Thrips (Thysanoptera: Terebrantia) in Nectarine Orchards in North-East Spain: Species Diversity and Fruit Damage

Abstract

Thrips constitute one of the main nectarine pests, with damage either in flowering or before harvesting (silvering). Nectarine orchards under organic and integrated management were sampled in Lleida (Baix Segre intensive production area) and Girona at four key moments of the season (bud burst, full flowering, fruit setting stage, and colorization of the fruit) during 2021 and 2022 to determine the species composition and damage during fruit maturation. Fifteen species were collected in Lleida, and 10 species were collected in Girona. Organic orchards in Lleida showed lower populations and silvering damage levels than integrated orchards. Thrips fuscipennis Haliday (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) 1836 was the main species in Lleida during harvest, and Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) 1895 was the main species in Girona. Due to their predominance, both species were associated with silvering damage during fruit maturation