Pacific Pests, Pathogens & Weeds - Mini Fact Sheet Edition

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Melon thrips (106)

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Photo 1. Warty scaring at the calyx end of the chilli fruit caused by Thrips palmi, while the fruit was still in the bud.

Photo 2. Faint lines of scaring down the chilli fruit from the calyx end caused by Thrips palmi, while the fruit was still in the bud.

Photo 3. Typical scaring caused by Thrips palmi on capsicum fruit while it was still in the bud.

Photo 4. Scars on the surface of an eggplant fruit due to feeding of thrips, Thrips palmi, when the fruit was young.

Photo 5. Adult thrips, Thrips palmi, are about 1 mm long, narrow, yellow with two pairs of wings.

Summary

• Worldwide distribution. A problem of many plant families - cabbages, cucumber, legume, potato, ornamentals, and weeds.
• Feed on undersides of leaves, which become silvery or brown, and curl. Feeding on fruit when it is young produces scars when the fruit expands.
• Spreads viruses, e.g., Tomato spotted wilt virus is widespread and important (not reported from Pacific island countries).
• Cultural control: avoid planting near older crops; nurseries far from production areas and/or use thrips-proof netting; weed before planting; at harvest, collect trash and burn. For the control of TSWV use resistant varieties.
• Chemical control: use soaps, oils, neem, or spinosad.

Common Name

Melon thrips

Scientific Name

Thrips palmi (but note, no species of palms are host!).

This mini fact sheet is a part of the app Pacific Pests, Pathogens & Weeds

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