Managing thrips in strawberries: do insecticide-free options work? A systematic review

Abstract: Thrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) are important pests of strawberry crops. Control
of these insects is becoming more complex due to increasing temperatures, the withdrawal of
many active compounds and the development of insecticide resistance. Our aims were to: list
the pest management tools already tested on strawberries; compare their effectiveness; and
identify potential new management strategies and new research avenues. We conducted a
systematic literature review, using Web of Science in February 2024. We used the search string (“*thrip*” OR “Frankliniella” OR “Thysanoptera”) AND (“strawberr*” OR “Fragaria”). The use of natural predators and insecticides were the most widely studied tools. The predators Neoseiulus cucumeris and Orius laevigatus have been the most extensively studied and are the best alternatives to insecticides. The use of predators resulted in a mean reduction in thrips populations slightly less than with insecticides but not significantly less in practice. In general, the effectiveness of treatments varied greatly from one site to another, suggesting a strong impact of other factors. Varietal resistance and the management of adjacent flora are promising areas of research but still require further investigation.