FIRST REPORT OF INVASIVE THRIPS, THRIPS PARVISPINUS(KARNY) INFESTATION ON CHILLI FROM EASTERN PART OF INDIASubhashree Sethy, Srinivasa Narayana, Twinkle, Varun Arya and Sunil SundaAbstract The South East Asian thrips, Thrips parvispinus (Karny) was first reported in India on Papaya in 2015 laterit spread to many host plants such as cowpea, Dahlia rosea, cotton etc. The severe infestation on chilli wasreported from southern states during last two years and the extent of loss was more than 50 percent.Therefore, a quick roving survey was conducted to monitor the thrips infestation in chilli at farmer fields ofVaranasi and Mirzapur districts of Uttar Pradesh, India. The molecular barcoding of thrips infesting chilliat Varanasi and Mirzapur district of Uttar Pradesh confirmed to be the species as Thrips parvispinus. Therefore,itâs a first report of extended distribution to eastern part of India (Uttar Pradesh). The average number ofthrips per three leaves and per flower was 9.1 and 3.1 in Varanasi while in Mirzapur it was 9.3 and 5.1respectively. The T. parvispinus attained pest status in eastern part of India. The neighbor joining tree indicatedcertain level of genetic diversity in the species reported from different host plants. Farmers complainedabout severe crop loss and failure of many insecticides to control them, it may be attributed insecticideresistance. |