New Thrips Parvispinus Study Unlocks Secrets of the Invasive Pest
The short-spined thrips are devastating ornamentals and crops worldwide, thriving in South Florida. | UF/IFAS
Ornamental growers across the globe are fighting a tiny invader considered one of the world’s most damaging pests.
The short-spined thrips, scientifically known as Thrips parvispinus, continues to attack a variety of ornamental plants like delicate gardenias, hibiscus, and mandevillas, to essential crops like peppers, beans, and eggplants. This microscopic menace is leaving devastation in its wake for growers and home growers.
In a novel study, researchers at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) have unlocked the secrets of why this invasive insect has become a worldwide threat and how to control it.
The team of researchers has produced the most detailed portrait yet of the tiny, deadly invasive insect responsible for significant economic losses from the Americas to Asia. Their findings, published in the Journal of Economic Entomology, reveal the biological traits that have allowed this species to spread rapidly, especially across South Florida, and offer growers, regulators, and scientists the first complete biological roadmap needed to design effective integrated pest management (IPM) programs tailored specifically to this species.
The results mark a pivotal milestone in the research by identifying the temperature ranges, feeding behaviors, reproduction strategies, and soil-dependent life stages that allow the pest to flourish. The findings help explain the explosive spread in South Florida and offer the scientific groundwork needed to build effective IPM strategies for northern states, making the results relevant regardless of the location.
Tropical hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis) is what’s commonly seen in garden centers and landscapes. Hibiscus range in size from low spreading shrubs to upright tree forms that can reach twenty feet in height.
The short-spined thrips has been a threat to the industry. | UF/IFAS
“We found that under South Florida spring conditions, the thrips thrive, so we can now be better prepared to implement preventive control methods to manage this pest,” says Isamar Reyes-Arauz, lead author and a graduate student at the UF/IFAS Tropical Research and Education Center (TREC) in Homestead.
The findings revealed that South Florida’s climate is almost tailor-made for the short-spined thrips. At the region’s average annual temperature of 80.6°F, the insect completes its life cycle in less than 13 days and reaches its peak reproduction rate. This rapid development explains why growers across the region have seen populations surge in a short time.
Meanwhile, cold fronts slow the pest down because it can’t survive long periods of extreme cold. Because South Florida rarely experiences sustained cold snaps, the study suggests winter offers natural relief. The insect easily tolerates short exposures to temperatures around 50°F.
“The results suggest that the short-spined thrips is susceptible to prolonged cold temperatures below 41°F, which is good news for northern states because it appears that the pest will not be able to survive outdoors during the winter,” says Alexandra Revynthi, Assistant Professor of Ornamental Entomology and Acarology at TREC. “However, under greenhouse conditions, we expect the thrips to be active year-round.”
For additional insights from the study, including new information on Thrips parvispinus reproduction and feeding habits, please read the original release found on the UF/IFAS website.
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