Lispothrips crassipes: a new pest of poplar in Croatia and Italy
In Croatia (Hrašovec ; Lovas, 1996), recent research on poplar pests revealed the presence of a new pest: Lispothrips crassipes. First signs of dieback of poplars with no evident cause were observed in 1986, in the northeastern part of the country. Approximately 17 ha of poplars showed a reduced growth and in three years time 12 ha were completely destroyed. The cause of this decline was identified in 1989, as being the thrips L. crassipes and treatments were applied. From 1987 to 1990, population densities fluctuated in most places but remained at constant high levels in some locations and resulted in further tree mortality (7 ha). In 1994 and 1995, infestation levels were low. In Italy, L. crassipes has been reported in 1985 as a new pest of poplars, but was considered as a secondary pest attacking stressed trees. In his book, Dyadechko (1964) describes this thrips species as being usually found on aspen and poplar, and present in Hungary, Romania, Russia and Sweden.
Sources
Dyadechko, N.P. (1964) Thrips or fringe-winged insects (Thysanoptera) of the European part of the USSR, translated and published for ARS-USDA, 276-277
HraŠovec, B.; Lovas, O. (1996) Lispothrips crassipes Jabl., poplar pest in northeastern Croatia.
Proceedings of the 20th Session of the International Poplar Commission, FAO, Budapest (HU), 1996-10-01/04, 236-241.
Lapietra-G; Allegro-G (1985) [Lispothrips crassipes Jabl. (Thysanoptera, Phloeothripidae), a new pest of poplar in northern Italy.]
Atti XIV Congresso Nazionale Italiano di Entomologia, Palermo-Erice-Bagheria (IT), 1985-05-28/06-01, 95-101.