From Bengaluru to Raichur, Black Thrips sting Karnataka’s chilli belt
Black thrips have become a major agricultural threat in Karnataka, devastating chilli crops across several districts. Scientists and government officials are now working on integrated pest management strategies to mitigate the economic impact on farmers.
Why it matters
The infestation threatens the livelihoods of thousands of farmers and highlights the vulnerability of specific cash crops to invasive species in a changing climate.
BENGALURU: Tiny enough to escape the naked eye but destructive enough to devastate an entire crop, black thrips have emerged as one of the gravest threats confronting Karnataka’s chilli farmers. From the vast chilli fields of Raichur to cultivation belts across North and Kalyana Karnataka, the invasive pest has left a trail of damaged crops, escalating cultivation costs and shrinking yields, raising concerns over whether existing government interventions are sufficient to contain the outbreak.Ironically, Bengaluru is believed to have been the epicentre of the pest’s spread in the state. Scientists first detected Thrips parvispinus, commonly known as black thrips, on papaya leaves in Bengaluru in 2015.
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