New Hosts, Distribution, and Color Trap Preferences of the Invasive Thrips Scirtothrips dorsalis (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) in Mexico1

Abstract

Scirtothrips dorsalis Hood (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) is an insect of Asian origin and is currently distributed in several countries around the world. It has highly polyphagous habits and has been reported as a primary pest of different fruit, horticultural, and ornamental crops. This species was reported in Mexico in 2020, however, due to its invasive nature and its rapid adaptation to new ecosystems, it is probably present in other regions of the country. The lack of information on this pest has resulted in misidentifications and misdiagnosis at the field level by phytosanitary technicians. In the present work, we found that S. dorsalis is distributed in the states of Veracruz, Sinaloa, Jalisco, and Michoacán in Mexico occupying sites with different climates (warm and temperate) and elevations from 6 to 1,721 m above sea level. Plant reproductive hosts were blackberry (Rubus sp.), blueberry (Vaccinium sp.), Persian lime (Citrus latifolia Tanaka), mango (Mangifera indica L.), and pear (Pyrus communis L.). Through an evaluation of the response of adults toward chromatic traps, we found that this species greatly prefers yellow (×5.40) compared with blue color. More studies are needed on detection and control measures in order to reduce the distribution and economic impact caused by this insect pest in Mexico.