Situation of several thrips species in Guadeloupe and Martinique
A recent paper provides a detailed check-list of thrips species present in Guadeloupe and Martinique. This check-list is based on previously published records and results from a survey carried out over more than 20 years on both islands. Information on host plants and natural enemies is also included. The EPPO Secretariat has extracted below the information regarding regulated thrips species and species which were formerly on the EPPO Alert List.
Echinothrips americanus (formerly EPPO Alert List): was collected on Gossypium sp. in Guadeloupe (new record).
On both islands, Frankliniella occidentalis (EPPO A2 List) has been a pest of greenhouse chrysanthemums and roses over the years (it was also collected on Fragaria vesca and Lactuca sativa). Its presence was linked to imports of chrysanthemum plants from Europe. However, as chrysanthemum production has ceased, F. occidentalis has not established and has now virtually disappeared from Guadeloupe and Martinique.
Microcephalothrips abdominalis (formerly EPPO Alert List) occurs in Martinique.
Scirtothrips dorsalis (EPPO A2 List) was collected on Vitis vinifera in Guadeloupe (new record).
Thrips palmi (EPPO A1 List) was first recorded in Guadeloupe and Martinique in 1985, it was a very important pest of several crops (melon, cucumber, chili pepper and eggplant) but its populations decreased considerably over the last 15 years and its economic importance is now limited. During this study, T. palmi has been recorded on the following plants: Alternanthera sessilis, Amaranthus sp., Brachiaria purpurascens, Capsicum annuum, Cleome sp., Cucumis melo, Cucumis sativus, Cucurbita pepo, Cyperus rotundus, Echinochloa colona, Eleusine indica, Eleutheranthera ruderalis, Euphorbia heterophylla, Gossypium sp., Hibiscus esculentus, Ipomoea congesta, Lactuca sp., Momordica charantia, Phaseolus lunatus, Phyllanthus niruri, Physalis angulata, Piper nigrum, Rottboellia cochenchinensis, Sida acuta, Solanum lycopersicum, Solanum melongena, Spinacia oleracea, Synedrella nodiflora, Urena lobata.
Sources
Etienne J, Ryckewaert P, Michel B (2015) Thrips (Insecta: Thysanoptera of Guadeloupe and Martinique: updated check-list with new information on their ecology and natural enemies. Florida Entomologist 98(1), 298-304.