EPPO Platform
on PRAs

Pest Risk Assessment Scirtothrips dorsalis

Description

The reason for this short PRA is the interception of Scirtothrips dorsalis on Mangrove pot plants (Bruguiera sp.) imported from Thailand in the Netherlands in November 2008. Larvae and adults were present and possibly also eggs but eggs are present in the plant tissue and cannot be detected by eye. In April 2009, the pest was also intercepted on Crinum plants from Thailand. The first interception was on a Ficus bonsai imported from China together with Thrips palmi in 2006 (source: NPPO of the Netherlands). Since 1997, S. dorsalis has been intercepted in the Netherlands on end produce (cut flowers, vegetables) many times, up to about 60 times per year (source: NPPO of the Netherlands). S. dorsalis is regulated in the EU on plants of Citrus, Fortunella, Poncirus and their hybrids, other than fruits and seeds. S. dorsalis has, however, a wide host range and known as a pest on many other crops (Venette & Davis, 2004; Macleod & Collins, 2006). For that reason it has been suggested by Macleod & Collins (2006) to extend measures to all plants for planting. Import of infested plants in the Netherlands could be a pathway leading to establishment of the pest in Dutch greenhouses. The organism is known as a pest causing significant damage in tropical and subtropical regions but it is yet unclear how much damage it can cause in greenhouse crops in regions with a temperate climate, like the Netherlands. Two PRA’s and an extended pathway evaluation on S. dorsalis are known: a mini-risk assessment for the USA (Venette & Davis, 2004) and one PRA made for the whole EU (Macleod & Collins, 2006). In addition, Meissner et al., (2005) have made an elaborate pathway-analysis for the USA. These PRA’s do not contain an impact assessment for greenhouse crops in temperate climates and hence the present short PRA mainly focuses on the potential impimpact of S. dorsalis in greenhouses in the Netherlands and does not include a pathway-analysis.

Organisms

  • Scirtothrips dorsalis

Hosts

  • Bruguiera
  • Crinum
  • Ficus

Files

Type File Size
Pest Risk Analysis Download 127,34kB

PRA Area

  • Netherlands