Bean blossom thrips

Bean blossom thrip is a known vector of tobacco streak virus (TSV).

TSV-susceptible crops include chickpeas, cotton, mungbeans, peanuts and soybeans.

TSV also infects a wide range of weeds including parthenium weed, black pigweed, blackberry nightshade, green amaranth, and common thornapple.

Scientific name

Megalurothrips usitatus

Description of adult

Thrips are small cigar-shaped insects up to 2mm long. The adults are dark brown with a reddish tinge.

Immature stages

The nymphs or young are generally pale yellow to white. Juvenile thrips resemble the shape of adults but don't have wings.

Life history

Adults lay their eggs inside the leaf tissue. After feeding, the immatures drop from the plant and pupate in the soil. Generations are continual and populations are highest during warm and dry weather. Temperatures of around 20oC favour reproduction and survival.

Distribution

Throughout Queensland.

Host range

French beans.

Damage

Flower feeding causing twisting and curling of pods.

Control

Once in the flowers, thrips are hard to control as it is very difficult to get a registered insecticide into the flowers where the thrips are hiding.