isonicotinate and p-anisaldehyde significantly attracted WFT females at the highest dose. Verbenone did not produce any significant results. A completely different picture was obtained when the gas-phase concentrations were considered. The minimal gas-phase concentrations of the pheromone required to attract WFT females was 0.027 ng/mL, at least 100 times lower than that of the other two compounds. The relevance and implications of our results are discussed in light of the insect’s biology and pest management methods. Full article

Soybean vein necrosis orthotospovirus (SVNV: Tospoviridae: Orthotospovirus), the causal agent of soybean vein necrosis disease, is vectored by soybean thrips Neohydatothrips variabilis (Beach, 1896), and to a lesser extent by five other thrips species. There is increasing incidence of soybean vein necrosis (SVN) disease in all soybean growing states in the United States, Canada, Egypt and Pakistan, necessitating a study of the system’s ecology and management. We addressed the effect of SVNV on the life table parameters of the vector. We used an ‘age-stage two-sex’ life table approach, which provided detailed life stage durations of each larval instar and adults (both sexes). Our results showed that the intrinsic rate of increase (r), finite rate of increase (λ) and mortality index (qx) were higher in the infected population, while the net reproduction rate (Ro), cumulative probability of survival (lx) and gross reproduction rate (GRR) were lower in the uninfected population. Overall, in both infected and uninfected populations, the number of eggs producing haploid males via arrhenotoky ranged from 9–12 per female. Male to female ratio was female biased in the infected population. Overall, our study provided evidence that virus infection, by decreasing the population doubling time, could enhance the virus and vector populations in soybeans. Full article

Almost all of the thrips species that are considered pests are members of a single subfamily of Thripidae, the Thripinae, a group that represents less than 30% of the species in the insect Order Thysanoptera. Three of the five major Families of Thysanoptera (Aeolothripidae, Heterothripidae, Melanthripidae) are not known to include any pest species. The Phlaeothripidae that includes more than 50% of the 6300 thrips species listed includes very few that are considered to be pests. Within the Thripidae, the members of the three smaller subfamilies, Panchaetothripinae, Dendrothripinae and Sericothripinae, include remarkably few species that result in serious crop losses. It is only in the subfamily Thripinae, and particularly among species of the Frankliniella genus-group and the Thrips genus-group that the major thrips species are found, including all but one of the vectors of Orthotospovirus infections. It is argued that the concept of pest is a socio-economic problem, with the pest status of any particular species being dependent on geographical area, cultivation practices, and market expectations as much as the intrinsic biology of any thrips species. Full article

Paracossulus thrips (Lepidoptera, Cossidae) is one of the locally distributed and endangered species. In Europe, it is also one of the few protected moth species, through Annexes II and IV of the Council Directive 92/43/EEC, Annex II of the Bern Convention. To date, little is known about the biology and ecology of this species. Our study was conducted in Transylvania, Romania. Romania hosts some of the strongest populations of the species in the European region. As part of the study, we conducted field observations, vegetation analyses, and genetic analyses. In our paper, we show the habitat types where we encounter P. thrips in Transylvania and confirm Phlomis tuberosa as a host plant. Furthermore, a piece of important information for habitat conservation is given. In this paper, we present the eggs and larvae of P. thrips, the first DNA barcoding sequences, and four new populations of P. thrips in Romania. Our study provides baseline knowledge about the biology and ecology of P. thrips, which is important for conservation and establishing management measures. Full article

Tea green leafhoppers and thrips are key pests in tea plantations and have widely invaded those of Asian origin. Pesticides are currently a favorable control method but not desirable for frequent use on tea plants. To meet Integrated Pest Management (IPM) demand, biological control with a natural enemy is viewed as the most promising way. Orius sauteri are slated to be a natural enemy to tea pests. However, more knowledge of rearing O. sauteri and selecting banker plant systems is strongly needed. The reproductive biology evaluation of the egg oviposition and population life parameters of O. sauteri under laboratory conditions were examined, and the supporting ability of 11 plant species—motherwort, white clover, red bean, mung bean, peanut, soybean, kidney bean, herba violae, bush vetch, smooth vetch, and common vetch—in a greenhouse was assessed. Most of the selected plants, except for herba violae, performed relatively well with high oviposition quantity and survival. The mean fecundity per female on red bean and motherwort was 148.75 eggs and 148.25 eggs, respectively, and 90.20 eggs for tea plants (the smallest); there also were significant differences. In an experiment to determine the life parameters of O. sauteri, all the tested plants, except herba violae, were found to be able to complete the growth and development of the life cycle; there also were significant differences. The intrinsic rate of increase of motherwort and red bean was 1.18 and 1.17, respectively, and higher compared to that of the other plants, including tea plants (1.13). This result of the O. sauteri population development index was also confirmed in a greenhouse with the number of motherwort and red beans being as high as 113.33 and 112.67. Since motherwort was found to be susceptible to aphids and powdery mildew in each trial, it cannot be used for intercropping in tea gardens. Among the 11 plants, red bean was found to be the most suitable to support O. sauteri in tea plantations. Full article