Pezothrips kellyanus
Abbreviation: KCT
Kelly's citrus thrips is present in: Australia, New Zealand, New Caledonia, France, Italy, Greece, Cyprus, Turkey, Spain, Portugal, and Israel.
Kelly's citrus thrips is a pest of the following plants: citrus plants and plant products (lemons, grapefruits, and navel oranges).
Evidence of Kelly's citrus thrips damage includes: scar tissue on commodities, creating a silver ‘halo’ around the calyx of the fruit. On mature fruit, scurfing can range in severity from narrow to broad haloes around the calyx up to expansive patches of scarring which can cover much of the fruit surface. Additional damage can occur as a result of adult and juvenile thrips feeding at contact points between mature fruits. This damage appears as rind bleaching.
CBP Agriculture Specialists, please refer to manuals for general inspection guidelines. When performing inspections, look for citrus and listed plant matter for scar tissue and other pest feeding evidence.
Kelly's citrus thrips (adult):
Kelly's citrus thrips (larvae):