Invasive Pepper Thrips Could Become a Major Pain for Growers in Florida

Don’t look now, but another invasive pest is starting to make a name for itself in Florida. Thrips parvispinus — commonly known as pepper thrips — was first detected in Florida in 2020 but has since spread significantly across the state. What once was isolated to greenhouses now has begun to harm a wide range of plants including those in residential landscapes.

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The tiny insects fly and hop from plant to plant, rasping the plant with their mouth parts and sucking the sap. Feeding on the plant restricts the plant’s growth and reduces crop yields. Researchers don’t know of any viruses this species transmits, but often, thrips can transmit viruses between plants, killing the plants.

“In order to minimize any kind of negative impacts we started warning people right away that this pest had made its way to Florida,” says Lance Osborne, UF/IFAS Entomologist at the Mid-Florida Research and Education Center (MREC). “We better be careful. This insect is notorious for damaging peppers around the world but now it has moved from the greenhouse to the environment and has established itself in several areas around the state.”

The pest has been detected on a wide variety of plants including 43 species from 19 plant families including fiber crops, vegetables, and ornamental plants.

In November, a South Florida grower lost an entire pepper crop to the pest valued at more than $1.3 million.

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“At first, the damage can mimic mites and can be misleading,” Osborne says. “The control methods are not the same and without proper treatment, these thrips can take out a whole crop.”

Currently, scientists don’t know of any effective predators or other biologicals that attack Thrips parvispinus in Florida and chemical control has been very difficult. That makes early detection and prevention even more important.

Entomologists encourage growers to scout often and inspect their plants carefully.

“It isn’t that the sky is falling but we have to pay attention to this and not ignore it,” Osborne says. “Growers of any crop should be aware. This insect seems to have a fairly broad host range. This won’t just impact peppers and ornamental plant growers.”

Researchers are conducting controlled experiments in quarantine facilities at the UF/IFAS Tropical Research and Education Center and MREC.

Growers who detect Thrips parvispisnus should immediately report their findings to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Division of Plant Industry. Then, researchers can work with growers to help manage the pest and develop the best treatment options available.

In addition, a new website developed in collaboration between UF/IFAS and USDA provides detailed information on the insect’s biology, early detection, and damage symptoms with detailed videos and images.

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