Onion Thrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) Biology, Ecology, and Management in Onion Production Systems

Onion thrips, Thrips tabaci Lindeman (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), is a well-known onion pest worldwide. Onion thrips cause both direct and indirect damage to onion by feeding and ovipositing on leaves that may cause green onions (scallions) to be unmarketable and dry bulb onion size to be reduced. Onion thrips can also transmit several plant pathogens that reduce onion bulb size and quality. One of the most economically damaging onion pathogens transmitted by onion thrips is Iris yellow spot virus (Bunyaviridae: Tospovirus). In this article, we discuss onion thrips geographical distribution, host range, biology, damage, monitoring, economic thresholds, and management in onion production.