Current Status and Implications of New Invasive Thrips, Thrips parvispinus (Karny) in Chilli

Abstract

The incidence of  T. parvispinus on Capsicum annuum was assessed at Regional Agricultural Research Station (RARS), Jagtial, Telangana during kharif, 2023 & 2024 and it revealed that the invasive thrips continue to cause severe damage by attacking the leaves, flowers as well as fruits from vegetative till the harvest of the crop. Though the incidence of the pest was not observed at nursery stage, the population build up of the thrips in leaves was noticed at the vegetative stage of the crop on 34th standard week (Aug IV week) (0.13 thrips/leaf terminal) and thereafter the population build up increased gradually and  reached to peak at maximum flowering stage of 45th standard week (Nov II week) with 35.50 thrips per leaf terminal and thereafter it declined slowly at the harvest stage of the crop (4th standard week) (Jan IV week) (3.63 thrips/leaf terminal). In flowers, the first appearance of T. parvispinus was reported from 36th standard week (Sep I week) to 4th standard week (Jan IV week) with the population count ranging from 0.58 to 18.88 thrips/flower. The incidence of thrips in fruits, was comparatively less (0.48-6.05 thrips/fruit) than on leaves and flowers. The prevalence of the thrips on fruits was observed on 40th SMW (0.48 thrips/fruit) and reached to peak incidence at 52nd standard week (Dec V week) (6.05 thrips/fruit) and after that it dropped to a low level of 0.40 thrips per fruit at the end of the crop growth period (4th SMW).