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Research Project: Exotic Whitefly Pests of Vegetables and Ornamental Plants

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Title: Chilli thrips, Scirtothrips dorsalis - small player with big damage

Author
item KUMAR, VIVEK - University Of Florida
item KAKKAR, GARIMA - University Of Florida
item PALMER, CRISTI - Rutgers University
item MYERS, WAYNE - Jc Rosen Resources
item McKenzie, Cindy
item OSBORNE, LANCE - University Of Florida

Submitted to: Acta Horticulturae
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/20/2018
Publication Date: 2/11/2019
Citation: Kumar, V., Kakkar, G., Palmer, C., Myers, W., McKenzie, C.L., Osborne, L.S. 2019. Chilli thrips, Scirtothrips dorsalis - small player with big damage. Acta Horticulturae. 1232:247-251. https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2019.1232.36.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2019.1232.36

Interpretive Summary: The chilli thrips is a highly invasive pest known to feed on over 200 plant taxa worldwide. Since its introduction in Florida in 2005, it dispersed quickly throughout the state. It has emerged as a serious threat to fruit, ornamental and vegetable industries. Recent research shows that this pest is actually a complex of at least nine different species, of which two species are found in the United States. We summarize the latest information about the geographical expansion of these species within the United States and discuss the available management tools.

Technical Abstract: Chilli thrips, Scirtothrips dorsalis Hood is a pernicious invasive pest of several horticultural crops worldwide, causing economic losses to growers due to the damage caused to plants and in pest management. It has wide host range among ornamental, vegetable, and fruit crops, and is known to feed on over 200 plant taxa. Apart from aesthetic, cosmetic or economic damage afflicted by feeding and oviposition on the host, Scirtothrips dorsalis also vectors plant-damaging tospoviruses. Their high reproductive potential, multivoltine life-history, long host list, and ability to adapt to a wide range of climatic conditions help explain its presence on the exotic pest lists of many countries. Earlier considered to be single species, recent works demonstrated that Scirtothrips dorsalis is a cryptic species complex of at least nine different species, two of which (South Asia 1 and East Asia 1) are found in the Continental United States. This study outlines the current information about the distribution and host range of the two thrips species within the United States and highlights the available management tool for the dominant member (South Asia 1) of this species complex.