November 3, 2025
Pepper growers dread seeing tiny but deadly black thrips hiding in a previously healthy plant’s flowers. They know the damage that can be wrought by black thrips, or Thrips parvispinus (TP), and how quickly this invasive pest can spread.
This pest has been known as a threat for a few years but this season it’s spreading rapidly across key agricultural regions. It causes significant yield loss and disrupts the food chain. In Spain, home to vast hectares of greenhouse-grown peppers, farmers are calling it a “plague” and some are getting out of pepper-growing altogether.
There is hope around the corner. Syngenta is actively researching tolerances in new pepper varieties that could give growers an additional line of defense against these insects. And while there is no fail-safe answer to Thrips parvispinus for now, there are things growers can do to scout for and prevent an infestation from spreading.
What is Thrips Parvispinus and How Does it Affect Peppers?
Damage is caused by both nymphs and adults, which puncture plant cells to suck out the sap. They cause devastating symptoms, including silvering, bronzing, scarring, and deformation of leaves and fruits. Damaged fruits lose their market value, and in severe infestations, flower drop and fruit abortion can occur.
Which Regions are at Risk of Thrips Parvispinus?
A prime example is Spain, which has two large areas producing peppers in protected environments:
- Almería- producing Fall-winter peppers from September-April. Greenhouses are very concentrated and the pest spreads easily.
- Campo de Cartagena- producing spring crops from April-August.
Did you know: The pepper crop in Alemeria has been reduced from 13000 heactare to 300 hectares, mostly in early plantation. This is expected to continue to decrease as a result of Thrips Parvispinus.
In Almeria, the situation is stark, says José Antonio Chicón, regional senior breeder at Syngenta Vegetable Seeds. “Almost every greenhouse has been affected. The damage is variable, but it can be up to 30% lost crops.”
Alejandro Pascual has witnessed extreme cases in his role as product development specialist at Syngenta Vegetable Seeds: “A small percentage (2-4%) have lost their pepper plantation and have removed the crop because the plague was unmanageable,” he says.
In India, black thrips has been rapidly spreading since 2020, especially in major pepper growing areas in the South. It’s almost replaced another endemic pest – Scirtothrips dorsalis, also known as chilli thrips, or yellow tea thrips – and this could be the pattern for other regions.
Syngenta Researching Resistant Pepper Varieties
Black thrips are becoming resistant to chemical crop protection – so new resistant varieties are priority for Syngenta. Already, the results look positive.
“Using advanced genetics, we’re breeding desirable traits into varieties to counteract this pest,” says José Antonio Chicón. “It might mean they’re tolerant or have partial resistance.”
Dr. Umesh Shelkar, Ph.D., Trait Development Lead at Syngenta, leads the research. “We’re in the advanced stages of discovery, with several candidates for thrips resistance identified,” he reports. “Next step is a shortlist and after that validation of the varieties’ level of resistance.”
Resistant varieties are the most effective way to protect against major yield threats, compared to fungicides, insecticides, and other control methods. Syngenta has a clear track record, having bred varieties resistant against:
- Powdery mildew
- Phytophthora blight
- Tobacco mosaic virus
- Tomato spotted wilt virus
- Nematodes
“Thrips parvispinus can quickly adapt to chemical applications, which requires continuous spraying of pesticides. That’s costly and may not be a long-term fix,” says Umesh Shelkar.
How to Scout for Thrips Parvispinus
Early detection is crucial.
Check the flowers: Black thrips are often hidden in flowers. A light tap on the flower can reveal an assembly of thrips that fall out.
Use sticky traps: Thrips are attracted to yellow or blue sticky traps. Inspecting these traps regularly can confirm the pest’s presence.
Look for feeding damage: Inspect leaves and fruits for typical symptoms.
Greenhouse hygiene: Good greenhouse hygiene, including sticky traps, can help manage populations.
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