Megalurothrips usitatus, a new invasive thrips threatening legume production in south Florida and Central America

Megalurothrips usitatus (Bagnall) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) originates from the Asian tropics and was first reported in Florida in 2020. It has also been reported in Costa Rica, Cuba, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico and Nicaragua and Puerto Rico.  Megalurothrips usitatus is a highly destructive pest of leguminous crops including bean (Phaseolus vulgaris). Megalurothrips usitatus has caused significant yield loss to snap bean in south Florida, a primary source of snap bean for the US during the winter months.  This new invasive thrips has significantly impacted production of bean across Central America, where bean is a food staple, threatening regional food security. In addition, it has undermined Central American bean variety trials directed by the Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical (CIAT) (Cali, Colombia).  The University of Florida, Guatemala’s Instituto de Ciencia y Tecnología Agrícola (ICTA) and CIAT are collaborating on a regional plan to strengthen diagnostic ability and produce management guidelines for M. usitatus and other thrips pests of legumes in the Central American region.