Review paper
How have thrips succeeded as major pests globally?
Wu, Shengyong; Reitz, Stuart R.; Qiu, Zijie; He, Zhen; Xing, Zhenlong; Gao, Yulin
Entomologia Generalis Volume 45 Number 3 (2025), p. 609 - 619
published: Aug 19, 2025
published online: Jun 2, 2025
manuscript accepted: Mar 18, 2025
manuscript revision received: Feb 16, 2025
manuscript revision requested: Jan 29, 2025
manuscript received: Oct 19, 2024
Open Access (paper may be downloaded free of charge)
Abstract
Polyphagous thrips are economically important pests, affecting numerous crops worldwide and threatening agricultural production. These small, slender pests reproduce rapidly, assemble in locations inaccessible to insecticides, and damage crops by feeding on them and transmitting plant viruses. This eventually results in significant yield loss or even complete crop failure. Of the 5500 known herbivorous thrips species, the western flower thrips [Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande)], onion thrips (Thrips tabaci Lindeman), yellow tea thrips, (Scirtothrips dorsalis Hood), and melon thrips, (Thrips palmi Karny), are the most crucial pest thrips occurring globally. Here, we present the global invasion and current distribution of these four thrips species. Moreover, we examine the current knowledge regarding their specific biological attributes, rapid resistance development to insecticides, superior competitive ability, and high transmission efficiency of plant viruses. These factors contribute to the invasiveness and great pest status of thrips and impede their management. We believe that sharing information related to thrips characteristics and management tactics through strong international collaboration may facilitate the management of these globally invasive species.
Keywords
polyphagous thrips •
four major pests •
global expansion •
invasion mechanisms •
Frankliniella occidentalis
•
Thrips tabaci
•
international collaboration