This rapid assessment shows: 

Risk of entry - The species has already entered the UK on at least two occasions and has entered and established in France. It is clearly moving in trade, though probably at very low levels.

Risk of establishment - Small populations have been found in the UK twice so it clearly has the potential to establish. However, the first population was under glass and the second was limited to a specimen plant in a particularly sheltered location, and it remains uncertain whether or not it could establish outdoors more widely. 

Economic impact - The species is not known to have caused any economic impact in either its area of origin or in France. 

Endangered area - Likely to be very small, either ornamental plants under glass or bamboo plants outdoors but in sheltered locations. 

Risk management - Exclusion would not appear to be a realistic option given the thrips cryptic habits. An indoor outbreak (in 2002) was eradicated using applications of 'Conserve' (spinosad), 'Dynamec' (abamectin) and malathion in rotation at 5-6 day intervals (malathion is no longer registered for use in the UK). However, eradication may not be possible for larger outbreaks, especially outdoors. Compounds currently approved for the control of thrips on ornamental plants outdoors include deltamethrin (e.g., Decis), thiamethoxam (Centric) requiring SOLA 2230 or 2008, abamectin (e.g., Acaramik), and imidacloprid for container grown ornamentals only (e.g., Intercept 70WG).