Nesothrips

Nesothrips is a genus of small insects belonging to the order Thysanoptera and the family Phlaeothripidae. Unlike many other members of this order that feed on living plant tissues, most species of this genus are mycophagous, meaning they feed on spores and hyphae of fungi growing on decaying plant material, though some species can indirectly impact agricultural ecosystems.

These pests are primarily found in tropical and subtropical regions, but certain species can appear on ornamental and agricultural crops in greenhouses or under specific environmental conditions. They often colonize rotting plant parts, tree bark, or dry inflorescences where fungal colonies are actively developing.

The biology of Nesothrips is characterized by incomplete metamorphosis. The life cycle includes the egg, larva, propupa, pupa, and adult (imago) stages. Optimal conditions for reproduction are high air humidity and the presence of a nutritious substrate in the form of fungal growth, making them common inhabitants of weakened or damaged plants.

The primary damage is not the direct destruction of healthy plant tissue, but the colonization of areas already affected by disease or mechanical injury. However, during mass outbreaks, they contribute to the dispersal of spores of phytopathogenic fungi onto healthy plant parts, worsening the phytosanitary status and reducing the market quality of the produce.

To protect crops and plantings from Nesothrips, agronomists recommend the following management practices:

• Timely removal and disposal of plant debris to prevent fungal growth.
• Control of humidity levels in greenhouses to prevent substrate molding.
• Application of biofungicides to suppress outbreaks of fungal infections.
• Use of contact-stomach insecticides in cases of high pest populations in enclosed environments.