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Pest thrips in East Africa - Identification and information tools (CD-ROM)

Authors:
  • Institute of Biology

Abstract

Thrips (Order: Thysanoptera) are key pests of highly value horticultural and staple food crops worldwide. Thrips inflict substantial qualitative and quantitative losses due to their feeding, transmission of tospoviruses and their relevance as quarantine pests. The cryptic feeding behavior, small size and diverse character states of nearly 6000 recognized thrips species has made difficult their detection and identification during phytosanitary inspections. Further a declining group of thrips taxonomists world-over has made precise identification of thrips an uphill task. Rapidly expanding trans-border trade of crop produces in addition to constraints associated with detection and identification has resulted in thrips emerging as a rapidly growing group of invasive organisms. Precise and timely identification is very critical for better understanding of thrips diversity, formulation of effective management strategies and for early detection and prevention of invasive thrips species. Recently taxonomists world over have taken advantage of developments in information and communication technology to formulate user-friendly identification tools and systems for several organisms including thrips (Moritz et al., 2004, 2009; Hoddle et al., 2008). These tools are extensively used by thrips biologist world over and to some extent constraints for identification of thrips has been reduced. As observed elsewhere in the world, thrips and tospoviruses transmitted by thrips seriously affect productivity of several staple food crops such as maize, beans, cowpea, dolichos, and peanuts, and several horticultural crops such as French bean, onion, tomato and pepper, threatening food and nutritional security in Africa. In spite of their economic importance, information on thrips diversity in Africa is very sparse and not accessible easily. This is a serious constraint for economic entomologists, plant virologists and quarantine officers in Africa to develop effective monitoring and management strategies for thrips and tospoviruses transmitted by thrips. Export horticulture sector in many African countries like Kenya, Zimbabwe, South Africa and other upcoming countries has recorded tremendous growth over the years, generating the much needed foreign exchange reserves for the national income and provide gainful employment to millions of people in Africa. Many of these export horticultural crops including flowers like roses, carnation and other cutflowers; vegetables like French bean, crucifers, chillies, eggplants, cucurbits and others; and fruits like citrus, avocado and melons are severely infested by native and invasive thrips species. Sustained growth of the export horticulture sector in Africa is only possible if effective monitoring and identification systems and tools for native and invasive thrips of Africa are developed. These tools need to be made available to quarantine officers and economic entomologists and plant virologists in Africa and in destination regions such as in America, Europe, Asia and Australia. This information and identification tool for pest thrips in East Africa developed under the LucID 3.5 platform is a first step towards addressing the above critical capacity needs in Africa. - http://shop.cbit.uq.edu.au/ProductDetails.aspx?productID=332
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... It has extended its distribution to northern China (Yunnan) (Mirab-balou et al., 2011;Zhang et al., 2011), the Philippines (Reyes, 1994), Taiwan (Mound and Masumoto, 2005) and West Asia (India in 2014: Rachana and Varatharajan, 2017;Rachana et al., 2018). Moritz et al. (2013) reported the presence of the species in New Zealand, but this has not been confirmed. T. parvispinus was discovered in Hawaii in 2006 (Sugano et al., 2013;Mound et al., 2016). ...
... T. parvispinus was discovered in Hawaii in 2006 (Sugano et al., 2013;Mound et al., 2016). In Africa, it has been recorded on Reunion Island (Bournier, 2000), Mauritius (Mound, 2010), on the mainland in Tanzania (Dar-es-Salaam) and Uganda (Kampala) (Moritz et al., 2013) and in Ghana (Fening et al., 2022). ...
... Thrips parvispinus inflicts direct damage on plants by feeding and reproducing on young leaves and flowers. The feeding activity results in lightly spotted leaves with streaks (Moritz et al., 2013) and can also stunt plant growth. ...
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This datasheet on Thrips parvispinus covers Identity, Overview, Distribution, Dispersal, Hosts/Species Affected, Vectors & Intermediate Hosts, Diagnosis, Biology & Ecology, Environmental Requirements, Natural Enemies, Impacts, Prevention/Control, Further Information.
... Molecular evidence indicated that, Indonesia may be a probable source of invasion of this species to India (Tyagi et al., 2015) [12] . Rachana et al, (2018) [11] reported Dahlia rosea Cav. has been reported as new host for the quarantine thrips, Thrips parvispinus (Karny) from karntaka, India T. parvispinus has been identified as polyphagous pest infesting mainly fruit, vegetable and ornamental crops viz., coffee, chilli pepper, Gardenia sp., papaya, potato, sweet pepper, green bean, tobacco, Vigna sp., strawberry, watermelon, eggplant and other Cucurbits (Moritz et al., 2013) [8] . Life cycle is completed in 13-14 days under controlled condition on chili pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) in greenhouse. ...
... Molecular evidence indicated that, Indonesia may be a probable source of invasion of this species to India (Tyagi et al., 2015) [12] . Rachana et al, (2018) [11] reported Dahlia rosea Cav. has been reported as new host for the quarantine thrips, Thrips parvispinus (Karny) from karntaka, India T. parvispinus has been identified as polyphagous pest infesting mainly fruit, vegetable and ornamental crops viz., coffee, chilli pepper, Gardenia sp., papaya, potato, sweet pepper, green bean, tobacco, Vigna sp., strawberry, watermelon, eggplant and other Cucurbits (Moritz et al., 2013) [8] . Life cycle is completed in 13-14 days under controlled condition on chili pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) in greenhouse. ...
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Chilli, Capsicum annum L. is an important cash crop cultivated over large area in southern states of India. During Kharif 2021, chilli growing farmers witnessed heavy infestation and damage by thrips pest. To study the status of pest infestation, to identify the thrips species and to suggest suitable control tactics, we conducted surveys in major chilli growing areas of Warangal and Mulugu districts of Telangana. Taxonomic identification revealed it as newly invaded exotic thrips species, Thrips parvispinus (Karny). We reported heavy infestation of invasive thrips causing heavy flower drop and upward leaf curling. In Darmapuram and Parakal blocks of Mulugu districts of Telangana, 100% crop loss was noticed due to feeding and flower drop caused by this pest. We recorded the infestation to the tune of 10-13 male and 18-25 female thrips flower-1 ; with 30-100% flower drop. T. parvispinus was first reported in India in 2015 from Karnataka on papaya plants. Our study reported the heavy infestation and severe damage to chilli crop by this exotic pest since its invasion in India. Very little is known about its biology, host range, damage mechanism, population dynamics and distribution of this thrips species in India. Hence, there is an urgent need to initiate research programs to recommend the timely monitoring, alert message and suitable control tactics to restrict the spread of this pest to other Chilli growing areas in the country.
... The yield losses of about 21%-83% result from direct feeding causing flower abortion, malformed pods and leaves with white specs on the legumes (Niassy et al., 2019;Reitz et al., 2020). In addition, bean flower thrips can spread phytopathogenic fungi and bacteria (Moritz et al., 2013). ...
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Bean flower thrips ( Megalurothrips usitatus ) is a major French bean ( Phaseolus vulgaris L.) pest. Small‐scale farmers manage the pest using mixed plant extracts although their efficacy has not been scientifically validated. We evaluated the efficacy of mixed plant extracts comprising; Capsicum frutescens , Allium sativum , Lantana camara , Tagetes minuta and Azadirachta indica , against M. usitatus under laboratory and screenhouse. We identified and quantified the secondary metabolites associated with insecticidal activity using spectrophotometry and liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC–MS). The plant combinations included PE1 ( C. frutescens + A. sativum + L. camara + T. minuta extracts infused for 14 days), PE2 (same as PE1 but infused for 24 h) and PE + N (the five plant extracts infused for 24 h) in distilled water. We used an organic commercial botanical (Pyneem) as a positive control and distilled water as a negative control. Pyneem and PE + N induced the highest mortality at 88% and 77%, respectively, in the laboratory, and 68% and 71%, respectively, in the screenhouse. Phenolics, terpenoids and organosulfur compounds were identified in PE + N and individual plant extracts in varied quantities. These compounds were significantly higher ( p < 0.001) in PE + N compared to individual plant extracts. The study showed that PE + N efficiently manages bean flower thrips, and mixing different plant extracts amplifies the secondary metabolites' abundance. The use of mixed plant extracts could be incorporated into integrated pest management strategies for thrips management in legumes. The specific compounds identified in PE + N should be investigated further to understand their modes of action against the pest.
... Thrips (larvae and adults) were collected from the leaves and transferred to glass vials containing 70% alcohol. Identification of adults was made using the keys provided by Moritz et al. (2019). ...
Article
This paper is the first record of Retithrips syriacus (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) for Algeria. This thrips pest is reported for the first time from Khenchela Province, north‐eastern Algeria, on two Vitaceae species ( Vitis vinifera and Parthenocissus quinquefolia ). The observations were made in several gardens of different houses within the same neighbourhood.
... Both these thrips' species have a very wide host range that include a variety of fruit, vegetable, and ornamental crops (Moritz et al., 2013). Even, these two are also considered as important insect pests of lotus flowers, Nulumbo nucifera Gearn (Mungnimitr and Bumroongsook, 2007) which is the focus in this chapter. ...
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The aquatic ecosystems are the largest and the most critical one in the Biosphere and serve as the habitat for thousands of living species; and remain unexplored. There are two kinds of aquatic ecosystem in the world, fresh water and marine water depending on the physical condition and composed of rich diversity of insect fauna. The freshwater ecosystem is composed of both dicot and monocot plants. Among the insects present in the aquatic world, a small fraction of them feeds on aquatic plants. The insectpests of aquatic plants are mainly the representative of the order Trichoptera, Ephemeroptera, Thysanoptera, Hemiptera, Heteroptera, Coleoptera, Diptera and Lepidoptera. These insects are usually considered as potential biological control agents for controlling those aquatic plants. In this chapter we have discussed about the host range, distribution, nature of damage and management of some of such insect-pests of different aquatic plants.
... This species is widespread around the world in tropical and subtropical areas (Roditakis et al. 2006). Feeding by larvae and adults can cause leaf damage to many kinds of plants, including calla lily (Zantedeschia aethiopica), chrysanthemums, figs (Ficus spp.), banana, cotton, cowpea, cucumber, groundnut, maize, sugar beet, sugar cane and tomato (Moritz et al. 2013). A large population has been found in China in greenhouse damaging the leaves of cabbage (Fig. 20) and sweet potato. ...
Article
Helionothrips mube and Panchaetothrips bifurcus are here recognized as new synonyms of Helionothrips aino and Panchaetothrips timonii based on large numbers of specimens and continuous morphological differences. Three species, Caliothrips insularis, Hercinothrips femoralis and Phibalothrips rugosus are newly recorded from China and the previous record of Caliothrips indicus from China is here considered incorrect. Illustrations of males and larvae of Hercinothrips femoralis are also provided.
... India Vol. 25, No. 1, pp. 191-194, 2022 This pest has been reported from Southeast Asia to northern Australia and Solomon Islands (Palmer, 1992), extending its area of distribution to the north (Yunnan -China) (Zhang et al, 2011), the Philippines (Reyes, 1994), Taiwan (Mound and Masumoto, 2005) and India (Tyagi et al, 2015;Rachana et al, 2018). Thrips parvispinus is a polyphagous pest that causes significant losses to agricultural crops, fruits, vegetables and ornamental crops, such as coffee, Gardenia sp., papaya, chilli pepper, sweet pepper, potato, tobacco, Vigna sp., green bean, strawberry, eggplant, watermelon and cucurbits belonging to different families (EPPO, 2001;Azidah, 2011;Moritz et al, 2013;Sartiami and Mound, 2013). In Europe, it was found on ornamentals in greenhouses: Citrus, Dipladenia (synonym of Mandevilla), Ficus benjamina, Gardenia, Gerbera and Schefflera (Lacasa et al, 2019). ...
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Invasive thrips, Thrips parvispinus (Karny) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) has been reported first time infesting chilli, Capsicum annuum in the farmer's fields of Sonna, Kasarbosaga and Hipparaga SN, Rajavala, Biral, Madaraki, Harval and Rampur villages of Jewargi Taluka, Kalaburagi district of Kalyana Karnataka region, India. Both nymphs and adults lacerate on flowers, flower buds, leaves and small fruits. Further, it was observed that females are black in colour, while males are yellow and both were found damaging flowers in groups. Probably, it may pose a serious threat to other agriculturally important crops also. So, it is need of the hour to monitor this pest in terms of its distribution, host range and damage potentiality to formulate suitable management strategies.
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Maize lethal necrosis (MLN) is a viral disease caused by co-infection of Maize chlorotic mottle virus (MCMV) and a potyvirus mostly Sugarcane mosaic virus (SCMV). MLN is one of the most important maize production constraints in East Africa including Ethiopia. In this study molecular characterization was used to determine potential insect vectors that transmit MLN causing viruses in Ethiopia. Suspected insect vectors of MLN causing viruses collected from maize fields were initially identified to a genus/species level based on the morphological features. Further taxonomic determination was carried out using DNA sequencing from cytochrome oxidase primers. Pre-identified insect vectors of MLN-causing viruses were separately tested in the greenhouse for potential transmission of MCMV and SCMV. Accordingly, maize thrips, Franklinella sp. (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) and cereal leaf beetle, Oulema sp. (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) transmitted MCMV, whereas corn leaf aphids, Rhopalosiphum maidis Fich (Hemiptera: Aphididae) transmitted SCMV. Out of 86 maize fields surveyed, Franklinella sp. were widely distributed in 22 (25.6%) fields, mostly in Arsi and West Shewa zones of Oromia region. R. maidis was abundant in all the areas assessed, suggesting that this insect spp. is a vector for SCMV in Ethiopia. The presence of insects as vectors of MLN causing viruses on maize plants is believed to contribute to the widespread of MLN viruses from plant to plant, field to field and to new geographical areas. Thus, managing these vectors through appropriate control measures can reduce maize yield losses caused by MLN disease.
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