Managing thrips in strawberries: How effective are insecticide-free options? A meta-analysis

Thrips are major pests in strawberry crops, with control becoming complex due to increasing temperatures, the banning of certain pesticides and growing insecticide resistance. As a global synthesis is lacking, we aimed to: list the interventions tested on strawberries; compare their effectiveness; and identify promising new strategies and research gaps. We conducted a systematic literature review, using Web of Science on October 18, 2024. We included studies monitoring thrips population or damage in strawberries with management interventions. Fifty-nine papers met our criteria, thirty-six of which included a negative control and were included in a meta-analysis. Frankliniella occidentalis (n = 30) and Scirtothrips dorsalis (n = 10) were the most studied species. Biocontrol agents and insecticides were the most common interventions, each assessed in 39 % and 47 % of studies, respectively. Predators were the most promising alternative to insecticides and the effects of 19 such species were observed. Neoseiulus cucumeris, Orius laevigatus and Transeius montdorensis were the most extensively studied. Across studies, predators reduced thrips populations by 51 % to 78 %, compared with 56 % to 79 % using insecticides. Variability between study sites was more significant than between treatments highlighting the importance of other factors, such as climate, not considered in this analysis in the method’s effectiveness. Using tolerant varieties and mass trapping reduced thrips populations by an average of 65 % and 68 %, respectively. However further research is needed. Recent studies also highlighted the importance of early-season population dynamics and surrounding flora on thrips management. Despite progress, more research is required to optimize these strategies.