Pepper Thrips
Scientific group or name: Thrips parvispinus and other thrips associated with peppers
Overview
The name pepper thrips may refer to thrips found damaging pepper crops, including invasive Thrips parvispinus. Species confirmation is important.
Host plants
Peppers, chillies, ornamentals and other susceptible protected crops.
Identification
Adults are very small and often dark-bodied. Larvae are paler. Species-level identification generally requires microscopy.
Damage and symptoms
Feeding scars leaves, flowers and fruit and may cause bronzing, distortion and reduced fruit quality.
Lifecycle and favourable conditions
Warm protected environments and continuous host availability favour establishment.
Monitoring
Inspect flowers, young leaves and fruit beneath the calyx. Use sticky traps to monitor adult movement.
Management
Quarantine incoming plants, remove severe hotspots, control weeds and maintain strict crop hygiene.
Biological control and natural enemies
Predatory mites and Orius may contribute, but performance differs between thrips species and crop structures.
Biological control should be selected only after the pest has been identified and the crop, temperature, growing environment and pest pressure have been considered.
Related BioWiki pages
This page provides general integrated pest-management information. Identification and control decisions should be confirmed for the crop and local situation.