Thrips parvispinus is reported for the first time from Canada. It was found in 2022 in greenhouses in Southern Ontario on Mandevilla plants. In addition, another species, Thrips setosus (Thysanoptera: Thripidae – formerly EPPO Alert List) was also first found in 2022 in greenhouses in Southern Ontario, on hydrangea plants.
In the USA, Thrips parvispinus was first found in 2020 in Florida on greenhouse plants. It has now established outdoors in Florida, causing damage to pepper plants. This species is an emerging pest of capsicum in Inda. It has recently been recorded as occurring in Puerto Rico on peppers as well as in the following US states associated with trade of Dipladenia, Mandevilla, and Gardenia jasminoides plants: Colorado, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina. In addition, interceptions have been made in Ohio and Pennsylvania. T. parvispinus is now a regulated pest in the USA.
Source: Ahmed MZ, Revynthi AM, McKenzie CL, Osborne LS (2023) Thrips parvispinus (Karny), an emerging invasive regulated pest in the United States. https://mrec.ifas.ufl.edu/lsolab/thrips/thrips-parvispinus/ [accessed November 2023].Gleason J, Maw E, Summerfield A, Jandricic S, Brunet B (2023) First records of invasive agricultural pests Thrips parvispinus (Karny, 1922) and Thrips setosus Moulton, 1928 (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) in Canada. The Journal of the Entomological Society of Ontario 154, jeso2023003, via EPPO