Scirtothrips Citri

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Joseph G. Morse - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • impact of citrus thrips thysanoptera thripidae on the growth and productivity of southern highbush blueberries in california
    Journal of Economic Entomology, 2016
    Co-Authors: David R. Haviland, Stephanie M. Rill, Joseph G. Morse
    Abstract:

    Citrus thrips, Scirtothrips Citri (Moulton), is a foliage-feeding pest of blueberries in the San Joaquin Valley of California. We conducted a 4-yr field study to determine the type and amount of damage caused by this species. Using pesticides, we established gradients of citrus thrips in commercial blueberry fields near Richgrove, CA, in the fall of 2006, 2007, 2009, and 2014. Thrips densities were evaluated weekly for ∼1 mo to determine cumulative thrips-days and correlate levels with the average length of new growth. During all four years of the study, there were significant negative correlations between thrips-days and shoot length (for every 100 thrips-days over a period of 4-5 wk there were reductions in the length of new shoot growth of 0.41 to 2.45 cm, 6.4-10.3%). During the spring following each trial, we evaluated the impact of thrips-days on blueberry yield and quality. During the 2006 trial, there was a significant negative correlation between thrips-days and yield as well as the number of berries per plant, but no yield effect was observed in the other three years of the study. No impacts on fruit quality were found any year. A discussion of the complexity of economic injury levels in blueberries is provided, especially considering that the cost of spraying for citrus thrips (estimated at US$150/ha) is almost irrelevant given crop values often in excess of US$100,000/ha.

  • evaluation of beauveria bassiana for management of citrus thrips thysanoptera thripidae in california blueberries
    Journal of Economic Entomology, 2013
    Co-Authors: Deane K. Zahn, David R. Haviland, M E Stanghellini, Joseph G. Morse
    Abstract:

    Citrus thrips, Scirtothrips Citri (Moulton), is a plant-feeding pest most widely recognized for causing damage to citrus and mango fruits. This insect has broadened its host range to become a significant pest of commercial blueberries grown in the San Joaquin Valley of California. We evaluated Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) for control of citrus thrips in blueberries grown under two watering regimes (drip irrigation with and without overhead sprinklers) and using two fungal formulations (commercially available spores in suspension vs. colonized seed) over two sampling periods, that is, for two 3-d periods after treatment. We found significant differences in thrips densities as a function of water regime treatment and fungal formulation. Thrips levels were reduced significantly with both fungal treatments at 3 d after treatment, but at 6 d, only results with colonized seed differed from the control treatment. These data suggest entomopathogenic fungi might be useful for control of citrus thrips on blueberries in particular situations (in organic production or as a resistance management tool) but that traditional pesticides will likely remain the preferred management option.

  • Investigating Alternatives to Traditional Insecticides: Effectiveness of Entomopathogenic Fungi and Bacillus thuringiensis Against Citrus Thrips and Avocado Thrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae)
    Journal of economic entomology, 2013
    Co-Authors: Deane K. Zahn, Joseph G. Morse
    Abstract:

    ABSTRACT Citrus thrips, Scirtothrips Citri (Moulton) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), is a plant-feeding pest most widely recognized for causing damage to citrus (Citrus spp. L. [Rutaceae]) and mango (Mangifera indica L. [Anacardiaceae]) fruits. This insect has recently broadened its known host range to become a significant pest of California grown blueberries. Avocado thrips, Scirtothrips. perseae Nakahara (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), is a recent, invasive pest of California avocados , Persea americana Mill. (Laurales: Lauraceae). Effective alternatives to traditional pesticides are desirable for both pests to reduce impacts on natural enemies and broaden control options in an effort to minimize pesticide resistance via rotation of control materials. We evaluated Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) subsp. israelensis proteins (Cyt 1A and Cry 11A, activated and inactivated) and multiple strains (GHA, 1741ss, SFBb1, S44ss, NI1ss, and 3769ss) of Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin against both species. Avocado thrips an...

  • Southern highbush blueberries are a new host for Scirtothrips Citri (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) in California.
    Florida Entomologist, 2009
    Co-Authors: David R. Haviland, Stephanie M. Rill, Joseph G. Morse
    Abstract:

    Citrus thrips, Scirtothrips Citri (Moulton), is a major pest for citrus growers in California (Flint et al. 1991; Morse 1995). Citrus thrips feed on the rind at the stem end of young citrus fruit causing a characteristic ring scar (Morse 1995; GraftonCardwell et al. 1998, 2003). They also feed on the new flush of citrus, causing twisting and abnormal growth (Grafton-Cardwell et al. 1998). Heavy infestations of citrus thrips cause new flush to die and drop from the plant (Grafton-Cardwell et al. 1998). Even though citrus thrips was first described based on the damage it caused on California citrus (Horton 1918), it was obviously present prior to the introduction of citrus in the region, i.e., it is native to California and northwestern Mexico and has been observed on over 50 host plants in California, in particular in association with plants that produce an aromatic oil (Morse 1995). Prior to 1992, highbush blueberries ( Vaccinium corymbosum L.) were not grown commercially in California due to the warm climate (Jimenez et al. 2005; Strik & Yarborough 2005). However, several southern highbush blueberry varieties were developed by crossing northern highbush blueberries with several other Vaccinium species (Jimenez et al. 2005; Strik & Yarborough 2005). Southern highbush blueberries require lower chill hours for bud break and are well adapted to California’s climate (Jimenez et al. 2005). As a consequence, California blueberry acreage dramatically increased after 1992 (Jimenez et al. 2005). In 2005, several growers reported widespread damage to the young foliage of their blueberries that appeared to be associated with thrips. Most of the damage was curling and abnormal growth of the new leaves as well as scarring of new twigs.

  • Impact of citrus thrips chemical treatments on the predatory mite Euseius tularensis
    Journal of Applied Entomology, 2006
    Co-Authors: I. Khan, Joseph G. Morse
    Abstract:

    The impacts of four pesticides used for control of citrus thrips, Scirtothrips Citri (Moulton), were evaluated in both field and laboratory populations of a predaceous mite, Euseius tularensis Congdon. Abamectin and chlorfenapyr had the least impact of pesticides evaluated on a field population of E. tularensis and predaceous mite levels mirrored those observed in the untreated control but at a slightly depressed level. Spinosad reduced predaceous mites somewhat but they recovered to 50% of the level in the untreated control by the end of the trial. Mite populations were low throughout the trial in plots treated with cyfluthrin. As an overall summary statistic, cumulative predator mite-days ranged from 73.6% of the level observed in the untreated control with abamectin to 67.1% with chlorfenapyr, 36.8% with spinosad and 11.7% with cyfluthrin. Three additional field trials confirmed abamectin's minimal impact. In laboratory studies of adult female mite mortality on field-weathered, pesticide-treated leaves, cyfluthrin caused high mortality on day 1 after treatment and all mites that were not killed were driven off leaf discs until day 21. When mites were placed on leaf discs 1 day after treatment with abamectin, spinosad, or chlorfenapyr, 67.5% of the mites died on chlorfenapyr discs. By 7 days after treatment, no material but cyfluthrin showed a significant impact. Implications to citrus integrated pest management are discussed.

Elizabeth E. Grafton-cardwell - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • Impacts of Fruit-Feeding Arthropod Pests on Oranges and Mandarins in California.
    Journal of economic entomology, 2019
    Co-Authors: Bodil N. Cass, Elizabeth E. Grafton-cardwell, Lindsey M Hack, Jay A. Rosenheim
    Abstract:

    One of the major challenges facing citrus integrated pest management (IPM) in California is the recent, sharp increase in the acreage of mandarins being planted. The current citrus IPM guidelines have been established from years of experiments and experience in oranges, with no specific guidelines for mandarins. In the absence of research into key arthropod pest effects in mandarins, the assumption that the pest management practices for oranges appropriately transfer for optimal production in mandarins has not been tested. We used a data mining or 'ecoinformatics' approach in which we compiled and analyzed production records collected by growers and pest control advisors to gain an overview of direct pest densities and their relationships with fruit damage for 202 commercial groves, each surveyed for 1-10 yr in the main production region of California. Pest densities were different among four commonly grown species of citrus marketed as mandarins (Citrus reticulata, C. clementina, C. unshiu, and C. tangelo) compared with the standard Citrus sinensis sweet oranges, for fork-tailed bush katydids (Scudderia furcata Brunner von Wattenwyl [Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae]), and citrus thrips (Scirtothrips Citri Moulton [Thysanoptera: Thripidae]). Citrus reticulata had notably low levels of fruit damage, suggesting they have natural resistance to direct pests, especially fork-tailed bush katydids. These results suggest that mandarin-specific research and recommendations would improve citrus IPM. More broadly, this is an example of how an ecoinformatics approach can serve as a complement to traditional experimental methods to raise new and unexpected hypotheses that expand our understanding of agricultural systems.

  • An Ecoinformatics Approach to Field-Scale Evaluation of Insecticide Effects in California Citrus: Are Citrus Thrips and Citrus Red Mite Induced Pests?
    Journal of economic entomology, 2018
    Co-Authors: George Livingston, Elizabeth E. Grafton-cardwell, Lindsey M Hack, Kimberly Steinmann, Jay A. Rosenheim
    Abstract:

    Experimental approaches to studying the consequences of pesticide use, including impacts on beneficial insects, are vital; however, they can be limited in scale and realism. We show that an ecoinformatics approach that leverages existing data on pesticides, pests, and beneficials across multiple fields can provide complementary insights. We do this using a multi-year dataset (2002-2013) on pesticide applications and density estimates of two pests, citrus thrips (Scirtothrips Citri (Moulton [Thysanoptera: Thripidae])) and citrus red mites (Panonychus Citri McGregor [Acari: Tetranychidae]), and a natural enemy (Euseius spp. predatory mites) collected from citrus groves in the San Joaquin Valley of California. Using correlative analyses, we investigated the long-term consequences of pesticide use on S. Citri and P. Citri population densities to evaluate the hypothesis that the pest status of these species is largely due to the disruption of natural biological control-i.e., these are induced pests. We also evaluated short-term pesticide efficacy (suppression of citrus thrips and citrus red mite populations immediately post-application) and asked if it was correlated with the suppression of Euseius predator populations. Although the short-term efficacy of different pesticides varied significantly, our dataset does not suggest that the use of citrus pesticides suppressed Euseius densities or worsened pest problems. We also find that there is no general trade-off between pesticide efficacy and pesticide risk to Eusieus, such that highly effective and minimally disruptive compounds were available to citrus growers during the studied time period.

  • Conserving Vedalia Beetle, Rodolia cardinalis (Mulsant) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), in Citrus: A Continuing Challenge as New Insecticides Gain Registration
    Journal of economic entomology, 2003
    Co-Authors: Elizabeth E. Grafton-cardwell
    Abstract:

    The effects of insecticides used for California citrus pest management were evaluated using larval and adult stages of vedalia beetle, Rodolia cardinalis (Mulsant). This predatory beetle is essential for control of cottony cushion scale Icerya purchasi (Williston) (Homoptera: Margarodidae) in San Joaquin Valley citrus. When adult beetles were exposed to treated citrus leaves, adult survival was significantly reduced by the foliar neonicotinoid imidacloprid and the pyrethroid cyfluthrin. Progeny production was significantly reduced by imidacloprid, cyfluthrin, fenpropathrin, and buprofezin. Buprofezin, pyriproxifen, and foliar imidacloprid also significantly reduced successful development of larvae into the adult stage. When vedalia stages were fed insecticide-treated cottony cushion scale reared on Pittosporum tobira (Thunb.) Ait, toxic effects were more severe than contact toxicity alone. Adult beetle survival was most profoundly reduced by the pyrethroids and to a lesser extent the foliar neonicotinoids acetamiprid and imidacloprid. Progeny production and larval development to adulthood were reduced by all insecticides but were most severely affected by pyriproxifen and the pyrethroids. Systemically applied neonicotinoids were toxic to vedalia larvae feeding on cottony cushion scale that had ingested these insecticides. These data demonstrate that IGRs, neonicotinoid insecticides, and pyrethroid insecticides have a significant, negative impact on vedalia beetles. Depending on the rate of insecticide used, the number and timing of applications, and the level of coverage of the tree, disruption of vedalia can be minimized. However, the situation is made difficult when pests such as citrus thrips Scirtothrips Citri (Moulton) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), forktailed bush katydid Scuddaria furcata Brunner von Wattenwyl (Orthoptera: Tettigoiniidae), or glassy-winged sharpshooter Homalodisca coagulata Say (Homoptera: Cicadellidae) require these pesticide treatments during periods of vedalia beetle activity.

  • Predacious Mites for Control of Citrus Thrips,Scirtothrips Citri(Thysanoptera: Thripidae) in Nursery Citrus
    Biological Control, 1999
    Co-Authors: Elizabeth E. Grafton-cardwell, Yuling Ouyang, Rebecka A. Striggow
    Abstract:

    Abstract Predation on citrus thrips,Scirtothrips Citri(Moulton), by four species of predacious mites,Ipheseius degeneransBerlese,Euseius tularensisCongdon,Neosieulus cucumeris(Oudemans), andN. barkeri(Hughes) was studied. In the laboratory,I. degeneransandE. tularensisexhibited a consistently high consumption rate of second-instar citrus thrips (4–5 thrips per mite per day), 68–96% survival, and reproduction of 0.9–2.5 eggs per day during the 5-day experiment. Initially,N. cucumerisexhibited a lower consumption rate as well as lower survival and egg production compared withI. degeneransandE. tularensis;however, these rates increased as the experiment progressed. The fourth species,N. barkeri,responded poorly with respect to all three biological parameters. In experiments using potted citrus in a greenhouse, immature stages of citrus thrips were not always available for predation. Under these circumstances,I. degeneransandE. tularensissurvived well and reduced immature citrus thrips to undetectable levels for the 4-week period after release. In contrast,N. cucumerisandN. barkeriexhibited poor survival and did not fully control citrus thrips. WhenI. degeneransandE. tularensiswere released onto potted citrus trees in a commercial citrus nursery, releases ofI. degeneransreduced citrus thrips for two sampling periods and improved tree height and leaf number comparable with an abamectin insecticide treatment. In contrast,E. tularensisreleases did not control citrus thrips, resulting in less growth of trees. These data suggest thatI. degeneransshows promise for commercial releases and control of citrus thrips in citrus nurseries.

  • Effect of Insecticide Treatments to Reduce Infestation by Citrus Thrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) on Growth of Nonbearing Citrus
    Journal of Economic Entomology, 1998
    Co-Authors: Elizabeth E. Grafton-cardwell, Joseph G. Morse, A. Gjerde
    Abstract:

    We assessed the value of chemical control used to protect young orange trees from foliar damage caused by citrus thrips, Scirtothrips Citri (Moulton). As many as 17 insecticide applications to individual navel orange, Citros sinensis L. Osbeck, trees during the first 3 yr after planting failed to result in an increase in tree size during years 2 through 5 or yield during years 3 through 5. Similarly, 19 applications to O.44-ha blocks of 'Valencia' oranges during the first 3 yr after planting failed to result in increases in trunk circumference during years 1 through 4 or yield in the first 2 yr of fruit production. In contrast to the practice of many growers, we suggest that intensive control of citrus thrips populations on young, non bearing trees is not warranted and could lead to increased problems with citrus thrips resistance to the limited number of available and effective insecticides.

D R Sharma - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • Activity and control of citrus thrips, Scirtothrips Citri (Moulton) on kinnow
    Journal of research, 2007
    Co-Authors: D R Sharma
    Abstract:

    Studies conducted during 2003–2005 on the activity of citrus thrips, Scirtothrips Citri (Moulton) on flower buds/flowers of Kinnow plants showed that the pest started appearing in first week of March with the initiation of flowering and caused damage to petals, stamens and basal part of the ovary. Its attack continued upto third week of April. The population increased progressively and reached at peak (14.7 nymphs and adults/flower) in 4th week of March while no thrips population was observed in 4th week of April. Thrips caused maximum scarring (64.7%) at the distal end of fruit followed by proximal end (27.6%) and central portion (7.7%). Evaluation of insecticides at different concentrations revealed that three applications at pre-flowering, flowering and pea stage of fen valerate and cypermethrin (each 0.02%); quinalphos, ethion, endosulfan, triazophos and oxydemeton methyl (each 0.05%) were effective (100% thrips mortality) in reducing the fruit scarring from 34.7 per cent in control to 0–0.9 per cent in these treatments. However, spraying of ail these insecticides at pea stage had 29.6 to 34.2 per cent scarred fruits while two sprays at flowering and pea stage resulted in 0.6–5.9 per cent fruit scarring.

Yuling Ouyang - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • Predacious Mites for Control of Citrus Thrips,Scirtothrips Citri(Thysanoptera: Thripidae) in Nursery Citrus
    Biological Control, 1999
    Co-Authors: Elizabeth E. Grafton-cardwell, Yuling Ouyang, Rebecka A. Striggow
    Abstract:

    Abstract Predation on citrus thrips,Scirtothrips Citri(Moulton), by four species of predacious mites,Ipheseius degeneransBerlese,Euseius tularensisCongdon,Neosieulus cucumeris(Oudemans), andN. barkeri(Hughes) was studied. In the laboratory,I. degeneransandE. tularensisexhibited a consistently high consumption rate of second-instar citrus thrips (4–5 thrips per mite per day), 68–96% survival, and reproduction of 0.9–2.5 eggs per day during the 5-day experiment. Initially,N. cucumerisexhibited a lower consumption rate as well as lower survival and egg production compared withI. degeneransandE. tularensis;however, these rates increased as the experiment progressed. The fourth species,N. barkeri,responded poorly with respect to all three biological parameters. In experiments using potted citrus in a greenhouse, immature stages of citrus thrips were not always available for predation. Under these circumstances,I. degeneransandE. tularensissurvived well and reduced immature citrus thrips to undetectable levels for the 4-week period after release. In contrast,N. cucumerisandN. barkeriexhibited poor survival and did not fully control citrus thrips. WhenI. degeneransandE. tularensiswere released onto potted citrus trees in a commercial citrus nursery, releases ofI. degeneransreduced citrus thrips for two sampling periods and improved tree height and leaf number comparable with an abamectin insecticide treatment. In contrast,E. tularensisreleases did not control citrus thrips, resulting in less growth of trees. These data suggest thatI. degeneransshows promise for commercial releases and control of citrus thrips in citrus nurseries.

  • Augmentation of Euseius tularensis (Acari: Phytoseiidae) in Citrus
    Environmental Entomology, 1995
    Co-Authors: Elizabeth E. Grafton-cardwell, Yuling Ouyang
    Abstract:

    Single releases of the predacious mite, Euseius tularensis Congdon, and additions of apple pollen were made in the spring of 1991 in three citrus orchards in the San Joaquin Valley of California. Dusting citrus trees with apple pollen had no significant effect on the predacious mite populations at this time of year. In two of the three orchards, releases of 500 or 2,000 E. tularensis per tree significantly increased the cumulative number of predacious mites found in the trees before or during the period of fruit susceptibility to citrus thrips. In 1992, single releases of 2,000 mites and four releases of 100 or 500 predacious mites were compared with nonrelease trees in two orchards. One site had relatively high natural densities of predacious mites and was not significantly affected by predacious mite releases. In the other site, the peak density of E. tularensis was improved 2-fold by releases of E. tularensis. A single release of 2,000 E. tularensis per tree was more beneficial than multiple releases of 500 or 100 mites. A greater cumulative number of predacious mites was significantly correlated with improved biological control of citrus thrips, Scirtothrips Citri (Moulton), as measured by reduced heavy scarring of fruit in the 1992 orchards. This suggests that E. tularensis can be important in reducing citrus thrips in citrus groves managed under a selective pesticide program.

  • Manipulation of the Predacious Mite, Euseius tularensis (Acari: Phytoseiidae), with Pruning for Citrus Thrips Control
    Thrips Biology and Management, 1995
    Co-Authors: Elizabeth E. Grafton-cardwell, Yuling Ouyang
    Abstract:

    The interior and exterior of citrus trees were pruned in late winter or summer to manipulate the timing and population development of the predacious mite, Euseius tularensis Congdon, and reduce scarring caused by citrus thrips, Scirtothrips Citri. Pruning the interior of trees in late winter almost doubled the number of predacious mites in spring on the exterior of the trees where citrus thrips are most active. Pruning the interior or exterior of trees in summer resulted in higher predacious mite densities in the fall and accelerated population development by 2 wk in spring the following year. Pruning the exterior of trees in late winter did not affect mite densities until a year later. Pruning significantly lowered the percentage of heavy thrips scarring only in the winter-exterior treatment. E. tularensis may play a significant, however, not always regulatory role in reducing citrus thrips scarring damage. Pruning may be a more practical method of managing mite populations than mass-rearing and releases.

David R. Haviland - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • impact of citrus thrips thysanoptera thripidae on the growth and productivity of southern highbush blueberries in california
    Journal of Economic Entomology, 2016
    Co-Authors: David R. Haviland, Stephanie M. Rill, Joseph G. Morse
    Abstract:

    Citrus thrips, Scirtothrips Citri (Moulton), is a foliage-feeding pest of blueberries in the San Joaquin Valley of California. We conducted a 4-yr field study to determine the type and amount of damage caused by this species. Using pesticides, we established gradients of citrus thrips in commercial blueberry fields near Richgrove, CA, in the fall of 2006, 2007, 2009, and 2014. Thrips densities were evaluated weekly for ∼1 mo to determine cumulative thrips-days and correlate levels with the average length of new growth. During all four years of the study, there were significant negative correlations between thrips-days and shoot length (for every 100 thrips-days over a period of 4-5 wk there were reductions in the length of new shoot growth of 0.41 to 2.45 cm, 6.4-10.3%). During the spring following each trial, we evaluated the impact of thrips-days on blueberry yield and quality. During the 2006 trial, there was a significant negative correlation between thrips-days and yield as well as the number of berries per plant, but no yield effect was observed in the other three years of the study. No impacts on fruit quality were found any year. A discussion of the complexity of economic injury levels in blueberries is provided, especially considering that the cost of spraying for citrus thrips (estimated at US$150/ha) is almost irrelevant given crop values often in excess of US$100,000/ha.

  • evaluation of beauveria bassiana for management of citrus thrips thysanoptera thripidae in california blueberries
    Journal of Economic Entomology, 2013
    Co-Authors: Deane K. Zahn, David R. Haviland, M E Stanghellini, Joseph G. Morse
    Abstract:

    Citrus thrips, Scirtothrips Citri (Moulton), is a plant-feeding pest most widely recognized for causing damage to citrus and mango fruits. This insect has broadened its host range to become a significant pest of commercial blueberries grown in the San Joaquin Valley of California. We evaluated Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) for control of citrus thrips in blueberries grown under two watering regimes (drip irrigation with and without overhead sprinklers) and using two fungal formulations (commercially available spores in suspension vs. colonized seed) over two sampling periods, that is, for two 3-d periods after treatment. We found significant differences in thrips densities as a function of water regime treatment and fungal formulation. Thrips levels were reduced significantly with both fungal treatments at 3 d after treatment, but at 6 d, only results with colonized seed differed from the control treatment. These data suggest entomopathogenic fungi might be useful for control of citrus thrips on blueberries in particular situations (in organic production or as a resistance management tool) but that traditional pesticides will likely remain the preferred management option.

  • Southern highbush blueberries are a new host for Scirtothrips Citri (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) in California.
    Florida Entomologist, 2009
    Co-Authors: David R. Haviland, Stephanie M. Rill, Joseph G. Morse
    Abstract:

    Citrus thrips, Scirtothrips Citri (Moulton), is a major pest for citrus growers in California (Flint et al. 1991; Morse 1995). Citrus thrips feed on the rind at the stem end of young citrus fruit causing a characteristic ring scar (Morse 1995; GraftonCardwell et al. 1998, 2003). They also feed on the new flush of citrus, causing twisting and abnormal growth (Grafton-Cardwell et al. 1998). Heavy infestations of citrus thrips cause new flush to die and drop from the plant (Grafton-Cardwell et al. 1998). Even though citrus thrips was first described based on the damage it caused on California citrus (Horton 1918), it was obviously present prior to the introduction of citrus in the region, i.e., it is native to California and northwestern Mexico and has been observed on over 50 host plants in California, in particular in association with plants that produce an aromatic oil (Morse 1995). Prior to 1992, highbush blueberries ( Vaccinium corymbosum L.) were not grown commercially in California due to the warm climate (Jimenez et al. 2005; Strik & Yarborough 2005). However, several southern highbush blueberry varieties were developed by crossing northern highbush blueberries with several other Vaccinium species (Jimenez et al. 2005; Strik & Yarborough 2005). Southern highbush blueberries require lower chill hours for bud break and are well adapted to California’s climate (Jimenez et al. 2005). As a consequence, California blueberry acreage dramatically increased after 1992 (Jimenez et al. 2005). In 2005, several growers reported widespread damage to the young foliage of their blueberries that appeared to be associated with thrips. Most of the damage was curling and abnormal growth of the new leaves as well as scarring of new twigs.