{"id":22562,"date":"2025-06-20T13:08:17","date_gmt":"2025-06-20T13:08:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/endowment.org\/?post_type=news&p=22562"},"modified":"2025-06-23T13:15:19","modified_gmt":"2025-06-23T13:15:19","slug":"managing-thrips-parvispinus-new-research","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/endowment.org\/es\/news\/managing-thrips-parvispinus-new-research","title":{"rendered":"Managing Thrips Parvispinus: New Research on Cultural and Biological Control"},"content":{"rendered":"

Over the past few years, Thrips parvispinus<\/em> has emerged as a serious threat to ornamental greenhouse crops across North America. First reported in Florida in 2020 on Hoya and Anthurium, this invasive thrips has now been detected in greenhouse ornamentals, peppers, and landscape plants in the southeastern U.S., and more recently in Ontario. While it can\u2019t survive winters outdoors in Canada and parts of the northern U.S., its wide host range\u2014including Mandevilla, Dipladenia, Schefflera, Ficus, and peppers\u2014means it has the potential to cause significant damage wherever susceptible crops are grown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Thrips
Thrips parvispinus male (left) and female (right)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Growers have reported stunted growth, leaf streaking, and floral damage that reduce crop quality and marketability. Complicating matters, T. parvispinus<\/em> is suspected of developing pesticide resistance, making conventional chemical controls less reliable. Biological control programs designed for other thrips species, like Frankliniella occidentalis<\/em> (western flower thrips), also appear less effective against this pest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With support from the American Floral Endowment, researchers Dr. Rose Buitenhuis (Vineland Research and Innovation Centre) and Dr. Sarah Jandricic (Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness) have launched a multi-year effort to develop practical, sustainable IPM strategies tailored specifically for T. parvispinus<\/em>. The first year of research focused on three main areas: cutting dips, thrips biology and behavior, and evaluating biopesticides and predators. Here\u2019s what they found:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Clean Start: Cutting Dips and Phytotoxicity<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Because T. parvispinus<\/em> does not yet appear to be spreading outdoors in most of North America, infested plant material, particularly unrooted cuttings, is likely the primary source of new introductions. Clean start practices like cutting dips are a critical first line of defense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Researchers evaluated the phytotoxicity of several dip treatments on unrooted and rooted cuttings of Mandevilla, Hibiscus, and Anthurium. These included commercial biopesticides like Suffoil-X, Botanigard, BioCeres, Mycotal, and LalGuard M52, as well as experimental treatments like UV-C light plus hydrogen peroxide or ozone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Key findings:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n