Ceratothripoides claratris (Thysanoptera: Thripidae): addition to the EPPO Alert List
Why: Ceratothripoides claratris (Thysanoptera: Thripidae – Oriental tomato thrips) was identified in the EPPO study on pest risks associated with the import of tomato fruit as possibly presenting a risk for the EPPO region. C. claratris was later selected as a priority for PRA by the EPPO Panel on Phytosanitary Measures. An EPPO Expert Working Group met in December 2015 to conduct PRAs on several tomato pests, including C. claratris. The conclusions of this PRA will then be reviewed by different EPPO bodies before being published.
Where: C. claratris is probably of Asian origin, but seems to have spread to Africa in recent years. In the literature, C. claratris is referred to as a species adapted to the hot and humid tropics of South East Asia. In East Africa, it is observed in the humid coastal and low–mid altitude zones.
EPPO region: absent.
Africa: Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda.
Asia: China (Yunnan), India, Philippines, Thailand.
On which plants: the main host of C. claratris is tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), but it has also been observed on other solanaceous crops such as, aubergine (S. melongena), Capsicum spp., and tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum), as well as on crops belonging to other plant families (e.g. Cucurbitaceae, Fabaceae and Asteraceae).
Damage: Larvae and adults feed on plants and fruits, and pupae develop in the soil. Larvae and adults cause direct damage on leaves, stems and fruit by feeding. Oviposition on fruit causes deformation. Indirect damage to plants is caused by the transmission of viruses and C. claratris has been reported to be a vector of Capsicum chlorosis virus (Tospovirus) and Tomato necrotic ringspot virus (Tospovirus). In Thailand, C. claratris is the predominant thrips species in tomato crops. It is reported to be one of the most destructive insect pests of tomato and the cause of significant yield losses in both field and glasshouse tomatoes. However, in other Asian or East African countries, no indication of damage could be found.
Dissemination: Adult thrips can fly but no data could be found on the potential for natural spread of C. claratris. Over long distances, trade of infested plants could disseminate the species. Unlike C. brunneus, no records of interception could be found.
Pathway: Fruits and vegetables, cut flowers?, plants for planting of host plants, soil, from countries where C. claratris occurs.
Possible risks: Several hosts (e.g. tomato, aubergine) are major vegetable crops in the EPPO region. According to the EPPO Study, the climatic similarity between the area where it occurs and the EPPO region is low to medium, but as C. claratris is known to occur in glasshouses in Thailand, it cannot be excluded that this tropical species might establish under glasshouse conditions in the EPPO region.
EPPO RS 2016/033
Panel review date - Entry date 2016-02
Sources
EPPO (2015) EPPO Study on Pest Risks Associated with the Import of Tomato Fruit. EPPO Technical Document no. 1068. Available at http://www.eppo.int
INTERNET
ICIPE
- Integrated Control of Thrips in Vegetable Ecosystems of East Africa. http://www.icipe.org/index.php/plant-health/364-integrated-control-of-thrips-in-vegetables-ecosystems-of-east-africa.html
- Occurrence of Ceratothripoides claratris (Shumsher, 1946) in East Africa http://www.icipe.org/thrips/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=96&Itemid=119
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