Biology, Ecology, and Management of Prevalent Thrips Species (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) Impacting Blueberry Production in the Southeastern United States
Blueberry is a high-value fruit crop in the United States, with Georgia and Florida serving as important early-season production regions. In these areas, several thrips species (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), including <i>Frankliniella tritici</i> (Fitch), <i>Frankliniella bispinosa<...
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2025-06-01
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| author | Rosan Adhikari David G. Riley Rajagopalbabu Srinivasan Mark Abney Cera Jones Ashfaq A. Sial |
| author_facet | Rosan Adhikari David G. Riley Rajagopalbabu Srinivasan Mark Abney Cera Jones Ashfaq A. Sial |
| author_sort | Rosan Adhikari |
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| description | Blueberry is a high-value fruit crop in the United States, with Georgia and Florida serving as important early-season production regions. In these areas, several thrips species (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), including <i>Frankliniella tritici</i> (Fitch), <i>Frankliniella bispinosa</i> (Morgan), and <i>Scirtothrips dorsalis</i> (Hood), have emerged as economically significant pests. While <i>F. tritici</i> and <i>F. bispinosa</i> primarily damage floral tissues, <i>S. dorsalis</i> targets young foliage. Their rapid reproduction, high mobility, and broad host range contribute to rapid population buildup and complicate the management programs. Species identification is often difficult due to overlapping morphological features and requires the use of molecular diagnostic tools for accurate identification. Although action thresholds, such as 2–6 <i>F. tritici</i> per flower cluster, are used to guide management decisions, robust economic thresholds based on yield loss remain undeveloped. Integrated pest management (IPM) practices include regular monitoring, cultural control (e.g., pruning, reflective mulch), biological control using <i>Orius insidiosus</i> (Say) and predatory mites, and chemical control. Reduced-risk insecticides like spinetoram and spinosad offer effective suppression while minimizing harm to pollinators and beneficial insects. However, the brief flowering period limits the establishment of biological control agents. Developing species-specific economic thresholds and phenology-based IPM strategies is critical for effective and sustainable thrips management in blueberry cropping systems. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-8c3cd8c238a24767806ea2a2eb9d57a1 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2075-4450 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Insects |
| spelling | doaj-art-8c3cd8c238a24767806ea2a2eb9d57a12025-08-20T03:58:30ZengMDPI AGInsects2075-44502025-06-0116765310.3390/insects16070653Biology, Ecology, and Management of Prevalent Thrips Species (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) Impacting Blueberry Production in the Southeastern United StatesRosan Adhikari0David G. Riley1Rajagopalbabu Srinivasan2Mark Abney3Cera Jones4Ashfaq A. Sial5Department of Entomology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USADepartment of Entomology, University of Georgia, Tifton, GA 31794, USADepartment of Entomology, University of Georgia, Griffin, GA 30223, USADepartment of Entomology, University of Georgia, Tifton, GA 31794, USADepartment of Entomology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USADepartment of Entomology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USABlueberry is a high-value fruit crop in the United States, with Georgia and Florida serving as important early-season production regions. In these areas, several thrips species (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), including <i>Frankliniella tritici</i> (Fitch), <i>Frankliniella bispinosa</i> (Morgan), and <i>Scirtothrips dorsalis</i> (Hood), have emerged as economically significant pests. While <i>F. tritici</i> and <i>F. bispinosa</i> primarily damage floral tissues, <i>S. dorsalis</i> targets young foliage. Their rapid reproduction, high mobility, and broad host range contribute to rapid population buildup and complicate the management programs. Species identification is often difficult due to overlapping morphological features and requires the use of molecular diagnostic tools for accurate identification. Although action thresholds, such as 2–6 <i>F. tritici</i> per flower cluster, are used to guide management decisions, robust economic thresholds based on yield loss remain undeveloped. Integrated pest management (IPM) practices include regular monitoring, cultural control (e.g., pruning, reflective mulch), biological control using <i>Orius insidiosus</i> (Say) and predatory mites, and chemical control. Reduced-risk insecticides like spinetoram and spinosad offer effective suppression while minimizing harm to pollinators and beneficial insects. However, the brief flowering period limits the establishment of biological control agents. Developing species-specific economic thresholds and phenology-based IPM strategies is critical for effective and sustainable thrips management in blueberry cropping systems.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/16/7/653berry crop<i>Frankliniella tritici</i><i>Frankliniella bispinosa</i><i>Scirtothrips dorsalis</i>IPM |
| spellingShingle | Rosan Adhikari David G. Riley Rajagopalbabu Srinivasan Mark Abney Cera Jones Ashfaq A. Sial Biology, Ecology, and Management of Prevalent Thrips Species (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) Impacting Blueberry Production in the Southeastern United States Insects berry crop <i>Frankliniella tritici</i> <i>Frankliniella bispinosa</i> <i>Scirtothrips dorsalis</i> IPM |
| title | Biology, Ecology, and Management of Prevalent Thrips Species (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) Impacting Blueberry Production in the Southeastern United States |
| title_full | Biology, Ecology, and Management of Prevalent Thrips Species (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) Impacting Blueberry Production in the Southeastern United States |
| title_fullStr | Biology, Ecology, and Management of Prevalent Thrips Species (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) Impacting Blueberry Production in the Southeastern United States |
| title_full_unstemmed | Biology, Ecology, and Management of Prevalent Thrips Species (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) Impacting Blueberry Production in the Southeastern United States |
| title_short | Biology, Ecology, and Management of Prevalent Thrips Species (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) Impacting Blueberry Production in the Southeastern United States |
| title_sort | biology ecology and management of prevalent thrips species thysanoptera thripidae impacting blueberry production in the southeastern united states |
| topic | berry crop <i>Frankliniella tritici</i> <i>Frankliniella bispinosa</i> <i>Scirtothrips dorsalis</i> IPM |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/16/7/653 |
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