First report of Thrips parvispinus in Canada, and spread in the USA
Thrips parvispinus (Thysanoptera: Thripidae – formerly EPPO Alert List) is reported for the first time from Canada. It was found in 2022 in greenhouses in Southern Ontario on Mandevilla plants. In addition, another species, Thrips setosus (Thysanoptera: Thripidae – formerly EPPO Alert List) was also first found in 2022 in greenhouses in Southern Ontario on Hydrangea plants.
In the USA, Thrips parvispinus was first found in 2020 in Florida on greenhouse plants (EPPO RS 2021/027). It has now established outdoors in Florida, causing damage to pepper plants (Capsicum spp.). This species is an emerging pest of capsicum in Inda (RS 2023/031). It has recently been recorded as occurring in Puerto Rico on peppers (Capsicum annuum) as well as in the following US states associated with trade of Dipladenia, Mandevilla, and Gardenia jasminoides plants: Colorado, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina. In addition, interceptions have been made in Ohio and Pennsylvania. T. parvispinus is now a regulated pest in the USA.
Sources
Ahmed MZ, Revynthi AM, McKenzie CL, Osborne LS (2023) Thrips parvispinus (Karny), an emerging invasive regulated pest in the United States. https://mrec.ifas.ufl.edu/lsolab/thrips/thrips-parvispinus/ [accessed November 2023].
Gleason J, Maw E, Summerfield A, Jandricic S, Brunet B (2023) First records of invasive agricultural pests Thrips parvispinus (Karny, 1922) and Thrips setosus Moulton, 1928 (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) in Canada. The Journal of the Entomological Society of Ontario 154, jeso2023003.