Europe Australasian Thrips Semiochemical Network
Abstract
Among the 5500 currently described Thysanopteran (thrips) species only about 1 % are recorded as economic important pests, those mainly in the family Thripidae (sub-order Terebrantia). Yet, thrips pests have become a major world-wide problem in many agricultural and horticultural crops in the greenhouse as well as in the field. The steady increase in the international trade of fruits, vegetables and ornamentals has sped up the spread of extremely invasive and polyphagous species such as Frankliniella occidentalis Pergande, the western flower thrips, and the melon thrips Thrips palmi Karny. Economic damage is caused by feeding of thrips adults and larvae on plant tissues and by transmission of plant viruses. Thrips are particularly difficult to control because of their minute size, their secretive habits and their high reproductive capability. Conventional thrips control largely depends on repeated applications of synthetic insecticides, increasingly confronting producers with the development of resistance. An approach to pest control that meets the heightened demand for environmentally friendly alternatives to insecticides is the use of semiochemicals (e.g. pheromones, kairomones and allomones) in biological control or Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies. The focus of the Europe Australasian Thrips Semiochemical (EATS) Network is to develop semiochemical-based tools for management of Thysanopteran species of economic and quarantine importance. The objectives of this programme are: • to strengthen existing and develop new research partnerships through staff exchanges and networking between 4 organisations from the Netherlands, Spain, Austria and United Kingdom, and 2 organisations from Australia and New Zealand. • to address key scientific issues to develop novel practical tools for border protection and sustainable pest management for important thrips species. IRSES provides a unique opportunity to strengthen past collaborations and integrate new world- leading research teams with complementary expertise into a coherent international program that collectively will provide effective synergies. A range of semiochemical-based technologies have been successfully developed by researchers around the world for the sustainable management of many large insect pests. However, until now these technologies have been under-exploited for small insects such as thrips. The EATS Network will exploit existing knowledge of underpinning concepts in chemical ecology and insect behaviour while bringing new knowledge on the biology and pest management of small insects. This approach will allow rapid progress to be made towards practical tools for management of this devastating class of insect pests. Six work packages on thrips semiochemicals have been identified by the EATS Network as critical for achieving our objective.
Thysanoptera behavioural control insect chemical ecology allelochemicals
Publikationen
Plant compounds modify behaviours of both Frankliniella occidentalis adults and larvae
Autoren: Koschier EH, Peneder S, Egger B Jahr: 2012
Conference & Workshop proceedings, paper, abstract
Sekundäre Pflanzeninhaltsstoffe mit Signalwirkung verändern das Verhalten des Kalifornischen Blütenthrips: ein Vergleich der Reaktionen von Adulten und Larven
Autoren: Egger, B., Peneder, S. Koschier, E.H. Jahr: 2012
Conference & Workshop proceedings, paper, abstract
Aspects on using plant compounds for behavioural manipulation of thrips.
Autoren: Koschier, EH Jahr: 2014
Conference & Workshop proceedings, paper, abstract
Das Europe Australasian Thrips Semiochemicals (EATS) Netzwerk
Autoren: Koschier, E Jahr: 2014
Conference & Workshop proceedings, paper, abstract
Behavioural responses of Frankliniella occidentalis Pergande to cis-jasmone
Autoren: Koschier, E.H., Egger, B. Jahr: 2015
Conference & Workshop proceedings, paper, abstract
Project staff
Elisabeth Helene Koschier
Ao.Univ.Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Dr.nat.techn. Elisabeth Helene Koschier
elisabeth.koschier@boku.ac.at
Tel: +43 1 47654-95303
BOKU Project Leader
01.02.2012 - 31.01.2016
BOKU partners
External partners
Keele University
none
partner
Institut de Recerca i Tecnologia Agroalimentares
none
partner
Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia
none
partner
Plant & Food Research
none
sub-coordinator
Plant Research International
none
coordinator