Biology Reference
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PHLAEOTHRIPIDAE
Liothrips vaneeckei
Priesner
Lily thrips
A potentially serious pest of lily bulbs in store,
particularly in the Netherlands; also present in North
America.
Thrips without an ovipositor, the fore wings with just
one vein; eggs hard-shelled, often sculptured, and
deposited on plant tissue or in plant debris; development
includes two (often brightly coloured or banded)
nymphal stages, one propupal stage and two pupal
stages.
DESCRIPTION
Adult:
2.0-2.5 mm long; dark reddish brown; antennae
yellow to brown and 8-segmented; legs orange-yellow,
long and slender; abdomen without an ovipositor but
terminating in a distinct tube; fore wings strap-like, light
brown, with a pale base and a dark median band.
Gynaikothrips ficorum
(Marchal)
Cuban laurel thrips
This tropical species, which occurs in Central America
and the southern parts of the USA, attacks various hosts,
including
Citrus, Ficus
and
Viburnum
. In recent years,
the pest has also become established in southern Europe
and the Mediterranean basin on Cuban laurel (
Ficus
retusa
). Infested leaves and young shoots are
discoloured and distorted, and severely damaged leaves
fall prematurely. Breeding is continuous whilst
conditions remain favourable. Adults (
c
. 2.5-3.5 mm
long) are mainly dark brown to black.
LIFE HISTORY
Attacks are limited to stored bulbs, infestations
developing between the scales, close to the base plate.
There are several generations each year. Adults or final-
instar nymphs overwinter.
DAMAGE
Infestations are often persistent and lead to the
development of sunken rust-coloured spots towards the
base of the outer scales. Damaged scales become soft
and the outer ones papery; the latter may also drop off.
If infested bulbs are planted out, they produce fewer
new scales, but plant development is hardly affected.
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