In this section:
Kelly Citrus Thrips
Kelly's citrus thrips (KCT), Pezothrips kellyanus is a serious citrus pest in inland Australia, particularly in the Riverland-Sunraysia region. The thrips cause scurfing (halo marking) and rind bleaching which downgrade fruit quality and reduce the pack-out of export quality fruit, making some fruit unsaleable.
Fact sheet on Kelly Citrus Thrips Management (.PDF) gives information on the life cycle, natural enemies, crop monitoring, chemical control and resistance and damage that can be caused.
Identification of thrips in citrus (.PDF) - how to distinguish Kelly's citrus thrips (KCT) from other thrips found in citrus orchards that do not cause damage.
Who does the damage? (.PDF) gives information on distinguishing mealybug crawlers which cause sooty mould problems in citrus and apple dimpling bug nymphs which are considered beneficial in citrus from Kelly's citrus thrips
Information about monitoring for KCT larvae, when to spray contained in The key to controlling Kelly's citrus thrips is finding them early (.PDF)
Research
Research projects have looked at improving the management of Kelly's Citrus Thrips in citrus.
Summary, conclusions and recommendations of the 2000-04 research project and the earlier 1997-2000 research project.
Quarterly newsletter Talking Thrips in citrus was produced to keep people informed of the latest research on Kelly's citrus thrips management. The newsletters discuss research to monitor trends in KCT abundance and their correlation with orchard environmental and management factors, including identifying predators on KCT pupae and use of insecticides to control KCT.
Issue 1 (May 2002) (.PDF)
Issue 2 (October 2002) (.PDF)
Issue 3 (June 2003) (.PDF)
A summary of the project to identify natural enemies of KCT and evaluation of the potential of these to regulate KCT populations in a commercial citrus integrated pest management (IPM) system is given in The Biological Control of Kelly's Citrus Thrips in Australian Citrus Orchards (.PDF)
