Abstract
In Hungary, Frankliniella occidentalis was first found on various cut flowers in 1989. It then spread widely in glasshouses within a short time and became the most abundant thrips pest of protected crops. Besides causing cosmetic damage to fruits, F. occidentalis acts as the vector of tomato spotted wilt tospovirus (TSWV) to many plants. Since its appearance in 1993, this virus has caused serious losses in protected vegetable and ornamental crops. Chemical control of F. occidentalis is very difficult because of its thigmotactic behaviour and tolerance to insecticides. Biological control using the predatory arthropods Neoseiulus cucumeris and Orius spp. provides adequate suppression of populations in capsicum crops. A decrease in TSWV infection was observed when light summer oils were applied to glasshouse capsicum crops in integrated pest management (IPM) programmes to reduce virus transmission by aphids. Further investigations are needed on the interaction of these applications with TSWV infection, because populations of F. occidentalis were not much reduced.
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