Jatropha curcas

Mound, Laurence, Goldarazena, Arturo, Lopez-Guillen, Guillermo & Hance, Thierry, 2016, Replacement names for two homonyms of Liothrips brevitubus Karny: one from California, the other for a species damaging Jatropha crops in Mexico, Zootaxa 4208 (6), pp. 594-599 : 594

Thrips damaging Jatropha curcas

Jatropha curcas is a perennial flowering plant that is cultivated primarily for its high oil content seeds. These are used in cosmetics and medicine, and are also important as a source of “biodiesel”. Cultivation of the crop is increasingly encouraged in Latin America, Africa and Asia. For further development of such crops, studies are needed on suitable agronomic practices and on the importance of pests. Currently, the only thrips reported as damaging this crop are leaffeeding members of the Panchaetothripinae , including Selenothrips rubrocinctus in Brazil ( Resende et al. 2012), Retithrips syriacus in India ( Anitha & Vareprasad 2012), and Heliothrips haemorrhoidalis , Rhipiphorothrips cruentatus , Selenothrips rubrocinctus and Zaniothrips ricini in Indonesia ( Asbani & Sartiami 2011). In contrast, in Chiapas State, Mexico during 2015, the leaves of a Jatropha crop growing in a 5 hectare experimental orchard were found to be seriously distorted ( Figs 1–5 ). These malformations were induced by large populations of the blackish-brown Phlaeothripidae species that is discussed further below. The plants were pruned late in November, and the first leaves appeared early in December soon after the rains ceased, and were quickly infested by the thrips. Malformations were induced on the young leaves, but infested terminal buds developed multiple branches into “witches broom” structures. Preliminary results suggest that the large infestation reduced the numbers of fruits produced by the crop, but further studies are needed to determine the economic losses to this thrips. Later in the season, pirate bugs ( Orius sp., Anthocoridae ) were found feeding on the thrips, and also observed were several adults of a Leptothrips species ( Phlaeothripidae ) that may also be predatory.

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 5. Jatropha curcas damaged by Liothrips jatrophae. 1. Whole plant. 2. Terminal rosettes. 3. Distorted leaves. 4. Stunted plant apex. 5. Fruits.