|
Issue of invasive species Thrips parvispinus a top priority!
Vital Information from TREC Director Edward "Gilly" A. Evans
"Here is information on pest and a quick update on what we are doing:
- If a nursery is found to have the Thrips parvispinus then the FDACS Plant Inspection team would place a “stop sale” on plants until they were cleaned up. After which, they could be shipped.
- Home Depot plants in Apopka and Palm Beach have already been found infested with this thrips species.
- We (TREC/Dr. Alexandra Revynthi) applied on Friday for a permit to start doing research on it.
- Dr. Lance Osborne together with Drs. McKenzie and Ahmed from USDA monitor the Palm Beach County and visit nurseries in Apopka. They report tremendous losses of gardenias in Palm Beach. Extension agents Mrs. Meszaros and Roberts are also helping. UF’s entomologist with expertise on thrips will form a team and try to acquire funding for this pest.
- We will need support letters and a contact list with nurseries willing to collaborate in this project; Dr. Revynthi will reach out to you.
- It will be very helpful if nurseries can provide Dr. Revynthi with pesticide lists that they use for thrips but have not been efficacious against this particular species.
As usual we thank you for your support and stand ready to assist in addressing these challenges."
Edward 'Gilly' A. Evans, Ph.D.
Professor, Food and Resource Economics
Director, Tropical Research and Education Center
University of Florida, IFAS
Tropical REC | http://agecon.centers.ufl.edu/
786-217-9263 | eaevans@ufl.edu
| 
