Sustainable Control Strategies for Thrips in Agricultural Crops: A Review

Thrips (Thysanoptera) Associated with Economically Important Crops and their Integrated Pest Management (IPM): A Review

Thrips (Thysanoptera) are among the most destructive insect pests of agricultural and horticultural crops worldwide due to their wide host range, rapid reproduction, cryptic feeding behaviour and ability to transmit several plant viruses. Important species such as Thrips tabaci, Thrips palmi, Scirtothrips dorsalis, Frankliniella schultzei and the invasive species Thrips parvispinus infest cereals, pulses, oilseeds, vegetables, fruits and ornamentals causing severe yield and quality losses. Both adults and nymphs feed by lacerating plant tissues and sucking cell contents, resulting in silvering, bronzing, leaf curling, flower shedding and fruit scarring. The spread of invasive species and increasing insecticide resistance have intensified management challenges. Sustainable thrips management requires integrated pest management (IPM) combining cultural, mechanical, biological, behavioural, biotechnological and quarantine measures with judicious insecticide use. This integrated approach suppresses pest populations, conserves natural enemies, delays resistance development, minimizes environmental risks and ensures sustainable crop protection.

Towards sustainable management of Thrips tabaci Lindeman (Thysanoptera: Thripidae): combining resistance, cultural, biological, and chemical approaches-a comprehensive review

Thrips tabaci is a polyphagous pest of economic importance and remains has persistent challenge in onion and other vegetable production systems worldwide. Its cryptic feeding behavior, overlapping generations, and high reproductive potential have contributed to the rapid development of resistance to commonly used insecticides. This review critically examines the diverse management strategies developed for the control of T. tabaci . First the review examines key aspects of pest’s biology and ecology, followed by an overview of resistance issues related to chemical control, and the growing necessity for environmentally sustainable alternatives. Biological control options, including predatory bugs and mites, entomopathogenic fungi and nematodes, as well as botanical insecticides and essential oils, are discussed with emphasis to their mechanisms of action, efficacy, and practical limitations. Cultural control practices such as intercropping, mulching, crop rotation, trap cropping, and plant health optimization are examined for their role in reducing thrips pressure. Emerging technologies, including RNA interference (RNAi), precision monitoring tools and action thresholds, are also evaluated. Special attention is given to host plant resistance and the influence of varietal traits in shaping thrips behavior. By integrating conventional, ecological, and novel biotechnological approaches, this review highlights the importance of a multidimensional IPM framework to achieve sustainable T. tabaci management while safeguarding environmental and agroecosystem health. For famers and policymakers, these findings indicate that durable, cost-effective T. tabaci control will depend on investing in resistant cultivars, supporting access to quality biocontrol agents, and embedding monitoring based decision tools in extension and policy frameworks rather than relying on calendar based insecticide use.

Studies on the sustainable pest control using botanical pesticides

Bioinsecticides represent a modern generation of insecticides that utilize living organisms or their derivatives, such as transgenic plants, recombinant baculoviruses, toxic fusion proteins, and peptidomimetics. They represent promising ecological alternatives to conventional agrochemical pesticides. Over time, natural plant-derived compounds have demonstrated high efficacy in pest control, and currently, plant-based bioinsecticides are considered safer and less toxic options compared to synthetic substances. This article analyzes plant-derived compounds with insecticidal and repellent properties, highlighting both their mechanisms of action and their potential impact on disease transmission. This analysis contributes to a deeper understanding of plant-based bioinsecticides and highlights the potential for developing modern and effective strategies to combat pests, particularly the species Aculops lycopersici. The strategy for controlling Aculops lycopersici populations consisted of repeated treatments with biopesticides based on essential oils. At the crop level, significant reductions in Aculops populations were observed, resulting in a significantly higher yield compared to the control plots, where treatments were carried out using only water. In conclusion, this biological approach appears to be an effective measure for pest control and should be further implemented at the crop level.

Entomo-Pathogenic Nematode: An Effective and Eco-Friendly Alternative to Synthetic Pesticides. A Review

Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) belong to the category of nematodes living in the soil, which also parasitize and kill insects. They operate in conjunction with specific bacteria and are commonly used in biocontrol because they are effective against a wide range of insect pests, host specific, environmentally safe and compatible with integrated pest management (IPM) strategies. They are obligate parasites of insects that belong to the families Steinernematidae and Heterorhabditidae. EPNs are commonly used in biological pest control due to their broad host range. Entomopathogenic nematodes are effective and eco-friendly alternative to synthetic insecticides. Despite difficulties in mass production, formulation, and field conditions, their incorporation into pest control strategies bears significant promise. Advancements in biotechnology and formulation science can easily promote their applicability in sustainable agriculture. Recent research focuses on improving their field efficiency, genetic diversity, and commercialization. In some countries, EPNs are commercially produced for biological pest control in agriculture, horticulture, and forestry, however, efficient mass production and formulation are critical for their stability, storage, and field efficacy. EPNs are increasingly used in Africa for managing key agricultural pests due to their effectiveness against banana weevils, fall armyworm, sweet potato weevils, and white grubs, but the key challenges include, temperature sensitivity and farmer adoption, however, ongoing research and local production are improving accessibility. Recent studies in some African countries indicated appreciable success achieved with EPN use in Kenya (maize), Uganda (banana), Nigeria (sweet potato), and South Africa (maize grubs) and the key factors for the success include, proper application timing, farmer training, and local EPN adaptation among others.

Plant Fungal Endophytes as Sustainable Components of Insect Pest Management

Chemical Signaling and Integrated Strategies for Biological Control in Crop Agroecosystems

Simple Summary Insect pests cause serious losses in many crops, and their control often depends heavily on chemical pesticides. Although pesticides can be effective, their repeated use may create environmental risks and can also affect beneficial insects that naturally help control pests. Plants, however, have their own ways of defending themselves. When attacked by herbivorous insects, many plants release specific odors that can be detected by predators and parasitoids. These beneficial insects use herbivore-induced plant volatiles, including terpenoids, green leaf volatiles, and compounds such as methyl salicylate, to locate pest-infested plants and reduce pest populations. This review explains how plant odors, insect pheromones, and other chemical cues can be used to improve biological control in agriculture. It also discusses how these signals can be combined with habitat management, flowering plants, push–pull systems, attract-and-reward strategies, plant breeding, and genetically engineered crops. Together, these approaches may support natural enemy conservation, although their effects on pest suppression, crop yield, and pesticide use must be confirmed under field conditions.