Control of Western Flower Thrips Is Critical to Prevent Virus Spread

Posted by Brian Sparks|March 15, 2022

The biggest threat that comes with finding thrips, particularly Western flower thrips (WFT), in your greenhouse is the potential for rapid virus transmission. According to Dr. Aaron Palmateer, Technical Development Manager for SePRO, WFT is especially notorious for spreading tospoviruses, the most important of which are tomato spotted wilt virus and impatiens necrotic spot virus.

“Impatiens necrotic spot virus, in particular, attacks a wide range of ornamental crops, including impatiens, lobelia, begonia, lisianthus, and cyclamen,” Palmateer says. “The main reason growers need to monitor for WFT is that while tomato spotted wilt virus can be vectored by about a dozen different thrips species, impatiens necrotic spot virus is only vectored by WFT, and the transmission is rapid.”

This spread starts at the larval stage, and as the thrips takes up the virus and feeds, it only takes about 30 minutes for the instars to become capable of spreading the virus. Once the thrips acquires the virus, Palmateer says, it continues to spread it through its life cycle, including the adult stage, where the most serious damage occurs.

Learn more in the video below.