Situation of Frankliniella occidentalis in Croatia
Frankliniella occidentalis (EPPO A2 quarantine pest) was reported for the first time in Croatia in 1989, on chrysanthemum in a greenhouse in Lipik. During the last five years, the western flower thrips spread to all greenhouses of the country. During surveys carried out by the Plant Protection Service, the pest has been recorded on 44 plant species (6 vegetable, 33 ornamentals and 5 weed species). Recently, the following host plants have been reported in Croatia: Anthurium andreanum, Anthurium scherzerianum, Canna indica, Celosia argentea, Cordyline purpur compacta, Cordyline terminalis, Hoya carnosa, Philodendron scandens, Philodendron selloum, Scindapsus aureus, Tradescantia fluminensis, Yucca elephantipes, and the weeds: Amaranthus retroflexus, Convolvulus arvensis, Ranunculus arvensis.
During 1992 and 1993 on pepper grown under glasshouse, a naturally occurring predatory bug, Orius minutus, was able to control thrips populations. Many trials on chemical control have been carried and showed that on a wide range of ornamental and vegetable crops the following active ingredients gave the best results: dichlorvos, chlorpyrifos-ethyl, thiocyclam hydrogen oxalate and avermectine.
Sources
Plant Protection Service of Croatia, 1994-09.