AgriLife Extension Releases Guidance On Short-Spined Thrips

ADAM RUSSELL

COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service experts are sharing an updated fact sheet about the short-spined thrip, or Thrips parvispinus, with commodity and specialty crop producers, commercial nurseries and home gardeners. This pest, newly found in Texas, is a tiny invasive insect that can scar, curl and stunt plants from peppers and tomatoes to cotton and hibiscus.

Short-spined thrips are about the size and shape of a printed hyphen. They feed by piercing leaves, buds and flowers and sucking out their contents. The pest threatens dozens of Texas crops, ranging from cotton and sorghum to peppers, melons and squash, as well as a range of nursery and landscape ornamental plants.

They originated from Southeast Asia and were confirmed in Texas in late 2025 from plant samples collected in the Dallas area. Adults can fly short distances and ride air currents, but the pest spreads most readily on infested plants. So, a single new plant can carry them into a greenhouse, field or backyard.

The new fact sheet provides background information, identification characteristics and current management recommendations to help Texans respond effectively.

“We want growers and the public to be aware of this pest and have practical tools to recognize and respond to it early,” said Arash Kheirodin, Ph.D., Texas A&M AgriLife Research controlled environment entomologist and assistant professor, Department of Entomology, Dallas. “Early detection is critical to limiting damage and slowing its spread across Texas.”

Supporting Texas growers and plant industries

Researchers note the insect feeds on more than 40 plant species across multiple families.

Thrips are particularly concerning for greenhouse and nursery operations, as well as specialty crop producers, due to their ability to rapidly build populations and cause significant plant injury, Kheirodin said. Under ideal conditions, it can go from an egg to an adult in about two weeks.

“This insect feeds on leaves, buds and flowers, causing scarring, deformation and stunted growth,” he said. “In high populations, it can significantly reduce plant quality and marketability, which is especially important for nursery crops and fresh-market producers.”

Texas A&M AgriLife teams are working with industry partners and regulatory agencies to share timely information and coordinate response efforts as the situation develops.

Fact sheet emphasizes identification, monitoring, management

The new fact sheet serves as a central resource for stakeholders seeking science-based guidance on the pest. It outlines the insect’s biology, life cycle and distinguishing characteristics, as well as recommended integrated pest management strategies.

Short-spined thrips’ size — roughly 1 millimeter in length — make them difficult to identify without magnification. Females have a distinctive two-toned appearance, while males are smaller and lighter in color.

The fact sheet highlights the importance of regular scouting and monitoring to detect infestations early. Recommended approaches include using sticky traps, inspecting plants closely and examining flowers where adults are often found.

Management strategies outlined in the fact sheet include cultural practices such as using clean plant material and removing infested plants, as well as biological and chemical control options where appropriate.

“We emphasize an integrated approach,” Kheirodin said. “Monitoring with traps and early intervention will be key to limiting plant damage and yield losses.”

More research on the insect is underway, he said.

For instance, Kheirodin’s team is actively investigating biological and microbial control strategies against the invasive pest. Preliminary research indicates that several generalist predators, particularly Geocoris punctipes and Orius insidiosus, as well as entomopathogenic fungi, especially Metarhizium anisopliae, are effective in suppressing this short-spined thrips.

Preventing spread through awareness and reporting

Warm conditions in Texas could allow the pest to establish and persist if left unchecked, making awareness and reporting critical components of response efforts.

AgriLife Extension encourages growers, industry professionals and home gardeners to report suspected infestations and submit samples for identification. The fact sheet explains how to collect samples and send them to Kheirodin’s lab at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Dallas.

“To protect Texas agriculture and landscapes, we need everyone from commercial producers to backyard gardeners to stay vigilant,” Kheirodin said. “Reporting suspected cases helps us track distribution and respond more quickly.”   ∆

ADAM RUSSELL

TEXAS AGRILIFE