Dichromothrips smithi (Zimmermann), a New Thrips Species Infesting Bamboo Orchids Arundina graminifolia (D. Don) Hochr. and Commercially Grown Orchids in Hawaii

Abstract

Dichromothrips smithi (Zimmermann 1990), a thrips species native to SE Asia that feeds on orchids, was first detected in Hawaii in 2007. At the time it was detected, it was already widespread on bamboo orchids in the Puna district of the island of Hawaii. The build-up of the pest in bamboo orchids threatens adjacent commercial orchid farms, several of which have reported this species as a pest. A survey on bamboo orchids in the Puna District showed that adults were highly aggregated in flowers. In an unsprayed planting of dendrobium orchids in E. Hawaii, D. smithi was the dominant thrips species present over a two-year period. Higher numbers of D. smithi adults and larvae were found on bamboo orchids growing as volunteers within this planting, suggesting that bambbe used as a trap crop to protect more valuable types of orchids.