Scirtothrips dorsalis (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) Is a Pest of Celery, Apium graveolens (Apiales: Apiaceae): First Report and Diagnostic Characters

Abstract

Scirtothrips dorsalis (Hood), the chilli thrips, is reported for the first time as a pest of celery, Apium graveolens L. Infested celery plants in a polyhouse at Kalahalli village (13°05′46.0′′N, 77°47′12.2′′E) in Hoskote taluk of Bengaluru Rural district, Karnataka, India, had light to dark brownish scars on various parts besides discolored and distorted leaves. Association of fungal or bacterial disease was dismissed based on microscopic analysis of tissue sections. Eggs, juveniles, and adults of thrips were abundant, especially on the leaves. Diagnostic characters of the adult S. dorsalis collected on celery are presented here along with photomicrographs. Juvenile and adult stages of S. dorsalis were also recorded on 27 other plant species in 18 families during the surveys conducted in 18 districts of Karnataka from 2015 to 2021. The possible role of S. dorsalis as a vector of tospoviruses in celery needs to be investigated.