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VOL. 10, ISSUE 2 (2025)
Tobacco Thrips, Thrips Parvispinus karny (Thripidae: Thysanoptera) incurred bell pepper fruit loss assessment in farmers' fields in Chitwan, Nepal
Authors
Purnima Chhetri, Debraj Adhikari, Sujan Amgain, Samudra L Joshi
Abstract
Bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L.), a
highly marketable and remunerative vegetable crop, has faced severe infestation
by the invasive tobacco thrips (Thrips parvispinus Karny) in the Chitwan
district of Nepal. This study assesses plant damage and fruit losses caused by T.
parvispinus in farmers' fields. The thrips were observed inflicting significant
harm by sucking sap from leaves, buds, flowers, and fruits, leading to
deformed, discolored leaves and malformed, undersized fruits. Field assessments
were conducted in five randomly selected bell pepper farms, with data collected
from five spots per field, each comprising three plants. Thrips population
density and associated crop damage were recorded between January and April
2024. The infestation of T. parvispinus was highest in January, with
thrips populations ranging from 15.7 ± 1.7 to 20.1 ± 1.6 per flower. A decline
in thrips numbers was observed in February and March, attributed to insecticide
applications by farmers. However, despite these efforts, fruit damage was
highest in February, with damage levels ranging from 61.6 ± 10.4% to 80.0 ±
10.3% per plant. The insecticides used by farmers were found to be ineffective
in mitigating yield losses, which emphasizes the need for effective pest
management strategies to combat T. parvispinus infestations and reduce
the economic losses faced by bell pepper farmers.
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Pages:15-19
How to cite this article:
Purnima Chhetri, Debraj Adhikari, Sujan Amgain, Samudra L Joshi "Tobacco Thrips, <i>Thrips Parvispinus</i> karny (Thripidae: Thysanoptera) incurred bell pepper fruit loss assessment in farmers' fields in Chitwan, Nepal". International Journal of Entomology Research, Vol 10, Issue 2, 2025, Pages 15-19
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