Tainted trips-contaminated Chinese cabbage discovered in Kamchatka region
The Western flower thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis) has emerged as a significant pest in the international trade of flowers, seeds, and planting materials, causing concern for biosecurity in various nations. This small, yet destructive insect originates from countries like Armenia, the Netherlands, and others, and has been detected in imported goods, leading to repeated violations and biosecurity risks.
### Distribution Through Imported Goods
In Russia, multiple cases of Western flower thrips have been reported in imported cut flowers, with inspections revealing 18 cases in shipments from Armenia alone. In 2025, over 13 million flowers failed quarantine checks due to this pest. As a result, Russia is considering banning flower imports accompanied by Armenian phytosanitary certificates to mitigate the risks[1].
Similarly, Russia has tightened import restrictions on Dutch seeds and planting materials following the detection of Western flower thrips and other quarantine pests in consignments. This includes banning re-exports via third countries to prevent the spreading of these pests[3].
### Effects on Crops
The Western flower thrips pose a triple threat to agriculture. Not only do they cause direct feeding damage to a wide range of crops, but they also vector plant viruses such as orthotospoviruses. These viruses can severely reduce crop yield and quality by causing silvering or scarring of plant surfaces, leaf deformation, flower drop, and transmission of broader crop diseases[2][4].
### Prevention and Control Methods
Countries and importers are employing a combination of regulatory, cultural, biological, and chemical methods to manage the risk of Western flower thrips. Regulatory measures include strict quarantine inspections, import bans, and certification requirements. Cultural practices such as crop rotation, early planting, removal of crop debris, and manual removal of egg masses are also being implemented[4].
Insecticide applications target primarily the younger nymph stages of thrips for higher efficacy, with careful rotation among different insecticide classes to prevent resistance development. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies incorporate natural enemies of thrips and targeted treatments. Research continues into biological control agents suitable for Western flower thrips, aiming for sustainable pest management practices[2].
Countries issuing import protocols often require pre-shipment treatments, post-harvest inspections, and laboratory testing to ensure consignments are free from Western flower thrips and associated viruses[5].
In conclusion, the Western flower thrips presents a significant challenge in global trade due to its wide distribution and damaging effects on crops. Prevention relies heavily on stringent import controls, monitoring, and integrated pest management strategies to safeguard agricultural productivity and biosecurity.
References: [1] https://www.agroinvestor.ru/news/49731 [2] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022202X16301811 [3] https://www.agroinvestor.ru/news/49732 [4] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S030504831630814X [5] https://www.fao.org/3/a-i7333e.pdf
In light of the devastating effects that Western flower thrips have on various aspects of health-and-wellness, including agricultural productivity, countries are increasingly focusing on environmental-science and research to develop sustainable pest management strategies. For instance, the integration of biological control agents in Fitness-and-exercise programs for crops has shown promise in controlling thrips populations and reducing the dependency on chemical pesticides.
