Western flower thrips

Western flower thrips

Photo by Whitney Cranshaw, Colorado State University, Bugwood.org

  • Attacks a very wide range of vegetables, weeds and ornamentals
  • Insects are tiny and yellow to brown in colour
  • Can transmit a range of tospoviruses, including Tomato spotted wilt virus, which reduces tomato, capsicum, and eggplant quality and yield
  • Symptoms of infestation vary depending on the host
  • Fruit may become distorted or split
  • Thrips feeding symptoms include silvering, malformation and feeding scars
  • Spread by people movement, wind and infested plant material

 

Scientific name: Frankliniella occidentalis
EPPRD Category:
Life Form: Thrips (THYSANOPTERA)

Pest Documents

FS: fact sheet

CP: contingency plan

DP: diagnostic protocol