Biology and morphometrics of Thrips parvispinus (Karny) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) on chilli, Capsicum annuum L.

Abstract

The Southeast Asian thrips, Thrips parvispinus (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), has recently invaded India, posing a significant threat to the country's chilli industry. Laboratory studies were conducted at the Department of Agricultural Entomology, College of Agriculture, Raichur, to understand the growth and development of this invasive pest on chilli. The study was conducted at controlled conditions of 25 ± 1 °C and a relative humidity of 65 ± 5%. The results revealed that the mean egg incubation period was 5.74±0.34 days, with egg dimensions measuring 0.23 ± 0.01 mm in length and 0.13±0.01 mm in breadth. The first and second larval instars lasted 2.16 ± 0.24 days and 3.76±0.42 days, respectively, with a total larval duration of 5.92 ± 0.66 days. The pre-pupal stage lasted 1.83 ± 0.23 days, while the pupal stage lasted 4.17 ± 0.50 days. Adult males had an average lifespan of 5.55 ± 0.46 days, whereas adult females lived for 10.18±0.47 days. The pre-oviposition, oviposition, and post-oviposition periods were 2.51±0.24 days, 3.58 ± 0.25 days, and 4.09±0.37 days, respectively. The mean fecundity was 15.53 ± 3.46 eggs per female. This study provides the first documented report on the biological parameters of T. parvispinus in the invaded regions.