Loquat thrips

Thrips coloratus

1. Identification

• Common name: Loquat thrips
• Scientific name: Thrips coloratus Schmutz
• Order: Thysanoptera
• Family: Thripidae

2. Description of the pest

• Small-sized thrips species, with a narrow body and yellowish to brown colouration.
• Pale nymphs, concentrated mainly on young leaves and flowers.
• It feeds by rasping plant tissues and sucking the cell contents.
• Associated with subtropical fruit trees, with greater incidence on loquat.

3. Main hosts

• Loquat.
• Other Rosaceae may occasionally be affected.
• Nearby spontaneous plants that act as a reservoir.

4. Symptoms and damage

• Silvering and discolouration of the leaves due to epidermal rasping.
• Visible damage on flowers and young fruits.
• Superficial scars, blemishes and a “corky" or "epidermal corkiness” appearance on the fruits.
• Reduced commercial quality and slight deformations in intense attacks.

5. Biological cycle

• Eggs inserted in the plant tissues.
• Nymphs feed actively on leaves and flowers.
• Pre-pupa and pupa in the soil or in plant debris.
• Cycle favoured by high temperatures and low humidity.
• Several generations per year, with greater incidence in spring.

6. Monitoring

• Direct observation of symptoms and insects on young leaves and flowers.
• Blue or yellow sticky traps for detection and counting.
• Regular sampling in loquat orchards.
• Reinforced monitoring in dry and hot periods.

7. Management measures

• Cultural: removal of plant residues; control of spontaneous plants; improvement of ventilation in dense orchards.
• Preventive: use of pest-free plants; insect-proof nets; strict cultural hygiene.
• Biological: use of predatory mites (Amblyseius swirskii, A. cucumeris) and predatory bugs (Orius spp.).
• Integrated protection: judicious application of authorised insecticides; rotation of modes of action; integration with biological control.

Bibliographic references

• EPPO Global Database – Thrips coloratus.
• CABI – Invasive Species Compendium – Thysanoptera.
• Kirk, W. D. J. (1997). Feeding behaviour and nutritional requirements of thrips. In: Thrips as Crop Pests.
• Mound, L. A. & Teulon, D. A. J. (1995). Thysanoptera as phytophagous pests. Annual Review of Entomology.
• Vierbergen, G. (1998). Thrips species associated with fruit crops in Europe. Acta Horticulturae.