Cashew
Guides
Selenothrips
red-banded thrips (for S. rubrocinctus)
Selenothrips is a genus of thrips in the family Thripidae, established by Heinrich Hugo Karny in 1911. The genus contains at least two described species: S. rubrocinctus (Giard, 1901), commonly known as the red-banded thrips or cacao thrips, and S. glabratus Priesner, 1927. S. rubrocinctus is a polyphagous pest with broad tropical and subtropical distribution, known to attack cacao, cashew, mango, avocado, and other crops. Research on this species has focused on its feeding behavior in relation to plant water-stress and amino acid availability.
Selenothrips rubrocinctus
redbanded thrips, cacao thrips, red-banded thrips
Selenothrips rubrocinctus is a small thrips species known as the redbanded thrips, recognized by the distinctive red banding on its dark body. It is a polyphagous pest with a near pan-tropical distribution, first described from the West Indies though possibly originating in northern South America. The species is economically significant as a pest of cacao, mango, cashew, and various ornamental trees, causing leaf silvering, distortion, and fruit damage through sap-feeding. Populations exhibit seasonal dynamics tied to host plant water stress and nutritional status, with peaks typically occurring during dry seasons.