First Field Record of the Tropical Red-Banded Thrips Selenothrips rubrocinctus (Thripidae: Panchaetothripinae) in Europe

Abstract

Red-banded thrips Selenothrips rubrocinctus is a polyphagous pest widely distributed in tropical and subtropical regions. Various fruit trees such as cacao, cashew, mango, avocado, and guava in certain habitats are attacked. This is the first report of the spontaneous occurrence of outdoor populations of this species of thrips in Europe. This species has been found in northern Italy on Liquidambar styraciflua, Carpinus betulus, and other ornamental forest species in urban areas. Barcode sequences of the Italian specimens were obtained.

Taxonomic review and illustrated key to identify species of Thysanoptera in subfamily Panchaetothripinae (Thripidae) from the Philippines

“…In Australia, Peng and Christian (2007) reported S. rubrocinctus as an economically important pest of mango in Australia while Astridge (2001) reported that in mangosteen plantation, S. rubrocinctus increased in population between September and January, and active during flowering, and fruiting stage causing a russetting blemish to fruits that resulted to downgrading or market rejection. Abroad, S. rubrocinctus is known as cacao thrips, and pest of numerous plants including banana, cashew, mango, and mangosteen (Jonah and Matur 2020;Taddei et al 2021;Wilson 1975).…”