Thysanoptera species recorded in greenhouses in Croatia from 2003–2006

Abstract

In 2003 the Institute for Plant Protection in Agriculture and Forestry of the Republic of Croatia started a national survey of the possible occurrence of quarantine Thysanoptera species for the EU ( Scirtothrips spp., Thrips palmi Karny) in greenhouses in Croatia. The survey was continued yearly until 2006. This project involved the most important producers of vegetables and flowers in greenhouses and importers of pot plants and cut flowers. Eventual presence of especially T. palmi was checked in glasshouses and plastic greenhouses at 45 localities in 12 continental and 5 Mediterranean counties of Croatia. A total of 26 Thysanoptera species were recorded in the greenhouses, of which 14 species were collected from plant material, 13 were from blue sticky boards and 17 were from yellow sticky boards. Compared to the latest check list of Thysanoptera in Croatia, the following species were recorded for the first time for the country: Echinothrips americanus, Hercinothrips femoralis, Parthenothrips dracaenae and Thrips simplex . The survey did not establish the presence of EU quarantine Thysanoptera.